Three steps to the application
Would you like to be recognised as a self-employed person in Switzerland? If so, you need to register with an AHV compensation office. Here you can find out everything you need to know about how the procedure works.
When do I have to register?
Ideally you should register as soon as you start to work or when you issue the first invoices to customers. Under certain circumstances, the compensation office will need to receive documentation, such as records, details of incoming payments, contracts and invoices. This will enable it to assess whether the activity amounts to self-employment.
It is recommended that you register within the first few months of actually taking up self-employment. You will only be able to benefit from the protection afforded by social insurance after you have been recognised as a self-employed person.
The procedure for obtaining recognition of self-employment involves three steps.
Check characteristics
Various characteristics are indicative of self-employment in Switzerland. For example:
The person has made significant investments, for instance in order to purchase equipment or for renovation/new construction.
He/she acts in his/her own name and on his/her own account.
A self-employed person bears costs as well as the risk of loss.
He/she employees staff.
He/she is free to decide how work is to be performed. This means that the person is not subject to any instructions.
He/she has equal status with the person who placed the order.
He/she works for more than one customer.
Compensation offices examine each case individually. In many cases, activity may feature characteristics of both. Further information concerning the characteristics can be found here.
You should register even if one or a few characteristics are met in relation to your activity. This will enable the compensation office to decide how to classify your gainful activity.
Obtain documentation
The registration form can be found on this website. Depending upon the circumstances, you will have to enclose various documentation. This will enable the compensation office to establish a picture of your activities.
The following documentation is particularly useful:
offers and invoices made out to customers
proof of equity capital invested
signed contracts with customers
advertising documentation or website
leases
leasing agreements or contracts of sale relating to investments
proof of incoming payments from customers
If you have employees, you should also provide the following documentation:
accident insurance – policy number and name of insurer
occupational benefits (pension fund) – name of insurer and copy of agreement
Complete registration form
Once you have obtained all of the documentation, you can fill in the registration form.
The website will forward the registration form to your compensation office.
What now?
Each activity has its own specific characteristics. This means that every case has to be assessed individually. Your compensation office will examine everything very carefully; this may take some time.