How to invoice in Switzerland
The distinctive part of a Swiss invoice is the QR-bill payment section carrying your QR-IBAN, which most domestic invoices include so the customer can pay directly. The rest is conventional: both parties' names and addresses, the invoice date, a description and quantity of the goods or services, and, if you are VAT-registered, your UID/VAT number (CHE-...MWST) with the VAT rate and amount. Switzerland's standard VAT rate is 8.1%. Most domestic invoices also carry a Swiss QR-bill payment section with your QR-IBAN so the customer can pay directly.
| Switzerland at a glance | Detail |
|---|---|
| Currency | CHF (CHF) |
| Standard VAT | 8.1% |
| Tax ID | UID (VAT number) |
| Paper size | A4 |
| Typical terms | Net 30 |
| E-invoicing | Public sector only |
Tax ID format: Swiss VAT numbers are the company's UID (Unternehmens-Identifikationsnummer) prefixed with CHE and suffixed with MWST, TVA or IVA — e.g. CHE-123.456.789 MWST (9 digits, no suffix when the business is not VAT-registered)..
What Swiss invoices must include
- The word “Invoice” and a unique, sequential invoice number
- The issue date (and the supply date if it differs)
- Your business name, address and UID (VAT number)
- The client's name and address (and their UID (VAT number) where the local rules require it)
- A clear description and quantity for each line
- The net amount per VAT rate, the rate(s) applied and the VAT amount
- The total payable, in CHF
- Payment terms, the due date and how to pay (bank name and account number or IBAN)
- Swiss QR-bill payment section (QR-IBAN / reference)
- UID / VAT number (CHE-...MWST) if VAT-registered
- VAT rate and VAT amount per line or total
VAT & reverse charge
For cross-border work, the right wording matters. Invoice Forever offers ready-made Swiss VAT notes such as:
- VAT charged at the Swiss standard rate of 8.1%.
- Exempt export supply — no Swiss VAT charged (Art. 23 MWSTG).
- Reverse charge — recipient accounts for Swiss acquisition tax (Bezugsteuer) on services from abroad.
E-invoicing in Switzerland
E-invoicing is mandatory only for invoices to the federal administration: where the contract value exceeds CHF 5,000, suppliers must submit invoices electronically, either as a PDF by e-mail or as structured data through a service provider. This has applied since 1 January 2016. B2B and B2C e-invoicing are voluntary and no mandate has been announced.
Invoice Forever can export a structured EN 16931 (UBL) e-invoice alongside the PDF (beta) — the format most of these mandates are built on. You still send it via your own access point, and some countries require their own national format.
Verified 11 September 2026 against the source. E-invoicing rules are changing quickly, so always confirm the current position with the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (ESTV / FTA) before you rely on it. This page is general guidance, not tax advice.
Payment terms in Switzerland
Net 30 days is the customary Swiss payment term ("zahlbar innert 30 Tagen"). Payment is typically made by bank transfer using the Swiss QR-bill (QR-IBAN); eBill is widely used for digital delivery and one-click payment.
Questions about invoicing in Switzerland
The standard VAT rate is 8.1% (in force since 1 January 2024 and unchanged for 2026). A reduced rate of 2.6% applies to essentials like food, books and medicines, and a special 3.8% rate applies to accommodation.
Only if you are VAT-registered — businesses must register once taxable turnover reaches CHF 100,000. Registered businesses show their UID as CHE-123.456.789 MWST plus the VAT rate and amount. Below the threshold you invoice without VAT and add no VAT number.
Not for B2B or B2C. Only suppliers to the federal administration must invoice electronically (PDF by e-mail or structured data via a service provider) where the contract value exceeds CHF 5,000.
Make an invoice for Switzerland, free.
CHF and 8.1% VAT already set, on A4 paper. No signup, no watermark.