
Certificate course «SME tax consulting»
- Practical know-how in SME tax issues: Corporate taxation, VAT, pensions, international tax issues
- For professionals from companies, administrations and the fiduciary sector
- Deepening of advisory skills and secure application in everyday professional life
- Flexible learning format with classroom and online elements
- Recognized certificate with specialist designation
At a glance
Conclusion:
Certificate «SME tax consultancy EXPERTsuisse»
Next start
August 2026 (application deadline: July 2026)
Next examination date
May 2028
Teaching days
Tuesday: 1.05 p.m. to 8.15 p.m. Saturday: 9.00 a.m. to 12.15 p.m.
Language of instruction
German
Teaching location
Online and face-to-face lessons in Zurich (optionally also via livestream)
Duration
4 semesters - part-time
Format
Blended learning - combination of online self-study, live webinars and classroom teaching
Course fees
from CHF 14,400 with member discount
Content
Taxation of natural persons
- Taxation in general
- Tax liability
- Taxation according to expenditure
- Taxation of gainful employment
- Taxation of movable assets, bonds
- Property gains tax, property transfer tax, real estate tax
- Pension provision
- Determination of taxable income, general deductions, non-deductible costs and expenses, time-based assessment
- Wealth tax - valuation of unlisted companies
- Inheritance and gift taxes
- Corporate taxation
- Withholding tax and stamp duty
Basic features of value added tax
- General provisions
- Taxable person, tax liability, taxable object
- Tax rates, assessment basis, invoicing and tax statement
- Input tax deduction (general) and private shares, mixed use
- Changes in use, input tax correction and input tax reduction
- Temporal assessment
- Accounting method and type
- Reporting procedure
- Purchase tax and import tax
- Origin and limitation of the tax claim
- Procedural law and penalties
- VAT statements (declaration and corrections)
Corporate tax law
- Tax liability of legal entities
- Basics of corporate taxation
- Determination of profits
- Self-employment
- Withholding tax
- Participation deduction, loss offsetting, hidden equity
- Capital contribution principle and treasury shares
- Hidden benefits within the group
- Restructuring (partnerships, corporations)
- Reorganization
- M&A transactions
Procedural law
- Basic principles
- Tax procedural law
- Appeal, revision and supplementary tax proceedings
- Substantive criminal tax law
Intercantonal tax law
- Basic principles
- Basis for the tax separation of natural persons

Detailed information
The course is aimed at specialists in tax consulting and related areas - in particular employees of Big 4 companies and BDO AG, trust companies with a focus on SMEs, law firms, industrial and commercial enterprises and tax administrations who wish to deepen their tax consulting skills in the SME environment.
Note:
The certificate course «SME Tax Consulting» is an integral part of the training to become a certified tax expert and is completed by students as part of their curriculum. Separate registration is not required for this target group.

Registration for the certificate course is possible if
- have basic business and legal knowledge
- you have a degree from a university or higher vocational training institution
- other qualifications are available
Registration for the certificate examination is possible if
- the lessons of the certificate course have been completed
- 2 years of professional experience in the field of taxation
Non-members:
CHF 18’000 (excl. VAT)
Expert and specialist employee individual members:
CHF 16’200 (excl. VAT)
Expert and specialist employee individual members from member companies:
CHF 14’400 (excl. VAT)