Keeping invoices: 10 years — when the period starts

Scope: what exactly applies

What matters is not the word «invoice» but whether the document supports an entry. If it explains why a figure appears in the accounts, it is an accounting voucher and must be kept for ten years. That covers supplier and customer invoices alike, the PDF invoice from an e-mail attachment just as much as the scanned paper invoice. It does not cover the extra copy you filed alongside it: one voucher is enough, what counts is that it stays complete, legible and attributable to the transaction. Pro-forma invoices and quotes are not accounting vouchers as long as no entry follows them.

When does the period start? An example

A document from March 2026 belongs to the 2026 financial year and remains subject to retention until the end of 2036 — the period runs from the end of the financial year, not from the document date.

In practice with bexio

In bexio, outgoing invoices sit as PDFs with their record, incoming invoices in the inbox and — from Optima upwards — in the document archive. What matters for retention is that you can still find and open them ten years later. quintio continuously mirrors every one of these documents into your own Google Drive, sorted by year and month; bexio remains the leading system.

Related retention periods

• Receipts and cash-register slips 10 years as accounting vouchers
• Bank and credit-card statements 10 years
• VAT-relevant documents until the absolute limitation of the tax claim
• Annual and audit report 10 years — signed
• To the retention period calculator
• Retention obligation in Switzerland: who, what, how long

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How long must I keep invoices in Switzerland?

Ten years, insofar as the invoice substantiates an entry (Art. 958f CO). The period runs from the end of the financial year: an invoice from the 2026 financial year must be kept until the end of 2036.

Is the PDF enough, or do I need the paper invoice?

The PDF is enough. The GeBüV expressly permits electronic retention, provided integrity, traceability and availability are ensured. Only the annual and audit report need a signature.

Do the German 6 or 8 years apply to Swiss invoices too?

No. Six and eight years come from the German commercial code and tax code. In Switzerland, ten years apply under Art. 958f CO.