Swiss transparency register: deadlines for GmbH, AG and foreign companies

In short: The Transparency Act has been in force since 1 October 2026. AGs, GmbHs, cooperatives and certain foreign companies must enter their beneficial owners in the new transparency register once and report every change. For companies subject to a limited audit, the deadline is 1 March 2027 (AG) or 1 April 2027 (others, e.g. GmbH). Reporting is free via EasyGov.swiss.

Who has to report?

The reporting obligation applies in particular to:

• companies limited by shares (AG) and partnerships limited by shares
• limited liability companies (GmbH)
• cooperatives
• SICAVs, SICAFs and limited partnerships for collective investment
• foreign legal entities with a branch entered in the commercial register, effective management in Switzerland or real estate in Switzerland

Exempt are, among others, listed companies and their subsidiaries held by more than 75%, pension funds, and entities at least 75% owned by public authorities. Foundations are not covered by the Act. Exempt entities cannot report voluntarily.

Deadlines for existing Swiss companies

The deadlines run from 1 October 2026. In principle, the report must be made within one month of the first change to the commercial register entry published in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (SOGC) after that date – but no later than the following transitional deadlines:

Company	Deadline
AG subject to an ordinary audit	3 months from 1 October 2026
other companies subject to an ordinary audit	4 months from 1 October 2026
AG subject to a limited audit (or opted out)	by 1 March 2027
other companies subject to a limited audit (e.g. GmbH) and other legal entities	by 1 April 2027
all beneficial owners are already in the commercial register as shareholders or officers	by 1 October 2028

Foreign companies

Foreign legal entities subject to the reporting obligation have six months from entry into force – i.e. until 1 April 2027. In addition, since 1 October 2026, a foreign entity must be entered in the transparency register before a real estate acquisition can be entered in the land register. More: International companies in Switzerland – all deadlines.

The simplified procedure

In two cases, the data is taken directly from the commercial register:

• GmbH whose shareholders are all natural persons
• single-shareholder AG whose sole shareholder is a natural person who is also the only board member entered in the commercial register and the only beneficial owner

Condition: the company is not in liquidation, bankruptcy or composition proceedings. If any condition is not met, the ordinary procedure applies.

Step by step

1. Check whether your company is affected – see the list above.
2. Clarify your audit type: ordinary, limited or opted out. The deadline depends on it.
3. Identify the beneficial owners.
4. Report via EasyGov.swiss – reporting is free.
5. Report every subsequent change concerning the beneficial owners.