Are you ready for QR payments to replace payment slips from 1st October 2022?

Written By Anya Brunander

ave you downloaded your new e-banking facilitating QR payments. Old payment slips will not work from October 2022.

“Swiss QR code” was introduced on 30th June 2020 as one of the Swiss payment methods and has been widely used in the country since then. Two years later, Switzerland is exclusively switching to QR bills and e-bills for payment transactions. Starting on 1st October 2022, it will no longer be possible to make transactions via the traditional red and orange slips (orange ISR / red IS); these will be replaced definitely by the QR invoices

What are the advantages of QR bills?

As invoice recipients:

  • payments can be easily entered by scanning the QR codes

  • reduce or eliminate time on manually payment data entering

  • obtain all necessary payment information in one QR code

 As invoice issuers:

  • you can see more substantial information on credits

  • it simplifies your billings - no need to obtain pre-printed payment slips from the banks. Biller can easily create Swiss QR code online via web-based solution of their banks and print the QR invoices on standard paper.

How can I prepare for the change?

For invoice issuer, you will need to switch from red/orange slip invoices to QR invoices. The simplest way to obtain the QR codes for your bills is via QR bill generator of your Swiss bank. If you are using any invoice generator software provider, make sure it is up to date and support QR billing. You would also have to replace your existing standing order to QR bill format.

For invoice recipients, if you currently use Swiss banks, the option to process with QR payments should already be in your e-banking and mobile banking. Importantly, you would need to replace all existing standing orders (based on red and orange payment slips) with QR-bill details by 30 September 2022 at the latest.

Can I still enter payment manually using the IBAN and SWIFT/BIC?

Payments using bank transfer via IBAN and SWIFT/BIC still remains. You can still do transactions via manually entering IBAN, SWIFT and payment information. You might have to be aware that the usual account IBAN and QR IBAN are different.

What about persons who do not use e- banking or smart phones?

Swiss Post still offers the possibility of making payments at their counters. Payers still have the possibility to go to the post offices with the QR invoice and the officers will assist with the payment entering.

In conclusion, the advantages brought by this change far outweigh the disadvantages. The savings in terms of time, administration, paper use and money are indeed surprising.

Most Swiss providers will use more QR invoices as their main payment method, thus having Swiss bank account would definitely facilitate payment entering process for your Swiss company. If you are looking for assistance with Swiss bank account opening, company payment management, employee payroll or cashflow management, F Trust can assist you in these. Please get in touch at admin@ftrust.ch or call us on +41 44 266 10 60.

Anya Brunander
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