In this paper, the authors compare results obtained by semi-analytical and numerical approaches for the dynamic response of a poroviscoelastic soil under transient loads. The behaviour of the medium is governed by complete Biot formalism. The semi-analytical approach is based on Helmholtz decompositions and Fourier transforms, and yields exact solid and fluid displacements in the transformed domain. The numerical approach uses a C++ object oriented programming finite element–finite difference code. Both methods give concurring results. Moreover, influence of viscous coupling on the response of the ground and visualization of the compressional wave of the second kind are discussed