Can I refund
taxes
paid in Sweden?

The Swedish word for tax "skatt" has a second meaning: treasure. In 2016, thanks to the tax credits 3.7 million people were able to get tax refunds in the total amount of 29 billion SEK 😀👍 💰

Both local and foreign citizens are able to use a wide range of tax credits in Sweden to reduce the overall amount of taxes (called "skatteavdrag" in Swedish). Kindly note that general tax credits are automatically added to the tax return. But some tax credits can help reduce the amount of taxes you pay.

1) If you pay in Sweden SINK tax, are entitled to get the full amount of tax credits available for local citizens and tax residents, if any of two conditions below match:

• Your salary in Sweden is at least 90% of the yearly income,
  
• You are staying in Sweden for more than 6 months.
  
• You are a citizen of EU/EEA country, or a citizen of countries with which Sweden has signed a tax treaty).
  
  

It's a great option if you paid the SINK tax or worked only during a specific part of the year.
At the same time, you are able to get tax credits in order to cover transportation and food expenses, as well as to cover travel expenses and money spent on accommodation.

What are the benefits of tax credits? Claiming a tax credits save you don't pay taxes on income you've already spent as work expenses.

Most topical tax credits in Sweden for individuals

1. Travel expenses and temporary work. When you have to pay for travel expenses in order to reach your temporary place of work in Sweden for a distance of more than 50 km, you are entitled to get the tax credit for transportation expenses (max. 1 trip per week).

2. Dubbel bosättning. When you don't live home because of the work in Sweden, you are able to get tax credits for accommodation and food expenses (72 SEK for 30 days or the real amount after providing all supporting documents).

3. Grundavdrag. The main tax return type is called Grundavdrag. The exact amount depends on the term of employment and the level of income. Tax authorities will indicate the exact amount in the tax return.

If you live in Sweden only during a part of the year, you are able to enjoy only a corresponding share of the tax credit. As a result, in case if the term of employment is indicated wrongly, or you earn more than 90% of the income in Sweden, you are allowed to get the full amount of tax credit. You need to submit a request in order to get a tax refund. Maximum amount: SEK 35,100 (in 2018).

4. Jobbskatteavdrag. Tax credit for employees. The exact amount depends on the term of employment and the level of income. This tax credit is applied only to the amount of municipal taxes. Tax authorities will indicate the exact amount in the tax return.

If you live in Sweden only during a part of the year, you are able to enjoy only a corresponding share of the tax credit.
As a result, in case if the term of employment is indicated wrongly, or you earn more than 90% of the income in Sweden, you are allowed to get the full amount of tax credit. You need to submit a request in order to get a tax refund. Maximum amount: SEK 27,192 (in 2018).

The Skatteverket tax authority creates a special tax account for each and every person obliged to pay taxes in Sweden. The tax account contains summarized information about paid taxes, tax returns, tax refunds, information from the employer and so on.

You can take a look at an example of the tax account statement here

• Kontoutdrag

Most people think that citizens of Sweden like and support high taxes to get access to qualitative state services and social protection. But what is that really?

The exact tax rate depends on the level of income and the retirement age, i.e. the higher is the income, the bigger are taxes.

Local people (workers) and tax residents of Sweden are able to pay taxes after the deduction of tax credit (from the nontaxable amount).

Tax rates in 2018:

• municipal tax (29-34% depending on the region)
• church tax (1-2%)
• progressive state income tax (20%) for the income of more than 468,700 SEK
• progressive state income tax (5%) for the income of more than 675,700 SEK

Non-residents of Sweden are obliged to pay the so-called 'Special income tax' "SINK", from the first SEK of Swedish Income.

Tax rates in 2018:

• The tax rate for non-residents (SINK) is 35%
• The tax rate for sailors (SINK) is 15%
• The tax rate for non-residents (A-SINK) working in the field of arts and sports is 15%

We do our best to prepare and submit your tax returns (or tax forms and claims) to the tax office within 5 working days. In some countries tax return submitting is possible immediately. After communication will get started, our Tax Agent will report you the precise time.

Tax return processing time depends on the laws of the country. In common, it takes 1 to 3 months.

Sure, all the time we will check the status of the tax return and will keep you updated!

A majority of Swedes have confidence with taxes - in 2016, 5.6 million taxpayers filed the Swedish SKV 2000 tax return.

Everyone who receives a salary, from March, will get a pre-completed tax return (in Swedish: Inkomstdeklaration 1) from the Tax Agency. You will get a letter by post and in your tax account (online).

Note! If you have not received the tax return, probably, your current address is not updated with the tax office. When you decide to move, you have to notify the Tax Agency of your new address within one week.

Non-residents in Sweden and SINK taxpayers do not receive a tax return. In this case, you have to make a request to the Tax Agency.

If the tax office received data from the employer, bank, and etc., then in the tax return you will find pre-filled cells (boxes) with the amounts.

In tax we trust but verify, that's why you should check if everything is correct in pre-filled boxes.

• check the amount of income that you receive from your employer (box 1.1).
  
• check the amount of tax deductions (box 2).
  
  

On page 4, of the tax return, you will find a preliminary calculation (in Swedish: "Preliminär skatteuträkning till Inkomstdeklaration 1)".

The preliminary calculations will indicate: paid taxes, how much you have to pay and result:

• If you will get a tax refund, in the bottom line will indicate: Beräknat belopp att få tillbaka (exklusive ränta)
• if you have to pay additional tax (underpayment of tax), the bottom line will indicate: Beräknat belopp att betala (exklusive ränta).

Deadline for filing a tax return and fines
You have to submit a tax return before 2nd May. If this is not done, Skatteverket will send a fine, in 2018 it was increased to 1250 SEK.
If the tax return is delayed for more than three months, the fine is increased to SEK 2500, and to SEK 3750 if later than five months.

In order to identify people in Sweden, local authorities issue special identification numbers.

There are two types of personal numbers: personal identification number (called Personnummer in Swedish) and the coordination number (called samordningsnummer in Swedish and Coordination Number in English).

• The Personnummer number consists of 10 symbols, where the first six symbols are the date of birth (YYMMDD) added with four more digits.
• The coordination number consists of 10 symbols, where the first four symbols are the date of birth (YYMM) added with two and four more digits

If you have a coordination number, but you decide to get a personal identification number, you have to use the Personnummer in all cases.

If you received a cheque from Skatteverket and you are not able to get your money, or you were just too late to make it, we are here to help you.