Everything you need to know about Swedish taxes!

It is tax season here in Sweden (and in the US!) so I thought it the perfect time to dive into Swedish taxes. Now I know that everyone hates taxes, but I have to tell you, filing taxes in Sweden isn’t that bad. It’s quite easy actually. Dare, I say…Fun…?

I know what you are thinking: Tess, that cannot be true! But hear me out. Swedish taxes can be filed in a little as five minutes. Seriously.

And coming from the US, where filing taxes is unnecessarily complicated (and expensive! No need to buy a TurboTax membership in Sweden!), it almost makes me a little giddy to file taxes so quickly.

I’ll even show you how.

Start by going to the tax agency’s (skatteverket) website. You can find everything you need at skatteverket.se and it is also where you will be filing your taxes (they are called Tax Return 1). You will need to login and e-authenticate with your Mobile Bank-ID. From there, you will see a list of these steps:

Starting with check, you look over your tax forms that will be pre-populated. You will also see here the tax refund (skattepengar) you will receive. Moving through the next three steps (attachments – tax calculation), you can add in any deductions, deal with foreign tax considerations, and attach any necessary forms. The fifth step is to update your bank account information to be sure your tax refund goes to the right place. You then double check your information, such as email and phone number. Then you press submit! In seven simple steps you have submitted your taxes! Honestly, you probably will spend more time reading this post!

But when does this need to happen by? For 2021, declare no later than May 1st. If you wait until this last possible date, know that your tax refund may not arrive until June 11th, 2021. For those that like to declare early like I do, declare by May 30th, 2021 to receive your tax refund (skattepengar) in April! Is the Easter bunny secretly an accountant on the side?

Are you reading this post in a different year or need to file a property declaration? Look here for a list of important dates (viktiga datum).

• Skatteverket, the Swedish tax agency, also has an app! How very modern of them. While you can declare there, I’m not sure how easy it will be to translate Swedish when using the app. So I’d recommend using their website, unless you know Swedish tax words well.
• And in case you want to brush up on your Swedish tax terms, let me help get you started:
  • a tax — en skatt
  • to submit a tax declaration — att deklarera
  • a tax refund — en skatteåterbäring
  • a deduction — ett avdrag
  • a bank account — ett bankkonto

• If you create a digital mailbox (digital brevlåda), you can get all of your tax forms digitally. It is really handy to get your declaration this way instead of waiting for snail mail. You’ll also get your forms earlier (as soon as May 3rd, 2021). But you often need to sign up for a digital mailbox before the end of February. You can create a digital mailbox here.
• If you are curious how the coronavirus has effected Swedish tax deductions, read more here.
• While I have filled out Swedish taxes a few times since moving here in 2018, I am by no means an expert or an accountant. I am a private, employed person who does not own a Swedish business, property, or even a car. If you have other tax considerations (or if you are unsure what your tax considerations are), consider hiring an expert and doing more research.

Sources

• The dates you need to know for Swedish tax declaration season
• skatteverket.se