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TAXES

Sweden remains the EU’s fourth most taxed country

Sweden had the fourth highest tax-to-GDP ratio in the European Union last year, according to new figures released by Eurostat on Wednesday.

Published: 28 November 2018 16:56 CET
Sweden remains the EU's fourth most taxed country
File photo: Kenny Bengtsson SvD/TT
Tax revenue in Sweden accounted for 44.9 percent of its gross domestic product, well above the EU average of 40.2 percent. 
 
France was the EU country with the highest tax-to-GDP ratio at 48.4 percent, followed by Belgium (47.3) and Denmark (46.5). At the other end of the spectrum was Ireland, where the ratio was at 23.5 percent. 
 
Tax revenue increased across the board in the EU in 2017, inching up from 39.9 to 40.2 percent. Sweden was no exception, although it increase was an even smaller 0.1 percent. 
 
Sweden led the EU in the share of taxes on production and imports, which accounted for 22.7 percent of GDP. It also had the second highest taxes on individual or household income at 15.8 percent. Only neighbouring Denmark was higher, at 25.4 percent.
 
Sweden's position as the fourth most taxed EU nation was the same as in last year's Eurostat report. 

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MONEY

How to avoid falling victim to tax scams in Sweden

Sweden's tax agency, Skatteverket, warns of an increase in scams when it's time for Swedish tax-payers to declare their taxes.

Published: 12 March 2024 13:40 CET
How to avoid falling victim to tax scams in Sweden

Anyone who earned more than 22,208 kronor last year received their tax returns digitally last week, marking the start of tax season.

That also means an expected peak in tax-related scams, Skatteverket warns.

Most of the scams are so-called phishing scams, meaning attempts to steal the victims’ personal information. Fraudsters may for example email a person, pretending to represent Skatteverket, and ask them for, among other things, their banking details.

“We’re seeing these in all channels. They use fake emails, SMS, letters and in some cases even phone calls. It is particularly common in tax declaration times – just when we’re about to send out the tax returns, the e-service opens and it’s possible to declare – but above all when it’s time for tax rebates,” Jan Janowski, a Skatteverket expert, told Swedish news agency TT.

A scam email might for example state that you’re entitled to a tax rebate and that you should click a link to receive it. Don’t click any links, open any attachments or reply to the message. Skatteverket advises that you immediately delete the email or text message.

Another common scam is that you receive a text message claiming to be from Skatteverket, telling you that you owe them money and you need to log in to calculate the amount. The website you’re urged to log in via does not belong to Skatteverket. Don’t click the link.

The agency stresses that it never asks people for their banking details. The exception is that you may be asked for your bank account information if you log into Skatteverket’s website to declare your taxes, but that always first requires you to log into the site.

To receive your tax rebate, you need to inform Skatteverket of your bank account number. You do this not by clicking a link in an email or SMS, but by logging into their website using a digital ID, for example BankID, and submitting your details. Only do this on your own initiative. If someone calls you and asks you to log in with your BankID during the phone call, don’t do it. That’s another common scam.

Skatteverket will also never call you to ask for your bank account or credit card number.

It will be possible to declare your taxes from March 19th. You’ll receive any tax rebate you’re owed by mid-April or early June, depending on when you submit your tax return. These are the dates when fraudsters are likely to attempt the most scams.

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