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WHAT CHANGES IN DENMARK

What changes about life in Denmark in January 2024

From time off work and school to significant shifts in property tax regulations, rail fares, and even how commuters pay for public transportation, here are some things to look out for in Denmark this January.

Published: 28 December 2023 15:33 CET
NY fireworks
January 1st, New Year's, falls on a weekday this year, giving everyone an official day off to enjoy and unwind. Photo by: Mads Claus Rasmussen / Ritzau Scanpix

Time off work and school

January 1st, which marks New Year’s Day, falls on a weekday this year, providing people with an official day off to celebrate and relax.

This is a welcome change from the previous year when several major festive days fell on weekends.

New Year’s banquet and state receptions

On January 1st, 2024, a New Year’s banquet and reception will be held at Christian VII’s Palace at Amalienborg, the official residence of the Danish royal family located in Copenhagen. The event will be attended by government officials, the Speaker of the Danish Parliament, and the Royal Court.

Another New Year’s reception will take place on January 3rd for the justices of the Supreme Court of Denmark and several groups. This event will also take place at Christian VII’s Palace.

Subsequently, another levee will be held for the diplomatic corps at Christiansborg Palace on the same day. On January 4th, officers from the Defence and the Danish Emergency Management Agency will also gather for a reception. Representatives of major national organisations and royalty (including Queen Margrethe II of Denmark) will also attend this event.

Changes to Danish property tax rules

Starting January 1st, 2024, Denmark will implement new property tax regulations, ushering in significant changes for homeowners nationwide.

These changes are expected to lead to lower property tax rates for most homeowners, benefiting four out of every five.

READ MORE: What do homeowners need to know about new Danish property tax rules?

However, subsidies will be provided to mitigate potential higher tax rates for existing homeowners to ensure that the new property tax rules do not impose additional financial burdens.

On the other hand, future homeowners could face a different property tax bill once the new rules have taken effect, compared to if they had purchased their home before 2024.

DSB train

In 2024, Denmark will witness rail ticket price increases of up to 13 percent, with most regions facing higher costs. Photo by: Ida Marie Odgaard / Ritzau Scanpix

Rail fares set to increase

January 2024 also marks the start of an adjustment in rail ticket prices across Denmark.

Rail fares are set to increase by up to 13 percent, with most regions experiencing higher ticket costs.

The extent of these changes varies depending on the region and the ticket type, averaging around a 10 percent increase.

These price adjustments come as a response to a backlog of costs from 2022 and 2023, as stated by the national rail operator, DSB.

Check your preliminary tax return

In January, taxpayers are usually advised to review their preliminary tax return or forskudsopgørelser for the forthcoming year.

These preliminary tax returns, published in November 2023, carry over information from the previous tax year and use the most recent tax return data.

READ ALSO: Why it pays to check your Danish preliminary tax return in January

As tax years in Denmark follow calendar years, updating your preliminary tax return in the new year ensures accurate tax payments from the start.

The Danish tax authority, Skat, advises taxpayers to update their preliminary returns if their personal circumstances have changed, such as employment, salary changes, and mortgage arrangements.

Plastic Rejsekort to be phased out

The plastic Rejsekort will gradually make way for a new mobile app, changing how passengers pay for their journeys.

READ MORE: Denmark’s Rejsekort to be replaced by app

Passengers using Danish buses, trains, and metros will have the option to transition from their physical Rejsekort to a digital counterpart.

While the rollout of the mobile app will initially provide passengers with a choice between the digital version and the traditional physical card, the gradual phase-out of the physical Rejsekort is on the horizon.

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WHAT CHANGES IN DENMARK

KEY POINTS: What changes about life in Denmark in May 2024?

Sirens (including on smart phones) to be tested, deadline for tax returns, national holidays and a Copenhagen Marathon enjoying record popularity are among events and changes coming this month in Denmark.

Published: 29 April 2024 17:20 CEST
Updated: 1 May 2024 11:38 CEST
KEY POINTS: What changes about life in Denmark in May 2024?

Sirens and mobile alert to be tested on May 1st

Each May, Denmark tests the sirens that authorities can use to warn the population if there is an emergency situation.

The 2024 test is scheduled to take place as usual at noon on the first Wednesday of the month – which this year also means the first day of the month, Wednesday May 1st.

A test of a digital warning system, first introduced last year, will also be tested in 2024. The digital system allows authorities to send siren sounds and warning messages to smartphones.

Last year’s version of the digital test did not reach everyone due to it only being compatible with certain phone updates. So you may find you receive this year even if you did not in 2023.

Anyone with a smart phone connected to the Danish network can expect to receive the test siren and message on their devices on May 3rd at 12pm.

The physical and digital test sirens are sent out by the Danish Emergency Management Agency (Beredskabsstyrelen or DEMA) and the Danish National Police. More information can be found in English (and 10 other languages) on the DEMA website.

Deadline for finalising tax returns

Denmark’s tax authority SKAT opened access to annual tax returns on March 11th.

Annual tax returns (årsopgørelser) in Denmark cover calendar years. They are released in March and finalised in late spring, meaning taxpayers have this period to correct the information on their tax returns from the previous calendar year.

The tax returns encompass income over the preceding tax year as well as deductions and subsidies.

Normally, around three in four people receive money back from the tax authorities once their return is finalised. The amount paid back varies and depends on individual circumstances, and others may owe money to the tax system.

Rebates from the tax system are sent from mid-April onwards but the final deadline for updating information on the returns is May 1st. This means that, at the time of writing, you still (just about) have time to check whether your return is correct and update any information.

READ ALSO: 

Public holidays and other days off in May

Great Prayer Day or Store Bededag is no longer a national holiday (and fell in April this year anyway) but there are still a few dates to highlight in the diary for time off work.

Ascension Day, Kristi Himmelfartsdag in Danish, is less than two weeks after Great Prayer Day on Thursday May 9th.

Many Danes take the Friday after Ascension Day as annual leave, giving them a four-day weekend at the cost of only one day of leave.

Then there’s Whitsunday and Whitmonday, known in Danish as Pinsedag and 2. Pinsedag. These fall on May 19th and 20th respectively, so that’s another three-day weekend in the middle of the month.

Meanwhile, Labour Day on May 1st is not a public holiday in Denmark – unlike in the other Nordic countries – but many of Denmark’s workers do have the day off (sometimes half a day), provided by their collective bargaining agreements.

READ ALSO: Why isn’t May 1st a public holiday in Denmark but is in Sweden and Norway?

Switch to summer tyres (if you haven’t already)

Alternating between winter and summer tyres is not a legal requirement in Denmark, but is broadly recommended, including by FDM, the Danish membership organisation for motorists.

Neighbouring Sweden, Norway and Germany – where many Danish residents head on skiing and other holidays during the colder months – all have rules requiring winter tyres, meanwhile, meaning the practice is common in Denmark, not least for those who may need to take their cars over the border.

Most people switch back to summer tyres at Easter, which this year fell on April 9th. But the weather was still quite wintry during the early part of April, so some car owners may have held out a little longer.

More about the practice of using winter and summer tyres in Denmark can be found in this article.

Copenhagen Marathon ready to go amid massive spike in interest

The Copenhagen Marathon takes place on Sunday May 7th, so if you’re planning to drive or take a bus through parts of the capital that day you should plan ahead to avoid disruption.

The 42.2-kilometre route through the city includes a start and finish area at Øster Allé near Fælledparken. It will take marathoners past Tivoli, Christiansborg and Kongens Nytorv, as well as the charred remains of the old stock exchange, Børsen.

The marathon takes in each of Copenhagen’s central districts: Vesterbro, the Inner City, Østerbro, Frederiksberg and Nørrebro.

There’s usually a great energy along the route, with Nørrebrogade near Dronning Louises Bro (Bridge) and much of Østerbro, particularly around the Trianglen junction, among good places to lend your support.

This year could be a classic edition of the event: there’s been a surge in interest in the sport in recent years, and this year’s Copenhagen Marathon has been sold out for months – something that has not previously happened in the event’s history.

READ ALSO: Why has the Copenhagen Marathon seen a jump in popularity?

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