How does the Swedish tax return work?

Every year, your employer withholds preliminary tax from your salary. When you file your tax return in spring, Skatteverket calculates your actual tax liability. If too much tax was withheld, you get a refund. If too little was paid, you owe the difference.

ROT-avdrag is a tax deduction for home renovation and repair work. In 2026, you can deduct 30% of labor costs up to a maximum of 50,000 SEK per person per year. Only labor costs qualify, not materials or equipment.

RUT-avdrag covers household services like cleaning, gardening, childcare, and moving help. You can deduct 50% of the labor cost. The combined maximum for ROT + RUT is 75,000 SEK per person per year.

How does the interest deduction work in Sweden?

You can deduct interest paid on secured loans (mortgages, car loans, etc.) from your tax: 30% reduction on the first 100,000 SEK of interest per year, and 21% on interest above 100,000 SEK. From 2026, interest on unsecured consumer loans is no longer deductible.

When do I get my Swedish tax refund?

If you file your tax return digitally and approve it early (March-April), refunds are typically paid in April. If you file later, refunds usually arrive in June-August.

Tax Return

Swedish Tax Return Estimator 2026

Estimate your Swedish tax return. See if you'll get a refund or owe additional tax based on your deductions for ROT, RUT, interest, and commuting.

Your Income

Monthly salary (before tax)

SEK

15,000150,000

Municipality

Tax rate: 30.55%

Your Deductions (Yearly)

Interest paid on loans (yearly)

SEK

Mortgage and other secured loan interest

ROT - renovation labor cost (yearly)

SEK

30% deduction, max 50,000 SEK

RUT - household services cost (yearly)

SEK

50% deduction, ROT+RUT max 75,000 SEK combined

Commuting costs (yearly)

SEK

Deductible above 15 000 SEK/year

Estimated Tax Refund

+0 SEK

You may get this amount back from Skatteverket

Add deductions above to see your potential tax refund. Common deductions include mortgage interest, ROT (home renovation), and RUT (household services).

Tax Withheld

117 986 SEK

What your employer deducted during the year

Actual Tax Owed

117 986 SEK

After applying all your deductions

Deduction Breakdown (Yearly)

Gross yearly income

540 000 SEK

Basic deduction

Tax-free amount

-17 700 SEK

Municipal tax

30.55% in Stockholm

159 563 SEK

Work tax credit

Jobbskatteavdrag

-41 576 SEK

Estimated refund+0 SEK

Estimate only. This tool provides an approximation based on 2026 tax rules. Actual tax return may differ based on capital gains, church membership, other income sources, and specific circumstances. For official calculations, visit Skatteverket.se

Frequently Asked Questions About Swedish Tax Returns

How the Swedish Tax Return Works

Each year, your employer withholds preliminary tax based on standard tax tables. This preliminary tax doesn't account for personal deductions like mortgage interest, ROT/RUT, or commuting costs.

When you file your annual tax return (deklaration), usually in April-May, Skatteverket recalculates your actual tax liability including all applicable deductions. The difference between what was withheld and what you actually owe determines whether you get a refund or need to pay additional tax.

Common reasons for a tax refund: mortgage interest payments, ROT/RUT deductions, commuting costs exceeding the threshold, capital losses, or if your employer withheld too much tax.

Calculate Your Take-Home Salary

Use our Swedish salary calculator to find out how much you earn after taxes in any municipality.

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