Matkakuluvähennys

Matkakuluvähennys, also known as travel expense deduction, is a tax provision in Finland that allows individuals to deduct certain travel expenses related to work from their taxable income. This deduction is intended to ease the financial burden on employees who have to commute to their place of employment.

To be eligible for the matkakuluvähennys, the travel must be between the taxpayer's home and their primary place of work. The deduction is calculated based on the shortest reasonable route. There is a deductible amount for the cheapest mode of public transport, and if public transport is not available or impractical, the deduction can be based on the cost of using a private car. The Finnish Tax Administration (Verohallinto) provides specific guidelines and rates for these calculations.

There is a minimum amount of deductible travel expenses that must be met before any deduction can be claimed. This threshold, known as the "omavastuu" or self-risk, is set annually. Expenses below this amount cannot be deducted. The maximum amount that can be deducted is also capped. For those using a private car, the deductible amount per kilometer is fixed by the tax authorities.

The matkakuluvähennys can be claimed when filing one's annual tax return. It is important to keep records and documentation supporting the travel expenses, such as public transport tickets or mileage logs, in case the Tax Administration requests them. The specific rules and amounts for the matkakuluvähennys are subject to change and are detailed in the annual tax guides published by Verohallinto.