beskattningsår

Beskattningsår, or tax year, is the period used to determine and report taxes to the Swedish Tax Agency. The chosen beskattningsår defines the interval for calculating taxable income and for when tax is assessed and paid. The term is used in both personal and corporate taxation and interacts with elements such as annual tax returns, preliminary taxes, and accounting.

For individuals, beskattningsår is the calendar year, 1 January to 31 December. All income earned during that year is assessed on the basis of that period, and the annual income tax return covers that year.

For legal entities and organizations, beskattningsår generally follows the accounting year (the financial year) of the business. A company may apply to the Swedish Tax Agency to use a different beskattningsår than the calendar year, subject to applicable regulations. Changes to the beskattningsår can affect when income is taxed and how tax installments are calculated.

When a business starts, ends, or changes its accounting or tax year, transitional rules and reporting requirements issued by Skatteverket apply.

In practice, beskattningsår is a fundamental concept in Swedish taxation, aligning tax calculation with the period over which income and deductions are measured. Taxpayers should determine and adhere to the correct beskattningsår to ensure proper reporting and payment.