A survey conducted last year by Verian on behalf of Familjens jurist showed that 18 percent of those surveyed felt uncertain about filing their tax return. This was usually due to not knowing what information needed to be checked or possibly corrected.
The greatest uncertainty was among people aged 18 to 29, with nearly 40 percent saying they were unsure about the contents of the tax return.
Johan Schauman, a tax expert at the Swedish Tax Agency, encounters people every year who are worried about their tax returns.
"I feel there is a general stress and unfamiliarity connected to taxes and the Swedish Tax Agency," he says.
Unnecessary worry
Many people are unnecessarily worried, Johan Schauman believes.
"We have worked for a long time to lower the threshold, so that it is just a matter of opening, checking and approving. It is not like before, when you had a hundred folders and worked on them for three nights," he says.
Most information is now already filled in on the tax return, and for first-time filers there are often only two items to check: income from work (salary) and whether you received interest on your savings.
"It can be a good idea to check that the salary amount is correct. Was it what you expected? Does it match your pay slips? If it is not correct, you can ask your employer to correct it," says Johan Schauman.
The smallest details
However, you may need to add to your tax return if you have sold shares, rented out your home, or want to claim deductions for travel to and from work.
And if you feel even the slightest bit unsure, you can call the Swedish Tax Agency's tax return information service to get help checking specific items on the tax return, says Schauman.
If you have sold shares:
For this year's tax return, you can hold shares worth up to SEK 150,000 in an investment savings account (ISK) or endowment insurance without any tax consequences.
However, if you sell shares via a custody account, you will receive information in the tax return that tells you which shares you sold. You will then need to add what they were purchased for.
If you rent out private accommodation:
On the Swedish Tax Agency's website, you can enter information about the rental to see whether you need to pay tax on the income.
As a rule, you do not have to pay tax if the rental income is below SEK 40,000.
Deductions for travel to and from work:
To get a deduction for travel to and from work, the journey must be at least five kilometers one way. There must also be a clear time saving by using the car instead of public transport.
On the Swedish Tax Agency's website, you can check whether you are entitled to a deduction.
If you want to get your money back:
To receive your money, you need to register a bank account with the Swedish Tax Agency. You can do this at the same time as you file your tax return in the e-service Income Tax Return 1. You can also register your account in one of the e-services Mina sidor or Skattekonto.
Corrected: In an earlier version of the text, the wrong tax-free amount was stated in the ISK account in the fact box.
Source: Swedish Tax Agency
