The key changes for the 2025 Norwegian tax return season you should know about
If you're a worker or pensioned in Norway, you've come to associate March and April with the country's tax return season.
This year, the tax authorities will start sending out tax returns (Norwegian: skattemeldingen) on March 13th, with additional batches rolling out until April 4th.
Furthermore, 2025 brings several important tax changes that could impact deductions, tax rates, and the overall filing process.
What's new for 2025?
A lot, actually.
The Norwegian government has introduced several adjustments that should provide some tax relief and simplify the filing process.
The personal allowance has been increased from 79,600 to 88,250 kroner, reducing taxable income for many. The personal allowance is a general basic deduction against general income. Next year this allowance will increase even more.
Residents in Finnmark and northern municipalities will see their tax deduction increase from 20,550 to 30,000 kroner.
Furthermore, the social security contribution on earned income (Norwegian: trygdeavgiften på lønnsinntekter) has been reduced by 0.1 percentage points, leading to a slight tax cut for workers.
Travel deduction rates have been raised, and the maximum deductible for union fees has been increased to 8,000 kroner.
There are also changes to property tax reporting, as property owners will now receive a single comprehensive tax card instead of multiple cards for asset value, rental income, and other property-related factors. One thing homeowners with a fixed-rate mortgage deal should be aware of is that those with these types of deal often receive the wrong figure for their interest rate deductibles.
The RF-1088 shareholder declaration has been fully digitalised and is now accessible through your Tax Administration page.
Lastly, guardians and those managing taxes on behalf of someone who has passed away will now have full submission and account management access, rather than just read-only rights.
Why you should check your tax return carefully
Although much of your tax return is pre-filled by the Norwegian tax authorities, mistakes can still happen.
You should always review all figures carefully, especially deductions that are not automatically included, such as commuter expenses or investment losses.
Missing income details can also result in penalties if the tax authorities identify discrepancies before they are corrected.
"If you get a large amount of back taxes, it's a sign that you need to adjust your tax card for next year," Lene Drange, a private accountant, told the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK).
She also recommended people familiarise themselves with potential deductions using the Norwegian Tax Administration's deduction guide, which you can find here.
Why it pays to file early – and key tax deadlines for 2025
Those who submit their tax returns early may receive their refund before the general settlement deadline of April 30th, while those who wait could face delays until later in the year.
For those who file early, the first (re)payments could be issued as early as March 19th.
On a more general note, the first batch of tax returns will be sent out on March 13th to 500,000 employees and pensioners, followed by ongoing releases until April 4th.
Self-employed people will begin receiving their tax returns from March 18th. The deadline for submitting tax returns is April 30th, though you might be able to get an extension upon request.
The deadline for paying back taxes without interest is May 31st. If taxes are owed, the first payment deadline is August 20th, with an optional second instalment on September 24th.
Final tax refunds are issued no later than December 1st.
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