Norwegians’ most-hated taxes
July 14, 2011
Heavy taxes tied to their homes and their cars have emerged as the most hated by a majority of Norwegians, according to a new study by a national taxpayers’ organization (Norsk Skattebetalerforening). So intense is the criticism that even some of the country’s most socialist-oriented politicians are considering reform. Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) led its morning [...]
Tax refund season kicks off
June 24, 2011
The Norwegian tax authorities (Skatteetaten) will pay out NOK 22 billion (USD 4 billion) to the 2.2 million taxpayers who have earned refunds this year, meaning that an average of NOK 9,900 (USD 1,800) is currently being deposited into bank accounts across Norway. Another 200,000 Norwegians will have to wait several months for their tax [...]
Famed artist lands in tax trouble
March 17, 2011
Odd Nerdrum, arguably Norway’s most acclaimed contemporary painter, is under indictment for serious tax evasion. Norwegian authorities have charged him with failing to report income on several foreign sales completed at least a decade ago. The tax authorities in Norway claim Nerdrum allegedly failed to report foreign sales revenues of around NOK 14 million (USD [...]
Tax list snoops face new restrictions
February 1, 2011
Norway’s extraordinary openness with its public tax lists looks set to close up a bit, under new rules proposed by the Finance Ministry this week. Information on what all Norwegians earned and paid in taxes will still be available, but not for unrestricted snooping on commercial websites. The Norwegian government has for decades bared its [...]
Tax officials crack down on false IDs
January 14, 2011
Thousands of foreigners working in Norway on a temporary basis are likely to be called in for new identity checks and must obtain a new skattekort, the almighty tax card needed in order to legally be paid for services rendered. None of the personal ID numbers they’ve been given will be categorized as having been [...]
Net income still evenly distributed
November 9, 2010
The global finance crisis hasn’t had much affect on Norway’s relatively even distribution of income. Fully 90 percent of all Norwegians earn less than NOK 450,000 (USD 75,000) per year, according to an examination of the country’s most recently filed tax returns. The remaining 10 percent reporting higher net incomes could claim a third of [...]
Open tax lists may be closed
November 4, 2010
Norway’s state tax director is fed up with the “media circus” linked to annual release of public tax lists. He’s proposing new restrictions that will lower the degree of sensation and intrusion in private lives. Norway has a long history of making its tax lists public but the age of the Internet has led to [...]
Sales dip at state wine monopoly
November 3, 2010
For the first time since the 1980s, sales at Norway’s state liquor and wine monopoly Vinmonopolet have declined. Some blame competition from far lower taxes and prices in Sweden, and are calling for an end to tax-free sales at, for example, Norwegian airports. Newspaper Aftenposten reported on Wednesday that Vinmonopolet’s sales normally rise around 4 [...]
Tax lists bared for public review
October 20, 2010
Norway has once again become probably the only country in the world to publicly disclose its tax lists showing what every single taxpayer has contributed to the common good. The lists reveal reported income, net worth and taxes paid, but remain controversial. “We’re not aware of any other country publishing its tax lists on the [...]
Tobacco heir is Norway’s wealthiest
October 20, 2010
An investor who’s heir to a family tobacco fortune was ranked as having the largest personal net worth in Norway after state tax lists were made public on Wednesday. A relatively unknown energy trader from Grimstad had the highest income, and the foreign minister is by far the wealthiest member of the Norwegian government. These [...]
State tries to curb jump in snuff use
October 12, 2010
Sales of the moist powdered variant of the chewing tobacco known as snuff, or snus in Norwegian, have more than tripled in Norway during the past decade. While the British have long been known for their stiff upper lip, increasing numbers of Norwegians now sport a thick upper lip. Snus (roughly pronounced “snoose”) was long relegated [...]
High parking rates cause embarrassment
August 9, 2010
Oslo’s city administrator says he’s “almost embarrassed” after a new study once again places the Norwegian capital as among the most expensive in the world, this time because of its parking rates. Colliers International reported last week that it costs an average USD 54.52 to park a car for a day in Oslo. Only Abu [...]
Wealthy willing to pay more tax
July 16, 2010
Even Norwegians on the conservative side of the political spectrum appear willing to pay more taxes, in order to maintain the current level of social services offered by Norway’s social welfare state. A new survey indicates that the affluent are the most willing to pay more. Norway is known for having some of the highest [...]
Government still going after shipowners
March 27, 2010
The Norwegian government recently lost a major tax battle with shipowners in the country’s highest court, but it’s not giving up its effort to claim back taxes. Finance Minister Sigbjørn Johnsen sent out a surprising new claim late Friday, just after most opponents were taking off on Easter holiday, and that’s riled the shipping industry [...]
Tax season shifts into high gear
March 23, 2010
Norwegian tax authorities started sending out the annual tax returns known as the selvangivelse this week. That literally translates “to give of yourself,” but as it turns out, around 2.3 million taxpayers stand to get something back this year. Preliminary calculations by the state tax agency Skatteetaten show that individual taxpayers are owed NOK 25 billion [...]
