Several hundred thousand Norwegians return their tax returns unopened

Figures from the Swedish Tax Agency show that the number of taxpayers who got back their tax last year increased by 300,000 from the time it was sent to the submission deadline. The number who received residual tax was reduced from 900,000 to 740,000 taxpayers.

So there is good reason to check that all the numbers are correct, but not everyone does. Last year, there were several hundred thousand Norwegians who returned their tax return unopened, the Taxpayers’ Association states in a press release.

– It surprises us at the Taxpayers’ Association, because the numbers speak for themselves – it pays to check the tax return, says head of department Rolf Lothe.

Not too late

According to figures from the Swedish Tax Agency, the number of tax refunds increased by 300,000 from the time the tax returns were sent out until the filing deadline last year, and the number of tax arrears was reduced from 900,000 to 740,000.

It can therefore be worthwhile to go through the information in the tax return and check that what is written there is correct.

It is also not too late if you are in a bit of a hurry until the deadline on 30 April.

– If you think that you will not be able to deliver the tax return by the deadline of 30 April, it is possible to apply for a postponement for 30 days. In 2023, 77,500 taxpayers applied for deferment, all were granted, writes the Taxpayers’ Association.

Changes for loans

The Norwegian Tax Agency has made a change in this year’s tax return that you may want to note if you have a loan. The change involves loans and interest deductions being distributed between the borrowers.

– Cohabitants who have a skewed distribution of housing and loans should ensure that they get the correct share of the loan and share of the interest deduction, this can pay off for the final sum, says Lothe.

Young borrowers who have received help from their parents to get into the housing market should also take an extra check.

– If the parents are co-borrowers on the home, they automatically receive half of the loan and half of the interest deduction. If you have serviced the entire loan yourself, all the interest must be entered in your tax return. This change reduces your tax by NOK 22 per hundred, says Lothe.