Taxes

Skatt vest Stavanger (Local Tax Office)
Lagårdsveien 46
4010 Stavanger
80 08 00 00

Direct taxes
In Norway income tax (“inntektsskatt”) and wealth tax (“formuesskatt”) are direct taxes (“direkte skatter”). Income tax is paid directly as a percentage of income, whereas wealth tax is a tax on things you own, such as a house, bank deposits etc. Taxes are paid both to the state and the local municipality. In addition, a premium is paid to the social security system to finance public hospitals, medical treatment and various social benefits.

Indirect taxes
The most important indirect tax (“indirekte skatt”) is value added tax, VAT, which is a general tax levied on sales within the country and on import. VAT is levied on most goods and some services, and applies to all stages in the chain of production and distribution. Any person engaged in trade or business is required to register and to charge and pay VAT on goods he/she supplies. VAT on inputs purchased by the registrants is deductible in the VAT accounts. VAT is thus not a tax on the registrants but a tax on final consumption. VAT is presently calculated at a rate of 8 to 25 per cent of net price.

All self-employed persons are obliged to add this tax to sales of goods and services; it is a punishable offense not paying this tax in Norway. Further information on value added tax is available from the County Tax Assesment Office (“Fylkesskattekontoret”).

Tax card
Your employer in Norway is obliged to deduct tax from you wages before you are paid. Once you have found employment in Norway you must obtain a tax card from you local taxation office as soon as possible. Your employer and the taxation office will provide all necessary information on how to apply and what you must enclose with your application. The tax card states what percentage of your income your employer must deduct in tax. If you start work without a tax card, your employer is obliged to deduce 50 % tax. This is generally more than would be deducted from you wages if you had a tax card, but if you have paid too much tax, you will receive a refund in the spring or autumn of the following year when the tax assessments are completed. Your local tax assessment office (“likningskontor”) will provide more information.

Tax treaties
There are tax-treaties between Norway and other states for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion.

More tax info here.

Accountants
Ernst & Young AS
Vassbotnen
4313 Sandnes
51 70 66 00

PricewaterhouseCoopers AS
Forus Atrium
N-4313 Sandnes
95 26 00 00

Deloitte AS
Strandsvingen 14
4032 Stavanger
51 81 56 00

KPMG AS
Petroleumsveien 6
4033 Stavanger
51 57 12 29

Financial Services
Finans Senteret (offer advice on investments, financing and insurance.)
Jærveien 34
Postboks 484
4304 Sandnes