Background & Purpose

This decision aims to make it clearer how much tax big companies pay and where, making it easier for the public to scrutinize their financial contributions. It addresses concerns about large corporations potentially avoiding taxes by shifting profits between countries.

Proposals & Debate

The government proposed a new law, based on an EU directive, requiring large companies to publish their income tax details for each country. This includes submitting a report to the Swedish Companies Registration Office and making it available on their own websites.

The Decision

The Swedish Parliament approved the government's proposal. This means a new law is now in place, requiring large multinational companies to be more open about their tax payments globally.

Does this affect you?

  • Large Multinational Companies in Sweden: They must now publicly disclose their income tax payments per country, increasing their administrative burden and public scrutiny.
  • The Public and Media: They gain access to detailed tax information, allowing for better oversight and understanding of corporate tax contributions.
  • Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket): They will receive and manage the new tax transparency reports from affected companies.

In Practice

  • Companies with annual revenues over 8 billion SEK must prepare a special report.
  • This report will detail the income tax paid in each country where the company operates.
  • The report must be submitted to the Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket).
  • Companies must also publish this tax report on their own websites for public access.
  • The new rules apply to financial years starting after May 31, 2024.