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When do you have to pay vehicle tax (fordonsskatt) in Sweden?

How the payment month is set, when the notice arrives and what a late payment costs.

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Short answer

The last digit of the registration number sets the month you pay vehicle tax, and payment must be booked by the last day of that month. Digits 0 to 9 mean March, April, May, June, August, October, November, December, January and February in that order. The payment slip is sent by the 12th of the month.

Driving and traffic rules in Sweden Illustration of a car on a forest road with a moose warning sign and a car key

Why

  1. Transportstyrelsen says the last digit of the registration number decides the payment month, and that if the plate ends in a letter the second-to-last character decides.
  2. Transportstyrelsen says payment must be booked on its account by the last day of the payment month, and that a payment slip is sent by the 12th of that month.
  3. Transportstyrelsen says a late payment always gives a late fee of at least SEK 100, and that after the last booking day the vehicle may not be used while the tax is unpaid.

Details

If the annual tax is over SEK 3,600, it is split into three periods: for digit 0 the months are March, July and November. You cannot choose another split. The person registered as owner at the start of the month is liable for that month's tax, according to Transportstyrelsen. See driving and traffic rules in Sweden and car dealerships in Stockholm if you are buying or selling a car.

Tip

Set up autogiro or e-invoice for the ordinary vehicle tax so the payment is not missed, and note that they do not cover tax charged when a vehicle is put on the road.

What may differ

According to Transportstyrelsen, parked (avställda) vehicles are not taxable, and tax charged when a vehicle is put on the road is not paid by autogiro.

Common misconception

If you sell the car during the payment month, the buyer pays that month's tax.

What actually happens

Transportstyrelsen says the person registered as owner at the start of the month is liable, and that a change of owner during the payment month does not move the liability.

People also ask

  • When do I have to pay fordonsskatt?
  • When is car tax due in Sweden?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check Transportstyrelsen before you pay.

Driving and traffic rules in Sweden
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