SWEDEN

SWEDEN (MOMS)

Sweden being an EU member state falls under the EU VAT regime. Member states must adopt EU VAT Directives into their own legislation.

Standard VAT Rate: 25%

Reduced VAT Rate: 6%, 12%

Registration Threshold Distance Selling: 320,000 SEK

EU VAT number format: SE999999999999

Registration Threshold

Resident - There is no registration threshold
Non resident - There is no registration threshold                       
IC Acquisitions -SEK 90,000

VAT Registration

Since 1 January 2002 there is no obligation to appoint a VAT representative for EU businesses, and for countries with special agreements with Sweden as regards the collection of VAT debts (e.g. Norway). Businesses from other countries are however still obliged to appoint a fiscal representative.
The appointed representative should, on behalf of the non-resident business, apply for a VAT registration in Sweden and file VAT returns.
EU businesses and businesses established in countries with special agreements with Sweden as regards collection of VAT debts (e.g. Norway), have an optional right to appoint a fiscal representative for the VAT application and reporting.
The business should apply for VAT registration before it starts its taxable business in Sweden.

VAT Compliance

Detailed rules regulate reporting requirements of Swedish transactions for Value Added Tax purposes. These include: invoice requirements, timeliness for an invoice to be issued, invoice and credit notes corrections rules, foreign currency reporting requirements and exchange rate sources, correction of previously submitted returns and accounting records that must be maintained for VAT purposes. 

VAT Returns

As of January 2008 new rules have been introduced in Sweden whereby companies with a VATable turnover below SEK 40,000,000 will report VAT on a quarterly basis instead of monthly. However, companies can opt to submit VAT returns on a monthly basis after notifying the Tax Agency.

• if a taxpayer's taxable turnover is less than SEK 1,000,000 the VAT can be reported in the income tax return. If a business is not obliged to file an income tax return, a yearly VAT return can be submitted if the taxable turnover is less than SEK 200,000. However, this option is not open to foreign businesses.
• if the annual taxable turnover exceeds SEK 40,000,000 the VAT return is due at the latest the 26th day following the reported month;
• if the annual taxable turnover is less than SEK 40,000,000 the VAT return is due at the latest the 12th day of the second month following the reporting month.

Intrastat and EC Sales Lists

The Intrastat discloses details of movements of goods between Member States which take place for commercial reasons, recording the movement whenever goods enter the territory of Sweden from other Member States or leave it to other Member States.
Declaration must be filed monthly once the annual threshold is exceeded.
Intrastat declarations can be submitted in paper format. The due date for submission is ten working days from the end of the reference period. E.g. for the January period, declarations must be submitted by 14 February.