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The Danish welfare state is, among other things, based on the concept of citizens having equal access to the different services paid for by taxes.

  • Everyone must be able to get help in situations, such as unemployment or illness.
  • All children must attend school and have the possibility of completing an education.
  • All citizens must have access to information and guidance (for example from libraries and media).
  • The public sector provides numerous services.

All citizens use the public sector in some way, and as a general principle all citizens must thus help pay for it. The tax funds are used to pay for the different expenses that Danish society has such as welfare benefits, state pension, child benefits and for public institutions such as schools, hospitals, libraries and the police.

The Danish tax system is progressive. This means that the higher your income, the more taxes you have to pay. In many other countries citizens pay less tax than in Denmark, but in return they have to pay to go to school, to the hospital, the doctor's, etc. Denmark has its own Minister of Taxation, Ministry of Taxation and its own taxation laws.

The Danish Tax Agency (Skattestyrelsen) will automatically receive most of the information required to determine the tax for most tax payers.

  • Employers provide information about your pay
  • Banks provide information about any interest income and expenses
  • Unemployment funds and unions will provide information about your membership payments etc.

Therefore, you have to provide us with very little information yourself. Often you just have to check the correctness of the information stated in the documents that we send you.

If you are planning to move or have just moved to Denmark, we recommend that you read our Practical guide to the Danish tax system

Please see our legal guide (in Danish) for further legal information.