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If your employer, bank or similar has failed to fulfil its obligation to provide information to the Norwegian Tax Administration on time, the amount in question will not have been pre-entered in your tax return. You must therefore declare such amounts yourself in your tax return. This is why the guidelines use the term «the amount must be entered under item» both for pre-entered amounts and amounts that have not been entered in advance. If the tax return does not include a separate item under which to declare amounts not entered in advance, state the item number and amount in the field «Any amounts that have not been pre-entered must be entered here».

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Information for foreign employees staying in Norway at skatteetaten.no

Guidelines:

Guidelines for foreign employees and self-employed persons

Brochures:

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1.3 Cohabitants

Cohabitants who have joint children must tick item 1.3.1. Cohabitants with joint capital/debt must tick item 1.3.2.

For information about the tax assessment of children and cohabitants, see «Parents and children», «Spouses, registered partners and spouse-equivalent cohabitants» and «Cohabitants».

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1.5 Other information

1.5.1 Young people’s housing saving (BSU) scheme

The tax deduction is granted on the basis of a report submitted by the bank.

If you are claiming a tax deduction for savings amounts deposited in another EEA state, separate rules apply to documentation. See more about this at skatteetaten.no.

1.5.2 Lottery and betting winnings etc.

Winnings from the following types of games of chance and lotteries are exempt from tax:

games organised by Norsk Tipping AS, e.g. Lotto, Viking Lotto, Tipping and Oddsen
totalisator betting covered by the Totalisator Act (Rikstoto)
lotteries pursuant to the Lottery Act, including scratch cards and bingo
games of chance and lotteries in another EEA state corresponding to games or lotteries that are legal in Norway
initiatives organised by the mass media that are open to the public.

If your tax-exempt lottery winnings in 2010 totalled NOK 100,000 or more, you must enclose confirmation from the party or parties who paid you the winnings.

Winnings other than those mentioned above are liable to tax if the value of each individual win exceeds NOK 10,000 before deduction of expenses. Taxable winnings must be declared under item 3.1.12. Expenses (stakes) that are directly related to the taxable winnings must be entered under item 3.3.7.

The tax exemption for winnings from games of chance and competitions does not apply if the winnings are deemed to be remuneration for work or business activity.

1.5.3 Inheritance and gifts

An increase in capital resulting from inheritance or gift is not taxable income for the recipient, but the amount must be declared if the total value is NOK 100,000 or more. Gifts from an employer and from others when the gift has a less direct connection to the employment relationship are as a rule not gifts in the tax law sense, but are regarded as pay. State the name, address and date of birth of the person from whom the inheritance or gift comes, and what the inheritance or gift consists of.

If you have taken over a deceased person’s estate for private division, you must submit RF-1615 «Melding om arv» (Report on inheritance – in Norwegian only) to the tax office within six months of the death, see «Veiledning til melding om arv» (RF-1621) (Guidelines for Report on inheritance – in Norwegian only).

For gifts that are liable to inheritance tax, you must submit RF-1616 «Form for reporting gifts, gift sales, transfers between close relatives and the distribution of assets from undivided estates» if the gift is not covered by the annual tax-free allowance for inheritance tax. The tax-free allowance means that gifts worth up to half the National Insurance basic amount (G) at the start of the year may be exempt from inheritance tax. For 2010, the allowance is NOK 36,441. See «Guidelines to the form for reporting gifts, gift sales, transfers between close relatives and the distribution of assets from undivided estates» (RF-1617) and the brochure «Avgift på arv og gaver» (Tax on inheritance and gifts – in Norwegian only) for further information. Form RF-1616 shall be sent within a month of the gift being made.

The forms and brochure are available at skatteetaten.no or from the tax office.

1.5.6 Income, capital and/or debts abroad

You must declare all income, capital and debts abroad in your tax return. This applies even if the capital or income is not taxable in Norway. Tick «Yes» if you have:

income abroad
capital abroad, e.g. real property, a timeshare flat, household contents and moveable property, bank deposits, shares or bonds
debts abroad.

Information about foreign bank deposits etc. must be provided on form RF-1231E «Deposits in foreign banks 2010».

If you became the owner of real property abroad during 2010, you must provide information about the type of property (holiday home, plot of land etc.), the country in which it is situated, when it was purchased (date), the purchase price and, if available, its estimated sales value. Provide information about the property under item 5.0 (Additional information) or in a separate enclosure.

You must declare taxable income, capital and debts abroad under the relevant items in the tax return. If you are claiming a deduction from your assessed tax for tax paid abroad (credit), you must complete form RF-1147E «Deduction for tax paid abroad by a person (credit) 2010». If you are claiming a deduction from your income, the amount must be entered under item 3.3.7. If you are claiming a deduction from your income or from your assessed tax for tax paid abroad, the payment must be documented.

If you believe that your capital or income is not liable to tax in Norway, you must state your income and capital and explain why they are not liable to tax under item 5.0 (Additional information) or in a separate enclosure. If you have paid tax abroad on the capital or income, you should state this.

If you have income that is taxed in another Nordic country, you must complete form RF-1150 «Nedsetting av inntektsskatt på lønn» (Reduction in income tax on wages – in Norwegian only). The same applies if you are claiming a reduction in tax for the part of the tax levied on wages earned abroad (pursuant to the one-year rule) or you have wage earnings that are exempt from taxation pursuant to a tax treaty.

Capital in the form of real property abroad and income from or a gain on the sale of such property are, in principle, liable to tax in Norway. Capital, income and gains may be exempt from tax in Norway pursuant to a tax treaty with the country in which the property is located. If you have real property or are engaged in or take part in business activities abroad, you will not be granted the full deduction for interest on debt in Norway if the income from the real property or business activity is exempt from tax in Norway. Nor will you be entitled to the full deduction for debt if your capital in the form of real property or business activity is exempt from tax in Norway.

Further information about tax liability for capital and income abroad is available from the tax office and in «Information for people who have income or capital abroad» at skatteetaten.no.

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2.1 Pay and equivalent benefits

2.1.1 Pay etc.

Here, you enter pay, fees and other remuneration from your employer, e.g. the benefit of free use of a car, flying miles, wholly or partially free accommodation and free work clothes. Any gain on the exercise or sale of an option you have received in an employment relationship shall also be taxed as pay.

The benefit of a low-interest loan from your employer is taxed as pay. The benefit of the low-interest loan and the interest you have paid are deducted under item 3.3.1.

For information about the valuation of payments in kind, see «Payments in kind – valuation». There you can also read about free board for offshore workers. The free use of a car is dealt with under «Cars».

In the case of persons classified as wage earners, any pay from labour market schemes etc., sick pay, parental support (previously maternity benefit), work assessment allowance (which replaced occupational and medical rehabilitation benefit and temporary disability benefit from 1 March 2010), qualification benefit pursuant to the Social Services Act and unemployment benefit is also liable to tax. The same applies to any remuneration you have received as member of a board, representative body, committee, council etc.

Remember to declare all taxable income not entered in advance in your tax return.

For 2010, pay of up to NOK 1,000 from an individual employer or client is tax-free. For work in a client’s home/holiday home, the limit is NOK 4,000.

If the employer or client is a tax-exempt organisation, the payment is tax-exempt if it does not exceed NOK 4,000.

Please note that there is no tax-exempt allowance for business income.

If you have had income from employment abroad, see «Information for people who have income or capital abroad» at skatteetaten.no.

2.1.2 Income entitling to a seafarers’ allowance

Income entitling to a special seafarers’ allowance will usually have been pre-entered in your tax return. If that is not the case, you must enter the income under this item.

Income from work on board ships in service entitles you to a seafarers’ allowance provided that this work is your main occupation and that you have spent at least 130 days on this work during the income year.

Any remuneration paid to a seafarer through an employer, including tips etc., is deemed to be income on board. Any profit that the seafarer has made from sales activities on board is also deemed to be income on board. The same applies to sick pay, wages and equivalent benefits during periods of illness or injury which take the place of such income on board, and to certain payments in kind.

For more information about the seafarers’ allowance, see item 3.2.13.

Pay which confers a right to claim the special allowance for fishermen should be entered under item 2.1.1. The allowance should be entered under item 3.2.14.

2.1.3 Income for child care in the childminder’s own home

Remuneration for minding other people’s children in your own home is business income, but it will be treated as ordinary wage income when the children are:

11 years old or younger at the end of the income year (born in 1999 or later), or
12 years old or older and have special care or nursing needs.

The parents should normally divide the gross remuneration into an expense allowance and remuneration for work (pay). If the expense allowance amounts to 50 per cent or less of your total gross remuneration for the year for each child and NOK 950 or less per month for each child, it is deemed to not yield a surplus. Only remuneration for work should then be entered in the tax return. Remune-ration for work is included in the basis for calculating the minimum standard deduction. The stipulated expense allowance is a standard deduction.

Instead of the standard deduction, you can choose to deduct actual expenses incurred in connection with the child-minding, provided that the standard deduction was not chosen for the previous year. If you have chosen to use the standard deduction, you are bound by this choice for five years provided that there is no significant change in your circumstances.

For information about deductions for actual expenses, see the brochure «Skatteregler ved barnepass for foreldre, dagmammaer og praktikanter» (Tax rules relating to childminding for parents, childminders and nannies – in Norwegian only). The brochure is available at tax offices or at skatteetaten.no.

If you run a child day care centre in your own home, you must enter your income and expenses in an income statement (form RF-1175 or RF-1167), and transfer the business income from item 0402 in the income statement to item 2.1.3 in your tax return. You must enter your calculated personal income under item 1.6.1.

Any business income or loss from a child day care centre in a private home that is not your own home must be entered under item 2.7.6 or 3.2.19, respectively. For more information about child day care centres in private homes, see the brochure «Familiebarnehager og skatt» (Child day care centres in private homes and tax – in Norwegian only) at skatteetaten.no.

Any sickness benefit that replaces income from childminding in your own home will have been entered in advance.

2.1.4 Surpluses from expense allowances

Expense allowances are payments intended to cover expenses incurred in the performance of your work, assignments or office, e.g. board, travel and car expenses. If the allowance exceeds the expenses, the surplus is liable to tax and must be declared under item 2.1.4. You will normally see from your Certificate of Pay and Tax Deducted what kind of allowance it concerns. For the calculation of surpluses and deficits, see «Expense allowances».

Allowances that cover private expenses are normally liable to tax in full, e.g. allowances for travel expenses for travel between the home and a permanent place of work.

For information about liability to tax on an employer’s coverage of expenses for board and lodging and home visits abroad for foreign employees working in Norway, see «Guidelines for foreign employees and self-employed persons» at skatteetaten.no.

Allowances self-employed persons grant themselves in connection with their business activities are deemed to be business income and are not deemed to be expense allowances. If a self-employed person receives an expense allowance as part of paid employment, the allowance will be treated in the same way as for other wage earners.

2.1.5 Other income from work

Here, you must declare other earnings that are not business income, e.g. sales income and remuneration for craft or handicraft work in the home. Sales income should be declared after deducting the cost of materials.

Gross income from the sale of garden or natural produce which is not business income, e.g. from the sale of berries, fungi and fish, is only liable to tax for amounts exceeding NOK 4,000 per income year. Any income in excess of this amount must be declared in your tax return.

You must declare any amounts not entered in advance in your tax return.

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2.2 Pensions, employment-related annuities etc.

If you have received pension back-payments from the National Insurance scheme or from others (code 225 in the Certificate of Pay and Tax Deducted), you must declare the amount under item 5.0 (Additional information). The entire back payment is taxable in the year it was paid, but the tax office will ensure that the tax will not be higher than it would have been if the pension had been taxed in the year or years to which the back payment relates.

2.2.1 Own pension from the National Insurance scheme

The pre-entered amounts in items 2.2.1 to 2.2.4 are specified in the Certificate of Pension Income and Tax Deducted from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Service (NAV).

2.2.2 Own pension etc. from a pension scheme other than the National Insurance scheme

This item includes payments from various other pension schemes: occupational pensions, early-retirement pension (AFP), employment-related pensions, introductory benefit, benefit pursuant to the Act relating to supplementary benefits for persons who have only lived in Norway for a short period, benefits derived from surrendered property (right of occupancy etc.) in agriculture and forestry, pensions from abroad etc. One-off payments that replace the right to such benefits must also be entered here. Payments from individual pension agreements/individual pension schemes (IPA/IPS) must also be entered under this item. The same applies to taxable payments from employment-related annuities (group annuities) established before 1 January 2007. Taxable payments from employment-related annuities (group annuities) established on 1 January 2007 or later must be entered under item 2.6.2. See «Life insurance» for information about annuities taken out as continuation insurance and annuities taken out in accordance with the Act relating to individual pension schemes.

If you have received benefits in 2010 that are not entered in advance in your tax return, you must declare them. Pensions from abroad that are liable to tax in Norway must be declared here. If you receive a pension that is taxed in another country, you can claim a deduction in your assessed tax for tax paid in the other country (credit). You must document such payment and fill in form RF-1147E «Deduction for tax paid abroad by a person (credit) 2010».

See «Information for people who have income or capital abroad» at skatteetaten.no.

2.2.4 Supplementary benefit for spouse

Supplementary benefits for spouses from the National Insurance scheme and private pension schemes are specified under codes 219 and 227 in the Certificate of Pay and Tax Deducted.

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2.4 Children’s income from employment

2.4.1 Children aged 12 years or younger

Children born in 1998 or later are not required to submit a tax return. Pay for these children of NOK 10,000 or less is tax-free. Any amount in excess of this is taxable. If the parents live together, the amount is split equally between them in their pre-completed tax returns. The parents may choose a different allocation. If the parents do not live together, the child is assessed together with the parent with whom the child is registered as living in the Population Register. If this parent is married, see «Parents and children».

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2.6 Maintenance, annuities, children’s pensions etc.

2.6.1 Taxable maintenance payments received

Regular maintenance payments from separated or former spouses are liable to tax. Note that only maintenance payments from separa-ted or former spouses disbursed through a public agency have been entered in advance in the tax return. Maintenance payments paid as lump sums are not liable to tax.

Child maintenance payments, special grants pursuant to the Children Act, foster home payments pursuant to the Act relating to child welfare, and advance child maintenance payments pursuant to the Act relating to advance payment are not liable to tax.

2.6.2 Other income

Here, you enter taxable payments from non-employment-related annuities (individual annuities), taxable payments from employment-related annuities (group annuities) established on 1 January 2007 or later, income derived from surrendered property (right of occupancy etc.) outside agriculture and forestry (e.g. free housing and other payments in kind), payments from bequests and other taxable regular benefits. The taxable part of annuities from Norwegian life insurance companies is specified in the statement you receive from the company. See «Life insurance» for information about annuities taken out as continuation insurance and annuities taken out in accordance with the Act relating to individual pension schemes.

For information concerning annuities in foreign companies, see «Life insurance».

Taxable payments from employment-related annuities (group annuities) established before 1 January 2007 must be entered under item 2.2.2.

You must also enter taxable back pay and back payment of pensions following a death (specified under code 214 in the Certificate of Pay and Tax Deducted) under item 2.6.2. Only the amount that exceeds one and a half times the basic amount (G) in the National Insurance scheme at the time of death is liable to tax.

Until 1 May 2010, one and a half times the basic amount was NOK 109,322, and from 1 May 2010 it was NOK 113,462.

2.6.3 Children’s pension

Here you must declare any pensions for children who are 16 years old or younger (born in 1994 or later). Amounts entered in advance have been transferred from codes 220 and 228 in the child’s Certificate of Pay and Tax Deducted.

Child benefit and the cash support for care of own children in the home are tax-exempt and shall not be declared in the tax return.

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2.7 Business income/ income from self-employment

Self-employed people/persons engaged in business will usually be sent the «Tax return 2010 for self-employed persons etc.» If you have received the «Tax return for self-employed persons etc.», you must always submit it, either online or on paper. The tax return must also be submitted if your business has been wound up.

If you started a business in 2010 and have received the form «Tax return 2010 for wage earners and pensioners etc.», the reason is that the tax authorities have not been informed that you have started a business. You can choose whether to submit the tax return you have received in paper form with the mandatory enclosures or submit it online via altinn.no, see below. Self-employed persons etc. who have business income that does not exceed NOK 50,000 will not normally be required to submit an income statement, see «Start help for self-employed people etc.» part 2.

To submit the tax return on paper:

Complete the tax return you have received and enclose the income statement. You must also enter the items that concern self-employed persons etc. in the field called: «Any amounts that have not been pre-entered must be entered here».

How to submit the tax return online via altinn.no:

Log on at altinn.no using your personal ID number. You will see that form RF-1030 «Tax return for wage earners and pensioners etc.» is available on «My message box» – «For processing».
Under the menu item «Forms and services», open form RF-1030 «Tax return 2010 for self-employed persons etc.». When you open the tax return for self-employed persons, you will be asked which income statement you wish to submit together with the tax return. The income statements are described in RF-2003 «Start help for self-employed people etc.».

You will see that the pre-entered amounts in the «Tax return 2010 for self-employed persons etc.» are the same as those found in the «Tax return 2010 for wage earners and pensioners etc.», which has been sent to you.

As a self-employed person, you may need RF-2003 «Start help for self-employed people etc.». These guidelines can be downloaded from skatteetaten.no or obtained from the tax office.

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2.8 Income from housing and other real property

Taxable income from housing or other real property in Norway and abroad must be entered under items 2.8.2 and 2.8.5. The benefit of living in your own house is exempt from tax. Income from letting a house you yourself use is tax-free if you:

let the whole or a large part of your house for up to NOK 20,000 a year,
let up to half your house, and you use at least half of it yourself.

For more information about letting a house, including when you have only owned it for part of the year, see «Housing and other real property».

2.8.1 The owner of a unit in a housing cooperative/jointly-owned housing property’s share of income

Taxable income from units in housing cooperatives/jointly owned housing properties are entered under item 2.8.1. The amount is specified in the statement from the housing cooperative or jointly-owned property. Owners of units in a housing cooperative/jointly-owned housing property who have not received a statement can obtain the required information from the board of the cooperative/property or its accountant.

If you let a house/apartment in a housing cooperative (housing association or limited liability housing company) or jointly-owned property and the house/apartment is subject to accounts-based tax assessment as a result, your share of the cooperative/property’s income shall not be entered here. Any pre-entered amount is taken from the statement submitted by the housing cooperative/jointly-owned property. If you have let your housing unit and the income from letting is liable to tax, see «Housing and other real property». You must then delete the amount entered in advance and declare it in «Letting etc. of real property 2010» (form RF-1189E). Any profit transferred from form RF-1189E is entered under item 2.8.2 or item 2.8.5 (properties abroad). Any loss is entered under item 3.3.12.

2.8.2 Net income from the letting of real property outside the context of a business

Here, you must declare:

net income from the letting of housing when such income is liable to tax (accounts-based tax assessment)
net income from the letting of a holiday home not used by the owner (accounts-based tax assessment)
net income from the letting of land.

See «Housing and other real property».

2.8.3 Taxable income from holiday homes

If you own a holiday home which you use yourself, you will not be taxed on its use. If you let your holiday home, up to NOK 10,000 of the income from letting is tax-free. If the income from letting is higher, 85 per cent of the income in excess of NOK 10,000 is liable to tax. See the example under «Housing and other real property». If you do not use the holiday home yourself but only let it, all income from letting is liable to tax. In such case the property is subject to accounts-based tax assessment, see item 2.8.2.

2.8.4 Taxable gains on the realisation (sale etc.) of housing, land and other real property

A gain on the sale of a house or apartment is tax-free if you:

have owned the house/apartment for more than a year, and
you have used it as your own home for at least one of the last two years preceding the sale.

A gain on the sale of a holiday home is tax-free if you:

have owned the holiday home for more than five years, and
you have used it as your own holiday home for at least five of the last eight years preceding the sale.

If the conditions for tax exemption are fulfilled, you will not be permitted to deduct any loss.

Gains/losses on the sale of land are taxable/deductible regardless of how long you have owned the land.

As a rule, any profit/loss on the sale of a farm is taxable/deductible. See also «Housing and other real property».

2.8.5 Income from real property abroad

Here, you enter taxable income from real property abroad. State the country in which the property is situated. The profit from form RF-1189E «Letting etc. of real property 2010» for the real property abroad is entered under this item. Deficits are to be entered under item 3.3.12.

See «Real property abroad».

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3.1 Capital income and other income

See «Parents and children» for information about children’s capital income, including lump-sum compensation for personal injuries to children and lump-sum compensation for loss of a provider.

3.1.1 Interest income on bank deposits etc.

Here, you enter interest on:

deposits in banks in Norway
savings in Norwegian cooperative building association
deposits in organised savings associations in Norway
deposits in the joint funds of the Public Guardian
loans and savings in Norwegian cooperative societies and consumer associations.

If you own bank deposits together with others, the bank will have attributed the whole interest income to one of the owners. The owners must therefore divide the interest income between themselves in proportion to their holdings. Married couples may choose a different allocation.

Interest on bank deposits abroad must be entered under item 3.1.11.

3.1.2 Other interest income

This item includes interest income on:

outstanding claims in Norway
deposits from house tenants in Norway
mortgage bonds in Norway
yield on index-linked bonds and bank savings with an equity-indexed yield
other Norwegian debt certificates
obligatory loan deposits in Norwegian cooperative enterprises etc.
yield from bond funds and money market funds.

Please note that profit from the redemption of index-linked bonds is taxable, when the savings arrangement is part of business activities or concerns a multiple debt instrument. Such profit is not entered in advance, and you must enter it yourself. The profit is the difference between the amount received on redemption and the price you paid for the bond including fees (subscription fee and interruption fee, if any). You can give more details under item 5.0 (Additional information).

Interest on overdue wages, pensions, holiday pay etc. should be entered under item 3.1.12. Interest paid on tax refunds is not liable to tax and should not be entered. Interest on outstanding claims abroad etc. should be entered under item 3.1.11.

3.1.3 Interest on loans to companies that is subject to extra tax (RF-1070)

Interest income on loans furnished by personal taxpayers to limited liability companies, public limited liability companies, equivalent companies and collective investments, corresponding foreign companies and businesses assessed as partnerships is liable to extra tax. The extra tax is payable in addition to ordinary tax on interest income (the interest income must therefore also be entered under item 3.1.2 or item 3.1.11). The extra tax is levied on any actual accrued interest after tax that is in excess of a calculated deductible risk-free return. The interest income will be calculated for each month in accordance with the following formula:

	Actual accrued interest
-	Actual accrued interest x tax rate for general income (for information about rates)
-	Risk-free return (balance of loan x risk-free interest rate, see below)
=	Interest income liable to extra tax

The balance of the loan is defined as the balance at the start of the month. If a loan is taken up during a calendar month, the balance of the loan on the borrowing date will apply. If a debt instrument is issued at a discount, the balance of the loan will be calculated on the basis of the issue price. If you have furnished several loans to the same company, the loans will be dealt with together. If you have furnished loans to several companies, the interest income will be calculated for each company.

For 2010, the risk-free interest rate has been stipulated at:

Jan./Feb.:	1.3%
March/April:	1.3%
May/June:	1.6%
July/Aug.:	1.6%
Sept./Oct.:	1.6%
Nov./Dec.:	1.6%

If you submit your tax return online, you can use auxiliary form RF-1070 for the calculation of interest income that will be subject to extra tax. The calculation will then take place automatically when you enter the balance of the loan and the accrued interest for each month. You will also find a corresponding calculation aid at skatteetaten.no.

3.1.4 Yield from endowment insurance

Here, you declare the yield earned in 2009 on the savings part of endowment insurance with guaranteed yield. You will find the amount in the statement from the insurance company. Here, you also enter taxable yield from payments from endowment insurance with investment options without guaranteed yield (unit-linked insurance). You will find this amount in the annual statement if the insurance has been taken out with a Norwegian insurance company.

Any taxable yield from endowment insurance with or without guaranteed yield taken out with companies outside Norway must be entered under item 3.1.11.

See «Life insurance».

3.1.5 Taxable share dividend etc. (RF-1088)

This item should be completed in advance, specifying any share dividend from Norwegian limited liability companies and foreign companies listed on Oslo Børs and for which you have received «Aksjer og egenkapitalbevis 2010» (form RF- 1088) (Shares and equity certificates 2010 – in Norwegian only). The same applies to interest on equity certificates (formerly primary capital certificates). Form RF-1088 is based on information which the companies, the Norwegian Central Securities Depository (VPS) and you yourself have submitted to the Norwegian Tax Admini-stration. If you make changes to the statement, you must submit it within the deadline for submitting your tax return. See «Shares etc.».

If the dividend information in form RF-1088 is incorrect, you must correct it and transfer the correct amount of taxable dividend to item 3.1.5 in your tax return. You should also contact the company and notify it of the error.

The guidelines to RF-1088 contain more information about how taxable dividend is calculated and some examples of calcu-lations.

If you find any errors in form RF-1088, you can get help to calculate the correct amount of taxable dividend if you submit RF-1088 via altinn.no. You will then receive an updated version within three or four days. The updated version can be used when completing your tax return.

If you have shares or equity certificates and have not received form RF-1088, enter the share dividend/interest under item 3.1.7.

See «Shares etc.», and skatteetaten.no/aksjer.

3.1.6 Taxable yield from units in unit trusts

The item contains pre-entered amounts based on information submitted to the Norwegian Tax Administration by the management companies. It comprises dividend on units in Norwegian and foreign unit trusts. In the case of units in unit trusts (both Norwegian and foreign) which you owned on 31 December 2010, it is the dividend after the deduction of any risk-free return that is liable to tax and that is entered under this item. If you have received any dividend on units in foreign unit trusts that has not been entered in advance, you must fill in and enclose form RF-1059 «Aksje og fondsandeler mv. 2010» (Shares and units in funds etc. 2010 – in Norwegian only). You must declare such dividend under item 3.1.7.

See «Shares etc.», and skatteetaten.no/aksjer.

Any yield from units in Norwegian bond and money market funds must be entered under item 3.1.2.

3.1.7 Taxable dividend not declared under items 3.1.5 or 3.1.6

Other taxable share dividend etc. (RF-1059)

Here, you enter any taxable share dividend etc. other than the dividend etc. to be entered under item 3.1.5 or 3.1.6. If you are entitled to a deductible risk-free return, you calculate the taxable dividend using form RF-1059, «Aksjer og fondsandeler mv. 2010» (Shares and units in funds etc. 2010 – in Norwegian only). See guidelines RF-1072 for information about the rules and how to complete the form. Form RF-1059 must be submitted together with the tax return.

Other taxable share dividend etc. (for which no form RF-1088 or RF-1059 is to be submitted)

Here, you enter other taxable dividend directly under the item.

See «Shares etc.», and skatteetaten.no/aksjer.

3.1.8 Taxable gains on the sale of shares etc. (RF-1088)

Here, you enter any taxable gains you have received on shares specified in form RF-1088 «Aksjer og egenkapitalbevis 2010» (Shares and equity certificates 2010 – in Norwegian only). The same applies to taxable gains on equity certificates (formerly primary capital certificates). All personal shareholders who have realised shares or equity certificates in 2010 and who have received form RF-1088 must check the form. If the information in RF-1088 is correct, you must transfer the amount in item 110 to item 3.1.8 in your tax return. If the information in the statement is incorrect or incomplete, you must correct the form and submit it by the same deadline as for submission of the tax return. The corrected taxable gain must be entered in the tax return (item 3.1.8). If you have realised shares or equity certificates and information about this is not included in form RF-1088, you must complete form RF-1059, «Aksjer og fondsandeler mv. 2010» (Shares and units in funds etc. 2010 – in Norwegian only) instead and enter the gain under item 3.1.10.

See «Shares etc.», and skatteetaten.no/aksjer.

3.1.9 Taxable gains on the sale of units in securities funds

This item covers taxable gain on the redemption, sale or other form of realisation of units in securities funds (e.g. unit trusts, bond or money market funds, combination funds etc.).

Unit holders in Norwegian and some foreign securities funds who have realised units in 2010 will receive a realisation statement from the management company or the Norwegian Central Securities Depository. The realisation statement contains information about the taxable gain/deductible loss. The total taxable gain will be pre-entered under this item if the management company or the Norwegian Central Securities Depository has reported the amount to the Norwegian Tax Administration. You must check the amounts and correct any errors.

In the case of the realisation of units in foreign securities funds, unless it is clear from the statement that corresponding information has been submitted to the Norwegian Tax Administration, you must fill in and submit form RF-1059 «Aksjer og fondsandeler mv. 2010» (Shares and units in funds etc. 2010 – in Norwegian only). Any gain must then be entered under item 3.1.10 and any loss under 3.3.10.

3.1.10 Taxable gains on the sale of shares etc. (RF-1059)

Here, you enter taxable gains on shares etc. other than those entered under items 3.1.8. or 3.1.9, including:

shares/equity certificates (formerly primary capital certificates) in Norwegian and foreign companies for which you have not received form RF-1088 «Aksjer og egenkapitalbevis 2010» (Shares and equity certificates 2010 – in Norwegian only)
units in foreign securities funds from which the gain has not been included in the pre-entered amount in item 3.1.9
bonds.

On the realisation of shares in foreign companies or shares/equity certificates in Norwegian companies for which you have not received RF-1088 «Aksjer og egenkapital-bevis 2010» (Shares and equity certificates 2010 – in Norwegian only), you must complete and submit form RF-1059 «Aksjer og fondsandeler mv. 2010» (Shares and units in funds etc. 2010 – in Norwegian only). For information about the calculation of such gains, see the guidelines RF-1072 (in Norwegian only).

There is no separate form for gains on the sale of bonds and other financial instru-ments. You must include a calculation of any such gain in item 5.0 (Additional infor-mation) or in a separate enclosure.

See «Shares etc.», and skatteetaten.no/aksjer.

For information about the sale of foreign securities, see «Information for people who have income or capital abroad» at skatteetaten.no.

3.1.11 Income from abroad

Here you enter all income from abroad that is liable to tax in Norway and that is not to be entered under other items. This applies, among other things, to interest on foreign bank deposits, bearer bonds, units in foreign bond funds and outstanding claims against foreign debtors. Income from holdings in foreign companies that is not business income must also be declared here. Any gain on the sale or other realisation of real property abroad must be entered here if the gain is liable to tax in Norway. See «Real property abroad».

Deposits in and interest from foreign banks and young people’s housing savings accounts (BSU) in another EEA state must be specified on form RF-1231.

Any taxable annual yield from endowment insurance taken out in another EEA member state is also entered here.

Taxable yield in connection with the disbursement of endowment insurance with an investment option without guaranteed yield (unit-linked insurance) from companies in another EEA state must also be entered here. The tax authorities may ask for documentation. For more information about the calculation of such yield, see «Life insurance».

For information about special rules concerning life insurance (endowment insurance) taken out with a company in another EEA state before 1 January 2004, see «Life insurance».

If you have taken out a life insurance policy (endowment insurance) with or without guaranteed yield with a foreign insurance company outside the EEA area, you must enter the whole amount disbursed here (only applies to contracts entered into after 1 January 1986).

Income from real property abroad must be entered under item 2.8.5. Taxable income from employment must be entered under item 2.1.1.

3.1.12 Other income

Here, you enter all other taxable income in Norway not included under the items above, including:

taxable winnings (for information about tax-free winnings, see item 1.5.2) and finder’s fees
any gain on the sale (realisation), lapsing and exercising of non-employment-related options and gain on the sale (realisation) of other securities
any discount received in connection with the payment of fixed-interest loans before the due date
currency gains
interest on overdue payment of wages, pensions, holiday pay etc.
the taking to income of a negative balance or positive profit and loss account
interest for which you were granted a deduction in 2009 and which fell due for payment in 2010 without being paid, see item 3.3.1. If the interest is paid later, it will be deducted from income in the year in which it is paid. The above does not apply to interest expenses relating to self-employment/business activities.
calculated gains on shares and holdings in companies etc. on the cessation of tax liability as a resident in 2010
the benefit of use free of charge of other people’s assets (not work-related or business-related use).

For information about currency gains and losses, see skatteetaten.no. Business-related income must be declared in an income statement if you are required to submit such a statement. You must specify the income under item 5.0 (Additional information).

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Deduction items

3.2 Deductions from income from employment etc.

3.2.1 Minimum standard deduction from own income

The minimum standard deduction is a standard deduction from wage earnings, pensions and similar income. If your actual expenses relating to your work or similar are greater than the minimum standard deduction, you can claim a deduction for these expenses instead of the minimum standard deduction, see item 3.2.2.

The minimum deduction is calculated automatically. Therefore, if you change the basis for calculating the deduction, for example when declaring wage earnings that have not been entered in advance, you do not need to correct the deduction yourself.

3.2.2 Actual expenses

This item is an alternative to item 3.2.1 and should be used when your actual work-related expenses are greater than the minimum standard deduction. You must specify your expenses under item 5.0 (Additional information). The tax authorities may require you to document/substantiate your expenses.

Examples of expenses that can be deducted instead of the minimum standard deduction:

work clothes (if the clothes are subject to a great deal of wear and tear) or uniforms
use of a home office
specialist literature
moving house in connection with taking up employment
travel without overnight stays in connection with job interviews.
voluntary medical and accident insurance (limited to NOK 700; spouses cannot claim a combined deduction of more than NOK 700)
board expenses for business travel not involving overnight stays (extra expenses for board and lodging in connection with business travel involving overnight stays, on the other hand, shall not be included here, but entered in item 3.2.7)
board expenses in connection with absence from the home for 12 hours or more without overnight stays in connection with overtime, roster duty, long journeys to and from work etc.
a contractor’s premium for voluntary insurance for the first 16 days
expenses for a stand-in (substitute)
transport expenses for business travel/ job-related travel
maintenance/updating of education
expenses for tools.

Any deficit on expense allowances from an employer for coverage of such costs is also included in item 3.2.2

3.2.4 Minimum standard deduction from supplementary benefit for spouse

A separate minimum standard deduction is calculated on the basis of the amount in item 2.2.4. The minimum deduction corresponds to 26 per cent of the supple-mentary benefit, but cannot exceed NOK 60,950. Nor can the minimum standard deduction be less than NOK 4,000 unless the supplementary benefit for the spouse is less than that amount.

3.2.5 Minimum standard deduction from children’s income

You are entitled to a separate minimum standard deduction from children’s taxable wage earnings entered in item 2.4.1. If you have several children who are 12 years old or younger (born in 1998 or later) who have had income from employment, a minimum standard deduction shall be made from the earnings of each child. If the child’s income is divided between the parents, the minimum standard deduction is calculated on the basis of the child’s income before it is divided, and then divided between the parents. For information about calculating the minimum standard deduction from wage earnings, see «Minimum standard deduction – calculation».

3.2.6 Minimum standard deduction from children’s pension

If you are 17 years old or older (born in 1993 or earlier) and receive a child’s pension, you are entitled to a separate minimum standard deduction from the children’s pension entered under item 2.2.1 and/or item 2.2.2. The minimum standard deduction comes in addition to the minimum standard deduction from any wage earnings. The deduction is calculated as for other pensions, see «Minimum standard deduction – calculation».

Parents who receive a pension for children who were 16 years old or younger in 2010 (born in 1994 or later) are entitled to a separate minimum standard deduction based on the amount in item 2.6.3. If the amount concerns several children, a minimum standard deduction will be made from each child’s pension. The minimum standard deduction will be based on the whole children’s pension irrespective of how the spouses have divided the income between themselves in their tax returns. The minimum standard deduction is then divided between the spouses in proportion to the allocation of the children’s pension between them.

For information about the allocation of children’s income etc., see «Parents and children».

3.2.7 Extra expenses for board and lodging etc. in connection with stays away from home

If, because of your work, you have to stay somewhere other than your home, you are entitled to a deduction for extra expenses resulting from the absence provided that you have covered the expenses yourself.

It does not count as residence away from home if the overnight absence is due to staying at your place of work for up to 48 hours and this is part of your ordinary working hours, as in the case of shift work, work on a mobile workplace and continuous periods of duty. A deduction of up to NOK 81 per day is normally granted for extra subsistence expenses in connection with such absences from the home, but only if you are away from home for more than 12 hours. The deduction is included in the minimum standard deduction, or in item 3.2.2 if the minimum standard deduction is not claimed.

Extra subsistence expenses

You are entitled to a deduction for subsistence expenses in connection with travel relating to your job/business. The tax authorities may require you to document/substantiate your expenses. If the expenses qualify as commuter expenses, the deduction is reduced by NOK 79 per day for savings on household expenses. For information about «Commuters».

You can also claim a deduction of NOK 60 per day for petty expenses.

If you are unable to document subsistence expenses, you can claim a deduction at a standard rate, see below.

Self-employed persons etc. must enter the deduction under this item if their expenses qualify as commuter expenses. Expenses incurred in connection with self-employment/business activities must be entered in the accounts based on original vouchers.

Deduction rates – Norway

If you have covered all the subsistence expenses yourself, the deduction will be calculated at the following rates per day:

when staying at a hotel when the price of the room does not include breakfast: NOK 580
when staying at a hotel when the price of the room includes breakfast: NOK 522
when staying at a guest house etc. (without own cooking facilities): NOK 292
when staying in bedsit/portacabin accommodation (with cooking facilities) and private accommodation: NOK 189.

Petty expenses of NOK 60 per day are included in the rates.

If you are claiming a deduction of more than NOK 189, you must substantiate what type of accommodation is involved. By «substantiate», we mean that you must provide a statement specifying, as a minimum, the departure and return dates, the name of the place you stayed and whether it is a hotel, a guest house or similar.

If the expenses are greater than the rates listed above, you will be granted a deduction for documented expenses.

If you have free board in whole or in part, you will only be granted a deduction for documented expenses.

Deduction rates – abroad

If you can substantiate that you have stayed at a hotel during travel abroad, you will be granted a deduction at the rate applicable to the country in question pursuant to the special agreement concerning travel abroad at the state’s expense. The government rates for subsistence allowance will be reduced by 25 per cent with effect from the 29th day in connection with continuous stays at the same place of work. If you cannot substantiate that you have stayed at a hotel, you will be granted a deduction at the rate for guest houses or bedsits/portacabins pursuant to the same rules as apply in Norway.

Number of days absent from the home

If you live somewhere other than your home all year, the number of days of absence is normally calculated as follows:

without Saturdays off: 280 days
every other Saturday off: 255 days
every Saturday off: 240 days.

If you do not travel home every week, the number of days of absence must be increased correspondingly.

Extra subsistence expenses in connection with home visits

You can claim a deduction for extra subsistence expenses in connection with home visits even if you have free board in your place of work. A deduction of up to NOK 81 each way is granted. The deduction applies when the home visit does not entail an overnight stay but lasts for six hours or more and you have actually purchased food en route that is not covered by your employer.

Extra accommodation expenses

If your work requires you to live away from home, you will generally only be allowed to deduct documented extra expenses. If you live in a portacabin or caravan which you own yourself, you will be allowed a deduction at a rate of NOK 52 per day.

Self-employed persons etc. must enter their accommodation expenses under this item if the expenses are classed as commuter expenses. If the expenses have been incurred in connection with business activities, they must be entered in the accounts. The conditions for qualifying as a commuter are described under the topic «Commuters».

Real home in another EEA member state

Persons whose work in Norway requires them to live away from their home in another EEA state and who commute to their home abroad can claim a deduction for extra expenses for board, lodging and petty expenses in connection with the period of work. If you are claiming the «standard deduction for foreign employees» (see item 3.3.7), the expenses are included there, and they cannot be deducted separately.

See «Guidelines for foreign employees and self-employed persons» at skatteetaten.no..

Deficits on expense allowances for board and/or lodging

Deficits on expense allowances received in paid employment must be entered under item 3.2.7. A deficit arises if the allowance does not cover your extra expenses for board and/or lodging. If you are unable to document your total extra expenses for board as a result of living away from home, you can assume an expense of NOK 189 per day for all such allowances paid during the year when performing the calculation. Deductions for amounts in excess of this require that you on request can document the expenses for all days you are absent from the home.

Please note that any deficit on a subsistence allowance for business travel that does not entail an overnight stay must be entered under item 3.2.2, unless you are claiming the minimum standard deduction. If you claim the minimum standard deduction, any such deficit is included.

3.2.8 Deduction for travel between the home and permanent workplace (travel to/from work)

You are entitled to a deduction for travel between your home and your permanent workplace (travel to/from work) on the basis of the estimated travel distance in kilometres. As a rule, the travel distance is calculated on the basis of the shortest distance by road or by scheduled public transport (excluding air travel).

The deduction is NOK 1.50 per km. If the total travel distance, including home visits (see item 3.2.9), exceeds 35,000 km, the rate will normally be NOK 0.70 per km for kilometres in excess of 35,000 km. The deduction is only given for amounts in excess of NOK 13,700 (the non-deductible amount).

In practice, this means that if you make the return journey between your home and permanent place of work five days a week and the daily distance exceeds 39 km (there and back), you may be entitled to a deduction. You may also be entitled to a deduction for shorter distances if you:

travel back and forth more than 230 times a year, or
are entitled to a deduction for home visits in connection with stays away from home (commuter stays), see item 3.2.9.

See «Travel to/from work/job-related travel».

3.2.9 Deduction for travel expenses for home visits

If your work requires you to live away from home, you may be entitled to a deduction for travel expenses for home visits. The deduction is granted pursuant to the same rules and rates as for travel to/from work, see item 3.2.8, but with one exception: if your home visits involved travel by air, you can claim a deduction for the air fare instead of for the distance travelled (NOK 1.50/0.70 per km). You must be able to document your expenses. If you claim a deduction for air travel, you enter the deduction in the field for road tolls and ferry expenses, see «Travel to/from work/job-related travel». You can also claim the distance deduction for the rest of the journey.

The deduction for home visits is limited to the amount in excess of NOK 13,700. Deductions for home visits and the deduction for travel between the home and workplace are dealt with together.

Persons whose work in Norway requires them to live away from their home in another EEA state, and who commute to their home abroad, are entitled to claim a deduction for travel in connection with home visits. If you are claiming the «standard deduction for foreign employees» (see item 3.3.7), the expenses are included there, and they cannot be deducted separately. See «Guidelines for foreign employees and self-employed persons» at skatteetaten.no.

3.2.10 Deduction for child-care expenses (child-care deduction)

If you have child(ren) who are eleven years old or younger (born in 1999 or later), you can claim a child-care deduction for expenses relating to the care of children living at home (expenses for a childminder, day care centre, before and after school hours supervision scheme etc.). Day care/supervision fees are tax-deductible, but food expenses (board allowance) in connection with day care/before and after school hours supervision are not.

You can also claim the child-care deduction for older children if they have special care needs, e.g. if a child needs continuous supervision because of a disability. You must document the circumstances through a medical certificate, statement from the child welfare service or similar. You must be able to document your expenses.

The deduction is limited to NOK 25,000 for one child – the maximum deduction is increased by NOK 15,000 for each additional child. If extra expenses for the supervision of children due to a child’s illness or other lasting impairment do not qualify for a deduction because of the limit on the amount, they may be deducted as a special allowance for major sickness expenses. See item 3.5.4 about the conditions for special allowances.

Extra travel expenses to and from the childminder also qualify as expenses in this context. If you use a car, the expense is stipulated at NOK 1.50 per km. If the transport takes place in connection with driving to and from your workplace or in connection with job-related travel, only the expenses relating to the extra travel (extra travel distance) are deductible. If you use scheduled public transport, the expenses will be stipulated as the extra expenses incurred by using such transport.

Any tax-free child-care benefit received must be deducted from the expenses. Such benefit is specified under code 245 in the Certificate of Pension Income and Tax Deducted from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Service (NAV). Cash support for care of own children in the home does not reduce the deduction.

Adoptive children are also deemed to be own children, as are foster children for whom you do not receive foster home payments.

Married couples and cohabitants with joint children can choose how they wish to divide the deduction between them. For information about the allocation of the child-care deduction, see «Parents and children».

3.2.11 Union dues

Up to NOK 3,660 in union dues can be deducted, or a proportional part of the amount if union dues have only been paid for part of the year. Union dues are specified in the Certificate of Pay and Tax Deducted, code 311.

Deductible subscription fees to employers’ associations or nationwide professional or trade organisations should be deducted in your business accounts, not under item 3.2.11. No deduction will be granted for subscription fees to an en employers’ association or nationwide professional or trade organisation if you have claimed a deduction for union dues. The deduction for subscription fees to an employers’ association is limited upwards to 0.2 per cent of total wage payments. A deduction of up to NOK 3,660 or up to 0.2 per cent of total wages paid is allowed for subscription fees to nationwide professional or trade organisations.

3.2.12 Premiums for job-related pension schemes

The amount is specified under code 312 in your Certificate of Pay and Tax Deducted. You are entitled to a deduction for premiums for, among other things:

municipal pension schemes
Norges Bank’s pension fund
pension schemes pursuant to the Act relating to occupational pensions
pension schemes pursuant to the Act relating to defined-contribution pensions
pension schemes in state enterprises
the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
pension schemes agreed in collective agreements in the workplace.

3.2.13 Seafarers’ allowance

The amount is calculated as 30 per cent of the income under item 2.1.2. The maximum allowance is NOK 80,000.

3.2.14 Special allowance for fishermen and hunters at sea

A special allowance is granted of up to 30 per cent of the calculation basis in item 290 in form RF-1213 «Fiske 2010» (Fishing 2010 in Norwegian only). The conditions for qualifying for the deduction are described in the guidelines to the form. The maximum allowance is NOK 150,000.

If you meet the conditions for the special allowance for fishermen and hunters at sea and for the special allowance for seafarers in the same income year, the special allowances will be calculated separately. The total deduction cannot exceed NOK 150,000, however.

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3.3 Capital expenses and other deductions

3.3.1 Interest on debt

Normally, you are entitled to deduct all interest accrued during the income year.

Charges in connection with taking up a loan, including the establishment fee, are treated in the same way as interest. You cannot claim a deduction for interest that has fallen due but not been paid in 2010 (unless the interest pertains to a business with a bookkeeping obligation). You will not be entitled to deduct such defaulted interest until the year in which you actually pay it. For student loans from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund, deductions are only allowed for interest that has been paid. Remember to enter interest on any debts to private individuals and your employer. You are also entitled to deduct interest on overdue payment of interest on debt, and interest and charges paid in connection with credit purchases. Certain formal conditions and limitations on the size of the deduction apply to credit purchases. The tax office can provide further information about this.

It is not permitted to enter pre-paid interest for 2011 or later years. The same applies to interest that has been remitted.

The interest charged on underpaid tax cannot be deducted (does not apply to interest on overdue payments).

In cases where several people have a joint loan and the bank reports the loan for one of the borrowers, the borrowers must themselves divide the deduction between themselves in proportion to their liability. Married couples may choose a different allocation, however.

For information about deductions for debts and interest on debt for persons with real property abroad, see «Real property abroad».

3.3.2 Interest on debt – abroad

Interest on loans abroad must be docu-mented. For information about deductions for debts and interest on debt for persons with real property abroad, see «Real property abroad».

3.3.3 Benefits derived from surrendered property outside agriculture and forestry etc.

Benefits derived from surrendered property

Here, you deduct any benefits you have provided relating to real property outside agriculture and forestry, i.e. the value of rights of occupancy, payments in kind and any cash payments made pursuant to an agreement on benefits derived from surrendered property (right of occupancy etc.). Note that the right of occupancy must also be entered as income in form RF-1189E «Letting etc. of real property 2010». Insurance and maintenance expenses etc. for the house must be entered in the same form.

Maintenance payments

Child maintenance payments etc. are not deductible, see item 2.6.1.

Regular maintenance payments to a separated or former spouse are deductible. Maintenance payments made through the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Service’s (NAV) debt collection unit are specified in the statement from NAV. Only deductible maintenance payments should be entered under item 3.3.3. Maintenance payments paid as lump sums are not deductible.

Maintenance payments deducted by your employer (Certificate of Pay and Tax Deducted, codes 313 and 316) must not be entered in your tax return.

The tax office may require documentation of any maintenance payments you have paid directly to the recipient.

3.3.4 Share of costs in housing cooperatives (housing associations or limited liability housing companies) and in jointly-owned housing properties

The amount is specified in the statement from the housing cooperative or jointly-owned property. Owners of units in a housing cooperative/jointly-owned housing property who have not received a statement can obtain the required information from the board of the cooperative/property or its accountant.

If you let a house/apartment in a housing cooperative (housing association or limited liability housing company) or jointly-owned property and this makes the house/apartment subject to accounts-based tax assessment, your share of the cooperative/property’s costs shall not be entered here. Any amount entered in advance must be deleted and entered in form RF-1189E «Letting etc. of real property 2010». See «Housing and other real property».

3.3.5 Deductible payments to individual pension schemes (IPS)

A deduction is granted for premiums, deposits and administrative expenses relating to individual pension schemes pursuant to the Act relating to individual pension schemes (IPS). The total deduction cannot exceed NOK 15,000.

3.3.6 Loss on the sale of a house/apartment, holiday home, land or other real property

For information about when losses are deductible, see «Housing and other real property». Specify how the loss was calculated under item 5.0 (Additional information).

Any loss on the sale of property abroad must also be entered under item 3.3.6 if the loss is deductible in Norway, see «Real property abroad».

3.3.7 Other deductions

Specify what you are claiming a deduction for.

Among other things, this item is used for:

Donations to certain voluntary organisations and religious and life stance communities

You are entitled to deduct up to NOK 12,000 for cash donations to certain voluntary organisations etc. From 2010, the deduction scheme has been extended to cover cash donations to foreign organisations etc. within the EEA area. The right to deductions also covers donations to the Church of Norway and the state churches of other EEA countries. To qualify for a deduction, you must have donated at least NOK 500 to the individual organisation during the course of the income year.

Norwegian organisations etc. must have provided the Norwegian Tax Administration with information about the donation(s) in machine-readable form within the stipulated deadlines. If the donation has not been pre-entered in your tax return, you must ask the recipient of the donation to send the required information to the Norwegian Tax Administration. If you have made a donation to voluntary organisations etc. together with others and believe that the amount reported for you is incorrect, you must ask the organisation to send a new report specifying your proportional share of the donation.

Donations to foreign recipients are not pre-entered in your tax return. For such donations, you must declare the donated amount and state the name of the organisation. You must be able to present a receipt from the organisation on request, and the receipt must state your name, address, Norwegian personal ID number/organisation number and the donated amount in Norwegian kroner.

A list of approved organisations is available at skatteetaten.no.

Donations to research and vocational training

You are entitled to deduct donations to institutes that are engaged in scientific research in cooperation with the state. Deductions are also granted for vocational training that may be of importance to your business. Deductions in excess of NOK 10,000 are limited to 10 per cent of your general income before the deduction of any special allowance and before the deduction of the donation.

A list of approved institutes is available at skatteetaten.no.

Index-linked bonds and bank savings with equity-indexed yield

You are entitled to deduct establishment costs (subscription fees). The deduction is given when the savings arrangement is terminated.

Any interruption fee resulting from the savings arrangement being terminated before expiry of the commitment period is regarded as a loss, and it will not normally qualify for a deduction except when the savings arrangement is part of business activities or concerns a multiple debt instrument. If the savings arrangement is unrelated to business activities, such interruption fees may nevertheless be offset against any positive yield.

Losses on the redemption of index-linked bonds are only deductible if the bond is a multiple debt instrument or the savings arrangement is part of business activities. Such losses are not entered in advance, and you must calculate them yourself. You have sustained a loss if the amount you received on redemption is less than what you paid for the bond including fees (subscription fees and any interruption fee). You can provide more detailed information under item 5.0 (Additional information).

Standard deduction for foreign employees

Foreign employees who are liable to tax in Norway on wage earnings without being tax resident here, can claim a standard deduction. Foreign employees who stay in Norway for so long that they become tax resident here can only claim a standard deduction for the first two income years they are deemed to be tax resident here. Pursuant to Norwegian domestic law, a person becomes tax resident with effect from the year his or her stay in Norway exceeds 183 days in a 12-month period or 270 days in a 36-month period. The deduction is 10 per cent of gross income from employment and maximum NOK 40,000. If you claim the standard deduction, many other deductions do not apply.

See «Guidelines for foreign employees and self-employed persons» at skatteetaten.no.

Special income deductions for young people

Children who are 17 years old or older (born in 1993 or earlier) are entitled to a separate income deduction if they have income from employment and a child pension. The deduction is given automatically.

Losses on the sale of securities etc.

Here, you enter any deductible losses on the sale of securities that are not to be entered under item 3.3.8, 3.3.9 or 3.3.10.

Unit-linked insurance

Here you enter any loss on the savings part in connection with disbursements from an individual annuity with an investment option without guaranteed yield (unit-linked insurance) taken out with companies that are or have been authorised to conduct insurance business in Norway. You must also enter here loss on the savings part in connection with disbursements from endowment insurance policies with an investment option without guaranteed yield (unit-linked insurance) taken out with a Norwegian company or a company in another EEA state. The tax office may ask you to document the loss.

Currency losses

Currency losses are as a rule deductible. The loss will not have been pre-entered, and you must calculate the loss yourself. For informasjon about currency gains and losses, see skatteetaten.no.

3.3.8 Losses on the sale of shares etc. (RF-1088)

Here, you enter any deductible loss on shares and equity certificates (formerly primary capital certificates) for which you have received form RF-1088 «Aksjer og egenkapitalbevis 2010» (Shares and equity certificates 2010 – in Norwegian only). All personal shareholders who have realised shares or equity certificates in 2010 and who have received form RF-1088, must check the form. If the information in RF-1088 is correct, you must transfer the amount in item 120 to item 3.3.8 in your tax return. If the information in the statement is incorrect or incomplete, you must correct the statement and submit it by the same deadline as for submission of the tax return. Corrected deductible losses must be entered under item 3.3.8 in your tax return. If you have realised shares or equity certificates and they are not listed in form RF-1088 «Aksjer og egenkapital-bevis 2010» (Shares and equity certificates 20109 – in Norwegian only), you must complete form RF-1059 «Aksjer og fondsandeler mv. 2010» (Shares and units in funds etc. 2010 – in Norwegian only) instead, and enter the loss under item 3.3.10.

See «Shares etc.», and skatteetaten.no/aksjer.

3.3.9 Losses on the sale of units in securities funds

This item covers deductible loss on the redemption, sale or other form of realisation of units in securities funds (e.g. unit trusts, bond or money market funds, combination funds etc.). Unit holders in Norwegian and some foreign securities funds who have realised units in 2010 will receive a realisation statement from the management company or the Norwegian Central Securities Depository (VPS). The realisation statement contains information about the taxable gain/deductible loss. The total deductible loss will have been pre-entered under this item if the management company or the Norwegian Central Securities Depository has reported the amount to the Norwegian Tax Administration. You must check the amounts and correct any errors.

Gains/losses on the realisation of units in most foreign securities funds are not entered in advance. You must fill in and submit RF-1059 «Aksjer og fondsandeler mv. 2010» (Shares and units in funds etc. 2010 – in Norwegian only) and enter any gain under item 3.1.10 and any loss under 3.3.10.

3.3.10 Losses on the sale of shares etc. (RF-1059)

Here, you enter deductible losses on shares etc. other than those to be entered under items 3.3.8 or 3.3.9, including:

shares/equity certificates in Norwegian and foreign companies for which you have not received RF-1088 «Aksjer og egenkapitalbevis 2010» (Shares and equity certificates 2010 – in Norwegian only)
units in foreign securities funds for which the loss has not been included in the pre-entered amount in item 3.3.9.
bonds.

On the realisation of shares in foreign companies or shares/equity certificates in Norwegian companies for which you have not received form RF-1088 «Aksjer og egenkapitalbevis 2010» (Shares and equity certificates 2010 – in Norwegian only), you must complete and submit form RF-1059 ««Aksjer og fondsandeler mv. 2010» (Shares and units in funds etc. 2010 – in Norwegian only). For information about the calculation of such deductible losses, see the guidelines RF-1072 (in Norwegian only).

There is no separate form for losses on the sale of bonds and other financial instruments. The calculations must be made under item 5.0 (Additional information).

See «Shares etc.», and skatteetaten.no/aksjer.

3.3.11 Deficits carried forward from previous years

If you have an uncovered deficit from previous years, the amount should be stated in your tax settlement for 2009 as «Unutilised deficit». The deficit will normally be deductible in full. In some cases, the right to deductions can have lapsed in whole or in part. Among other things, this applies if:

a deduction was granted for expenses for minding and caring for children (item 3.2.10) in the year such deficit arose (such deduction cannot create or increase a deficit to be carried forward)
your business closed down in 2005 or before and the deficit concerns this business
you have had debt remitted through debt settlement or insolvency proceedings.

If you are married, the rules concerning the deduction of deficits carried forward from previous years apply to you and your spouse separately. Any residual deficit carryforward on the part of one spouse is automatically deducted from the other spouse’s income.

Contact the tax office for more information.

3.3.12 Deficit on the letting of real property

Here, you enter any loss from the operation of a housing property or other real property subject to accounts-based tax assessment, see «Housing and other real property». Please enclose form RF-1189E «Letting etc. of real property 2010».

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3.5 Special allowances

Proposals for special allowances for age and disability are found in your Certificate of Pension Income and Tax Deducted from NAV. If you have questions about special allowances, please contact the tax office.

3.5.1 Special allowance for age

The amount is specified under code 250 in the Certificate of Pension Income and Tax Deducted from NAV. Everyone who is 70 years old or more in 2010 is entitled to a special allowance for age. The same applies to persons who have reached the age of 67 and who receive an old-age pension from the National Insurance scheme. If you receive a reduced old-age pension, the special allowance will be reduced corres-pondingly. The full special allowance amounts to NOK 1,614 per month, or NOK 19,368 for the whole of 2010.

If you are between the ages of 67 and 70 and have only lived in Norway for a short period, you are entitled to supplementary benefit. In such case, you are entitled to a special allowance of NOK 1,614 per month with effect from the month in which you first receive the benefit.

Married couples who are old-age pensioners are, together, entitled to maximum one whole special allowance for age. If one of them receives an old-age pension and the other a disability pension, the special allowances for age and disability shall not exceed NOK 19,368.

If both spouses had a special allowance for disability or a minor impairment of earning capacity before either of them was entitled to an old-age pension, the monthly deduction shall nonetheless not be reduced if one or both of them receive an old-age pension.

3.5.2 Special allowance for disability

You are entitled to a special allowance with effect from the first month you are entitled to a provisional disability pension or a disability pension. The same applies if you received a temporary disability benefit in January and February 2010. This benefit was discontinued from 1 March 2010 and replaced by the work assessment allowance. You are not entitled to a special allowance for the period during which you received the work assessment allowance.

If your earning capacity is reduced by at least two-thirds, you will be entitled to a special allowance of NOK 1,614 per month (NOK 19,368 per year). If your earning capacity is reduced by less than two-thirds, the special allowance will be NOK 807 per month (NOK 9,684 per year).

You will find the proposed special allowance under code 250 in the Certificate of Pension Income and Tax Deducted you have received from NAV.

3.5.3 Special allowance for minor impairment of earning capacity

This special allowance is given on the basis of an overall financial assessment in which your spouse’s income and capital are also taken into consideration. You must submit a medical certificate if you have not already done so. The special allowance shall not exceed NOK 9,180.

3.5.4 Special allowance for unusually large sickness expenses

You are entitled to a special allowance in the event of unusually large expenses because of sickness or other permanent debility, either on your own part or on the part of a person you provide for. Sickness must be documented by a medical certificate. However, if you have previously submitted a medical certificate as documentation of a chronic illness, you are not required to submit a medical certificate for each year for which you claim a special allowance. You must be able to document/substantiate your expenses on request, and they must amount to at least NOK 9,180. You are entitled to a deduction for supervision costs due to children’s illness irrespective of the amount of the expenses. See «Special allowances for major sickness expenses».

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3.6 Basis for calculating municipal and county tax and equalisation tax to the state

The amount is reduced by a personal allowance. Municipal, county and equalisation tax is then levied at a rate of 28 per cent on the net amount.

For taxpayers in Nord-Troms and Finnmark the amount is reduced both by a personal allowance and by a special income deduction. Municipal, county and equalisation tax is then levied at a rate of 24.5 per cent on the net amount.

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Capital and debt

It is your capital and debt at the turn of the year 2010/2011, i.e. at 00.00 hrs. on 1 January 2011, that must be declared.

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4.1 Bank deposits, cash, securities etc.

Here, you enter only Norwegian bank deposits, securities etc. Deposits in foreign banks must be entered under item 4.1.9 and foreign securities etc. under item 4.6.2.

For children’s capital, including lump-sum compensation for personal injuries to children, see «Parents and children».

4.1.1 Bank deposits etc.

Here, you enter all deposits in Norway (including interest) as of 1 January 2011 in:

banks
insurance companies
organised savings associations
cooperative societies
housing cooperatives, cooperative building association and limited liability housing companies.

4.1.3 Cash etc.

In addition to cash in Norwegian and foreign currency, you must enter under item 4.1.3 the value of cheques, giro payment orders and/or bank drafts that have not been cashed or credited to an account as of 1 January 2011. For foreign currency etc., use the banks’ purchasing exchange rate.

You must only enter the amount in excess of NOK 3,000 (the tax-free allowance) under item 4.1.3. Married couples and children who are assessed jointly have a joint tax-free allowance. This applies even if their income is assessed separately. Spouses can divide the tax-free allowance between themselves as they wish. If spouses are assessed separately, they are each entitled to a tax-free allowance of NOK 3,000. For information about separate assessment, see «Spouses, registered partners and spouse-equivalent cohabitants».

4.1.4 Taxable assets in the form of units in unit trusts

This item contains pre-entered amounts based on information submitted to the Norwegian Tax Administration by the management companies. You yourself must enter any assets in the form of units in Norwegian unit trusts as of 1 January 2011 that have not been entered in advance.

The tax value is based on the unit value as of 1 January 2011.

Unit trusts are valued at 100 per cent of the unit value.

Here, you enter units in Norwegian unit trusts irrespective of whether or not they are registered in a securities register. Units in foreign unit trusts are entered under item 4.6.2.

4.1.5 Bond funds and money market funds (Norwegian), both registered and not registered in a securities register

Units in bond funds and money market funds must be entered at 100 per cent of the value of the units as of 1 January 2011 (full value). The unit value will be specified in the balance statement from the fund. Units in foreign bond and money market funds must be entered under item 4.6.2.

4.1.6 Debt receivables (in Norway)

State the debtor’s name, address and amount. Enter the interest under item 3.1.2.

4.1.7 Tax value of Norwegian shares, equity certificates, bonds etc. registered in the securities register (the Norwegian Central Securities Depository - VPS)

Tax value of Norwegian shares and equity certificates (formerly primary capital certificates)

The tax value of Norwegian shares etc. registered in a securities register (the Norwegian Central Securities Depository – VPS) should be specified in the annual statement from the register. Norwegian equity certifi-cates should also be specified under this item. You enter the tax value of other Norwegian shares under item 4.1.8, and units in Norwegian unit trusts under item 4.1.4. Shares etc. in foreign companies must be entered under item 4.6.2.

Listed shares are valued at 100 per cent of their listed price on 1 January 2011. If the company is listed on both the Norwegian stock exchange and a foreign stock exchange, the value on the Norwegian exchange shall be used.

Shares in unlisted Norwegian companies shall in principle be valued at 100 per cent of the shares’ proportional share of the company’s total asset value for tax purposes as of 1 January 2010.

If the share capital has changed as a result of payments received from or payments made to the shareholders, 100 per cent of the value as of 1 January 2011 shall be used. Contact the company for information about this if necessary.

If the company was formed in 2010, the shares shall be valued at 100 per cent of the sum of the face value of the shares and any share premium.

Equity certificates are valued at 100 per cent of their listed price on 1 January 2011.

Value of Norwegian bonds

Bearer bonds and other bonds registered in a securities register are valued at their listed price or assumed sales price if the price is not listed.

Value of Norwegian options registered in the Norwegian Central Securities Depository (VPS)

Stock exchange-listed options are valued at the listed price.

4.1.8 Tax value of shares in form RF-1088, bonds, options etc. not registered in the Norwegian Central Securities Depository (VPS)

The amounts must be specified in the following sub-categories:

shares in form RF-1088 (not VPS), normally entered in advance
bonds and other securities not registered in the securities register
employment-related options.

Tax value of shares transferred from RF-1088

Here, you will find the value as of 1 January 2010 of Norwegian shares included in form RF-1088 «Aksjer og egenkapitalbevis 2010» (Shares and equity certificates 2010 – in Norwegian only), which has been sent to you. If the capital value of any shares is not specified in form RF-1088, you must enter the value under this item. The tax value of companies registered in the Norwegian Central Securities Depository (VPS) is not stated in RF-1088, but is entered in item 4.1.7.

Tax value of securities not registered in the Norwegian Central Securities Depository (VPS)

For Norwegian bonds not registered in a securities register, you enter the unit value as of 1 January 2011. If it is unknown, use the presumed sales value. State the name of the issuer, the number of bonds and the face value of the bond.

You enter the presumed sales value as of 1 January 2011 of unlisted Norwegian options. An option confers a right, but not an obligation, on its holder to buy or sell an asset on a given date or within a certain period at a price agreed in advance.

Here, you must also enter the tax value of Norwegian shares that are not specified in form RF-1088 «Aksjer og egenkapitalbevis 2010» (Shares and equity certificates for 2010 – in Norwegian only) and which are not registered in the Norwegian Central Securities Depository (VPS). The company will provide you with the tax value. For information about how the value is determined, see item 4.1.7.

Units in Norwegian unit trusts must be entered under item 4.1.4.

Employment-related options

The value of unconditional employment-related Norwegian options is taxable capital. The pre-entered amount is taken from code 523 in the Certificate of Pay and Tax Deducted. If the value of the option depends on the fulfilment of an uncertain condition, the option is not considered to be a taxable asset.

4.1.9 Deposits in foreign banks

Here, you enter deposits in foreign banks as of 1 January 2011. The banks’ exchange rate on 1 January 2011 for purchasing the currency in question will be used to convert amounts into Norwegian kroner.

The deposits must be specified in form RF-1231E «Deposits in foreign banks 2010»

4.2. Home contents/ moveable property

You must enter private home contents/moveable property under item 4.2, whether they are in Norway or abroad.

4.2.3 Home contents and moveable property other than motor vehicles, caravans and pleasure boats with a sales value of NOK 50,000 or more

You reduce the presumed sales value of the moveable property by deducting a tax-free allowance of NOK 100,000 before entering the amount under item 4.2.3. This is a combined tax-free allowance for spouses and children, even if their incomes are assessed separately. The tax-free allowance can be divided between spouses as they wish.

If the home contents/moveable property are insured, you can calculate their expected sales value on the basis of the insured amounts as shown below. If the contents/moveable property are not insured or the insured amount is not specified, e.g. in the case of group home contents insurance, you can calculate the sales value on the basis of what you presume it would cost to replace the home contents/moveable property.

Boats that are not separately insured and that are not covered by an ordinary home contents/moveable property insurance policy, are valued at their presumed sales value; see the example. If a boat is insured separately, then the presumed sales value should be set at 75 per cent of the amount insured.

Boats with a presumed sales value as of 1 January 2011 of NOK 50,000 or more must be entered under item 4.2.4.

Calculation of sales value

The sales value of home contents and moveable property is calculated as follows:

Amount insured/acquisition price as new	Sales value
Sales value of the first NOK 1,000,000	10%
of the next NOK 400,000	20%
of the remaining amount	40%

(A boat shall only be included in the calculation above if it is covered by a home contents and moveable property insurance policy.)

Example:

Amount insured (moveable property, excl. boat)	NOK 1,100,000
Insured amount for boat	NOK 40,000
Moveable property NOK 1,000,000 x 10%	NOK 100,000
+ NOK 100,000 x 20%	NOK 20,000
= Presumed sales value	NOK 120,000
+ Boat NOK 40,000 x 75%	NOK 30,000
Total	NOK 150,000
-Tax-free amount	NOK 100,000
= Capital value of moveable property incl. pleasure boat (Item 4.2.3)	NOK 50,000

4.2.4 Pleasure boats with a sales value of NOK 50,000 or higher

Pleasure boats with a presumed sales value of NOK 50,000 or more must be entered here. State the make, type and presumed sales value. If the boat is insured, then the value should be set at 75 per cent of the amount insured.

4.2.5 Motor vehicles

Cars, motorbikes, snowmobiles and other motor vehicles (that are not operating equipment) are valued on the basis of the vehicle’s list price as new from the main importer on the following scale:

First registration	List price value year as new
2010	75%
2009	65%
2008	55%
2007	45%
2006	40%
2005	30%
2004	20%
2003–1995	15%
1994–1981	NOK 1,000

List prices are available at skatteetaten.no/listepris.

Veteran vehicles, i.e. vehicles that are 30 years old or more, are valued at their presumed sales value.

If you have received the «Tax return 2010 for wage earners and pensioners etc.» and have a car that is subject to accounts-based assessment, you can enter the written-down tax value here. If you can demonstrate that the actual value is lower, specify the actual value. Self-employed persons must not enter the amount here, but under item 4.4.1, see «Start help for self-employed people etc.».

4.2.6 Caravans

Caravans are valued in the same way as motor vehicles, see item 4.2.5.

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4.3 Tax value of housing and other real property

The tax value is declared as capital (wealth).

For general information about tax values for housing properties and holiday homes, see «Housing and other real property».

4.3.2 Housing properties

New rules have been introduced with effect from 2010 for stipulating the capital value of housing properties, including units in housing cooperatives. The new rules do not apply to holiday homes, units in holiday housing cooperatives, dwelling houses on farms, homes abroad and on Svalbard. See «Housing and other real property» for information about the distinction between housing properties and holiday homes.

With effect from 2010, the tax value will be stipulated annually by multiplying the area of the dwelling by a price per square metre. The square metre prices are calculated annually by the tax authorities based on a calculation model prepared by Statistics Norway. A sales value per square metre is calculated, taking into consideration the type of dwelling, build year, area and geographical location. The price per square metre will be 25 per cent of the estimated sales value for primary dwellings and 40 per cent for secondary dwellings. In principle, your primary dwelling is the dwelling where you are registered as living in the Population Register on 1 January 2011. If you own other dwellings, they will be deemed to be secondary dwellings. In exceptional cases, your house/apartment can be deemed to be your primary dwelling even if it is not your home at the end of the year. This applies if you can substantiate/document that you are unable to use the house/apartment as your home due to circumstances outside your control, for example due to old age, medical reasons, compulsory work posting etc. In such case, the house/apartment shall be deemed to be your primary dwelling, provided that you do not let it and that you have not become the owner of another house/apartment that you use as your home.

If you have provided information about the area of the dwelling, the build year and type of dwelling to the Norwegian Tax Admini-stration by 1 February 2011, both the tax value and the information about the dwelling should be pre-entered in your tax return. Check that the information about the dwelling is correct. You can calculate the tax value yourself by using the calculator at skatteetaten.no.

If you can document that the tax value according to the new rules exceeds 30 per cent of the dwelling’s market value, you can demand a reduction in the tax value. For secondary dwellings, the same applies if the tax value exceeds 60 per cent of the market value. Such demands can be made on submission of the tax return or by appealing against the tax assessment. For information about documentation requirements, see «Housing and other real property» and skatteetaten.no/boligverdi.

If the tax value has not been entered in your tax return in advance and you owned the dwelling on 1 January 2011, you must enter information about the dwelling in your tax return or submit form RF-1282 «Opplysninger for beregning av likningsverdi for boligeiendommer» (Information for calculation of the tax value of housing properties – in Norwegian only). This form is available at skatteetaten.no. Information about the area of the dwelling (primary rooms/net living area), type of dwelling and build year is necessary in order to stipulate the tax value.

A P room (’primary room’) is any room that can be defined as living area in a dwelling, for example the living room, kitchen, bedrooms, bathroom, utility room and hall. Garages, undecorated rooms in a basement/attic, storage rooms and other storage spaces are not deemed to be P rooms. The basis for this definition is the Norwegian valuers and surveyors’ guidelines for area measurement. A list of rooms deemed to be P rooms and instructions for measuring the area of P rooms in your dwelling are available at skatteetaten.no.

You can state the net living area (BOA) instead of the area of the P rooms. In practice, the area of the P rooms and the net living area will often be nearly identical. Information about P rooms and net living area can be found, for example, in sales and appraisal documents for your home. The area must be stated in whole square metres.

Dwellings are divided into the following types: detached houses, small houses and apartments. A detached house is a house meant for one household, for example a separate house, villa or similar. A small house is a house that is physically connected to another by at least one common wall, alternatively that shares a floor/roof with the neighbouring house. This will typically be terraced or semi-detached houses. Detached houses in a row are also deemed to be small houses. An apartment is a housing unit in a building with at least two floors, three housing units and a joint entrance. This will typically be blocks of flats or terraced apartments.

The build year is the year in which the housing property was completed. The build year will not change as a result of resto-ration work, refurbishment or building an extension.

If you have not submitted this information by the deadline for submitting the tax return, the tax value can be stipulated by discretionary judgement.

More information is available at skatteetaten.no/boligverdi.

4.3.3 Holiday homes

The tax value of holiday homes has been increased by 10 per cent from 2009 to 2010 (does not apply for holidayhomes abroad, see item 4.6.1). If the tax value of such properties is substantially higher than the valuation level of comparable properties in the municipality, the ten percent increase may be reduced or dropped.

If you have built an extension or otherwise improved the house, you must state this under item 5.0 (Additional information). The tax office may then set a new tax value. In such cases, the tax value could increase by more than 10 per cent. The same applies in the case of improvements etc. carried out earlier that have not been taken into account because you have failed to provide information or have provided insufficient information to the tax authorities.

The tax value shall nonetheless never exceed 30 per cent of the property’s market value. See «Housing and other real property». See «Leased plots of land for houses and holiday homes » about additions to the tax value of leased plots.

On the initial valuation of newly built holiday homes, the tax value shall neither exceed 30 per cent of the property’s cost price including land nor 30 per cent of its market value.

The sale of a property does not in itself constitute grounds for increasing its tax value.

4.3.5 Other real property

Here, you enter the tax value of all real property other than housing and holiday properties in Norway, e.g. undeveloped plots of land, agricultural property, power stations and commercial property. There will be no general increase of the tax values. If you have commercial property, see below.

If the tax value has been entered in advance or pre-entered under the wrong item (remember, in such case, to delete the incorrect item), you must enter the amount under one of the following items:

4.3.5 Norwegian commercial property (RF-1098)
4.3.5 Land
4.3.5 Other real property with taxable yield
4.3.5 Other real property without taxable yield
4.3.5 Farm

If you submit your tax return on paper, state the name of the item as mentioned above and enter the amount under «Enter any amounts not entered in advance here».

Let Norwegian commercial property

The tax value of let commercial property is calculated on the basis of the gross rental income. You perform the calculation using form RF-1098 and enter the tax value under item 4.3.5 «Norwegian commercial property». For details about how to calculate the tax value, see the guidelines RF-1099.

Unlet Norwegian commercial property

With effect from the 2010 income year, new rules apply to the calculation of the tax value for unlet Norwegian commercial property. You perform the calculation using form RF-1098 and enter the tax value under item 4.3.5 «Norwegian commercial property» (RF-1098). For details about how to calculate the tax value, see the guidelines RF-1099.

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4.5 Other capital

4.5.1 Premium funds, individual pension agreements (IPA)

The premium fund balance (including interest) as of 1 January 2011 relating to an individual pension agreement (IPA) is taxable capital.

4.5.2 The surrender value of life insurance policies

As a rule, the surrender value of individual annuity agreements is considered to be taxable capital and must be entered here. For information about exceptions to the rule, see «Life insurance».

See «Parents and children» for information about children’s capital, including lump-sum compensation for personal injuries to children and lump-sum compensation for loss of a provider.

The surrender value of endowment insurance policies shall also be entered here.

The surrender value of individual annuity agreements and endowment insurance policies is specified in the statement you receive from the company.

You enter any endowment insurance policies with foreign companies under item 4.6.2.

4.5.3 Capital in housing cooperatives, limited liability housing companies and jointly-owned properties

Here, owners enter the value of their share of capital in the housing cooperative/company other than the tax value as specified in the statement from the cooperative/company. Owners of a share in a jointly-owned property shall also enter their share of any capital in the jointly-owned property other than the tax value here. If you own a unit or are joint owner of a jointly-owned property with more than eight owner units, the amount will be specified in the statement you receive from the housing company or jointly-owned property. Owners of shares in a jointly-owned property who have not received a statement can obtain the required information from the board of the property or its accountant.

4.5.4 Other taxable capital

Here, you enter other taxable capital in Norway that is not to be entered under other items in your tax return.

The value of hunting, fishing and waterfall rights relating to forestry properties shall be entered here. The calculation method is described in the guidelines RF-1178.

Leasehold rights

Long-term leases of plots of land for housing and holiday home purposes are treated as permanent (perpetual) rights. In the case of perpetual lease rights, the lessor (owner) must declare the capitalised value of future ground rent here. For information about the calculation of the capitalised value and reduction in tax value for lessors, see «Leased plots of land for houses and holiday homes».

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4.6 Taxable capital abroad

4.6.1 Capital in real property abroad

Here, you enter the tax value of all real property abroad if the property is liable to tax in Norway. You must also state which country the property is located in. The rules concerning the valuation of real property described under items 4.3.3 and 4.3.5 also apply here. The new rules for valuation of housing properties described under item 4.3.2, however, do not apply to housing properties abroad. For 2010 there is no general increase of the tax value of houses and holiday homes abroad.

The rules regarding valuation of let commercial properties apply to properties abroad.

Real property that is not taxable in Norway shall not be entered here, but you must provide information about the property under item 5.0 (Additional information) or a separate enclosure, see item 1.5.6. The information will have a bearing on the allocation of debts and interest on debt between Norway and abroad.

If you have acquired property during 2010, you must provide information about the property under item 5.0 (Additional information), see item 1.5.6.

If the property is a let commercial property, you must fill in form RF-1098 «Formue av næringseiendom 2010» (Capital value of commercial property 2010 – in Norwegian only), and enter the tax value under item 4.6.1 «Let commercial property abroad» (RF-1098), see description under item 4.3.5.

See «Real property abroad».

4.6.2 Other taxable capital abroad

Here, you enter all capital abroad that is liable to tax in Norway and that is not to be entered under other items. This applies, among other things, to bearer bonds, outstanding claims against foreign debtors, shares in foreign companies and units in foreign securities funds, units in foreign bond and money market funds and holdings in foreign companies. Here, you must also enter the value of endowment insurance with companies outside Norway. The tax authorities may ask for documentation.

Listed shares in foreign companies are valued at 100 per cent of the listed price on 1 January 2011. Unlisted shares in foreign companies are valued at 100 per cent of the share’s assumed sales value as of 1 January 2011. If you so demand, and are able to substantiate the tax value of the company’s assets, 100 per cent of the tax value of the company’s assets on 1 January 2010 can be used instead.

Units in securities funds that are managed by foreign companies shall be valued at 100 per cent of the value of the unit as of 1 January 2011.

Foreign bearer bonds will be valued at their price on 1 January 2011. If there is no listed price, or the price is unknown, the bonds shall be valued at their presumed sales value.

The banks’ exchange rate on 1 January 2011 for buying currency shall be used to convert amounts into Norwegian kroner.

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4.8 Debt

All debts owing on 1 January 2011 shall be entered in your tax return. For information about deductions for debt for persons with real property abroad, see «Real property abroad».

4.8.1 Debt in Norway

Here, you enter your debt in Norway, including debt to private individuals. The amounts are specified in annual statements from banks, insurance companies etc. Any unpaid underpaid tax that had fallen due by 31 December 2010 must also be entered here.

In the case of perpetual lease rights, typically long-term leases of ground, the lessee must enter the capitalised obligation to pay ground rent here. For information about the calculation of the capitalised value and the addition for land value for lessees, see «Leased plots of land for houses and holiday homes».

4.8.2 Debt in housing cooperatives, limited liability housing companies and jointly-owned housing properties

You enter your share of the debt here. If you own a unit or are joint owner of a jointly-owned housing property with more than eight owner units, the amount will be specified in the statement you receive from the housing company or jointly-owned housing property. Owners of units in a jointly-owned housing property who have not received a statement can obtain the required information from the board of the property or its accountant.

4.8.3 Debts abroad

Here, you enter any debts owing to foreign creditors.

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Items that only apply to self-employed persons etc.

For more information about businesses assessed as partnerships (ANS, DA, KS etc.), see «Partner in a business assessed as a partnership (ANS, DA, KS etc.)».

More information about forms referred to by an RF number in the following is provided in «Start help for self-employed people etc.».

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Sole proprietorships

Any income from a sole proprietorship (self-employment) is included in your general income. Tax on general income is paid to the municipality and county authority as well as equalisation tax to the state. Your personal income is calculated on the basis of your general income, and it forms the basis for calculating National Insurance contributions and surtax. As a self-employed person/person engaged in business, you have an obligation to submit an income statement and a personal income form. You can read more about these forms in Part 4 below. Self-employed persons who have business income that does not exceed NOK 50,000 will normally be exempt from the requirement to submit an income statement and personal income form. You can read more about these forms in «Start help for self-employed people etc.».

1.5.8 Are you claiming a deduction in tax for expenses relating to approved research and development project(s)?

The rules are described in RF-1053 (see the list of forms in «Start help for self-employed people etc.»).

1.5.9 Owners of power stations

Any unused natural resource tax from previous years, including interest, is specified in the tax settlement for 2009 and should be stated under item 1.5.9.

1.5.10 Joint business

Spouses who have allocated business income/calculated personal income from a joint business between them must tick this item. Allocated business income is entered under item 2.7 and allocated calculated personal income under item 1.6. The income shall be allocated in the income statement and in the personal income form. The spouse who is the chief party in the business submits the income statement and the form «Personal income from sole proprietorships 2010» (RF-1224E) as enclosures with his or her tax return. More information about allocation is provided in guidelines RF-1176E (explanation of items 0401-0403), or guidelines RF-1168 (explanation of item 0999).

1.6.1 or 1.6.2 Positive personal income from sole proprietorships and the crew’s share of the catch/proceeds from fishing and hunting at sea

As a self-employed person, you have an obligation to submit RF-1224E «Personal income from sole proprietorships 2010». This does not apply to self-employed persons etc. who are exempt from the obligation to submit an income statement. For information about the calculation of personal income, see guidelines RF-1225E.

Negative calculated personal income from RF-1224E shall not be transferred to your tax return, but can be carried forward for deduction from subsequent years’ personal income.

Positive income from item 119 in RF-1213 «Fiske 2010» (Fishing 2010 – in Norwegian only) is entered under item 1.6.1 in the tax return.

If you have wound up a sole proprietorship, but still have a positive balance in RF-1219 or a negative balance in RF-1084 from the business, the part of the balance that is liable to tax shall be entered as personal income under item 1.6.1 or 1.6.2, even if you have not submitted an income statement or a personal income form (RF-1224E). The amount from item 15a in RF-1219 and/or positive income from item 110 in RF-1084 shall be transferred to items 3.1.12 and 1.6.2 in the tax return. If the gain stems from agriculture, forestry, fisheries, reindeer husbandry or fur farming, it must be entered under item 3.1.12 and 1.6.1. The same applies to income from day care centres for children or other childminding in one’s own home.

If you have carried forward negative personal income from previous years for the wound-up sole proprietorship, this will reduce any positive personal income transferred directly to the tax return from item 15a in RF-1219 and/or item 110 in RF-1084. In such case, you must provide additional information about the negative personal income carried forward under item 5.0 (Additional information) in your tax return.

1.6.3 or 1.6.4 Sickness benefits paid to self-employed persons etc.

The amount must also be entered under item 2.7.13.

2.1.3 Day care centre for children in a private home, including sickness benefit

See item 2.1.3.

2.7 Business income

The paper version of the tax return describes where the amounts are to be taken from and under which item in the tax return they are to be entered.

2.7.3 Business income from fishing and hunting at sea

For fishermen without a bookkeeping obligation (recipients of share of catch/proceeds), the amount is taken from item 117 in RF-1213. If you have engaged in fishing as a sole proprietorship, your business income is taken from item 0402 in your income statement.

2.7.13 Sickness benefit etc. for self-employed persons

This item also includes any maternity and care benefits you have received as a self-employed person in connection with adoption.

Sickness benefit in code 444 in the statement from NAV must be entered under item 2.1.3 if the minding of children takes place in one’s own home.

3.2.15 Special allowance for agriculture

You can claim a special allowance for agriculture if certain conditions are satisfied. In such case, you must submit form RF-1177. If you are exempt from the obligation to submit an income statement you do not have to submit form RF-1177. Instead, you must enter the allowance directly in your tax return. Information about the conditions and the size of the allowance is provided in guidelines RF-1178.

3.2.16 Special allowance for reindeer husbandry

If you own reindeer and have engaged in reindeer husbandry for more than half the income year, you can claim the special allowance for reindeer husbandry. In such case, you must submit form RF-1177. If you are exempt from the obligation to submit an income statement (operating revenues not exceeding NOK 50,000 and average tax assessment not started) you do not have to submit form RF-1177. Instead, you must enter the allowance directly in your tax return. Information about the rules and the size of the allowance is provided in guidelines RF-1178.

3.2.17 Special allowance in connection with slate quarrying

If you are engaged in slate quarrying in Finnmark or certain municipalities in Nord-Troms, you can claim a special allowance. It is new this year that you do not have to submit form RF-1177, but must enter the allowance directly in your tax return. Information about the rules and the size of the allowance is provided in guidelines RF-1178.

3.2.18 Premium for own supplementary National Insurance for self-employed persons

Here, you enter the voluntary premium paid to the National Insurance scheme for sickness benefit or occupational injury insurance.

3.2.19 Deficit for the year from business activities

If you do not submit your tax return online, you must remember to put a minus sign in front of the amount. It is explained in the paper version of the tax return where the amounts from the income statement are to be entered in the tax return. If the business has been wound up and you ran at a loss that is not covered by other income, you can claim a deduction from your income in 2009 for this loss. If the loss is not covered by income in 2009, it can be deducted from income in 2008, but not further back. The carry-back of a loss is effected by changing the tax assessment for the years in question. If an uncovered loss cannot be utilised as a carry-back or you do not wish to do so, the loss can be deducted instead from future income, see «Guidelines to the individual items» item 3.3.11. Under item 5.0 (Additional information) in your tax return, you can request a change in the tax assessment for 2009 and/or 2008 if the conditions are met.

3.3.11 Loss carryforward from previous years

On loss carryforwards in general, see the corresponding item in «Guidelines to the individual items». The special rule concerning previous deficits relating to dwelling houses on farms is explained in section VI in
RF-1178.

4.3.4 Value of forest

The value of forest is pre-entered for 2010. If the value of forest has changed significantly during the year (for example because of additional purchases, disposals, a conservation order, a natural disaster or similar), you must delete the pre-entered amount and submit form RF-1016, stating the estimated new value. More information is provided in guidelines RF-1017.

4.4.1 Vehicles, machinery, fixtures and fittings etc.

Here, you enter vehicles, fixtures and fittings etc. that are operating equipment in your business. The written-down tax value is used as the basis unless it can be proven that the actual value is lower. Vehicles, home contents and other moveable property that are not operating equipment must be entered under items 4.2.3–4.2.6.

4.4.2 Livestock

The Directorate of Taxes has stipulated norm values for most types of livestock. See the Directorate of Taxes’ valuation rules section 3-1-4 at skatteetaten.no.

4.4.3 Stocks

Self-produced goods are valued at production cost and purchased goods are valued at their acquisition cost.

4.4.4 Ships, fishing and whaling/sealing vessels etc.

See the Directorate of Taxes’ valuation rules section 2-1-5 at skatteetaten.no.

4.8.1 Debt from the income statement that has not been pre-entered in the tax return

Examples would be trade creditors, pre-payments from customers, unpaid employer’s National Insurance contributions and VAT, mortgage debt to a former owner on the transfer of a business, debt to employees etc.

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Partner in a business assessed as a partnership (ANS, DA, KS etc.)

As a partner in a business assessed as a partnership, you do not have to submit an income statement and/or personal income form if this is the only business activity you are engaged in. Partners should receive a partner statement (RF-1221) «Deltakerens oppgave over egen formue og inntekt i deltakerliknet selskap 2010» (Partner’s statement of own capital and income in businesses assessed as partnerships 2010 – in Norwegian only) from the partnership. See also guidelines RF-1222 and «Deltakermodellen» (the partnership model) at skatteetaten.no

Remuneration for work paid to a personal partner is deemed to be both general income and personal income, see the explanation of items 1.7.1 and 1.7.4 below. Remuneration for work is not included in the partnership’s business income. The partner’s share of any profit from a business assessed as a partnership is business income and will be liable to tax as general income for the partner. Correspondingly, a deduction from general income will be granted for the partner’s share of any loss that the partnership incurs. If the partner receives a distribution from the partnership, an addition to the partner's general income will be calculated. Active participation is not a requirement for the calculation of additional general income. The repayment of paid-up equity is not deemed to be a distribution from the partnership.

1.7.1 or 1.7.4 Remuneration for work from a business assessed as a partnership

Remuneration for work from a business assessed as a partnership that is engaged in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, reindeer husbandry, fur farming or a children’s day care centre in the partner’s home should be entered under item 1.7.1. The amount is taken from item 1160 in the partner statement (RF-1221). Remuneration for work from other businesses assessed as partnerships should be entered under item 1.7.4. You find the amount in item 1162 in the partner statement (RF-1221). If you have received pay as a limited partner, you must ensure that the amount is entered under item 2.1 and not item 1.7.1 or 1.7.4.

1.7.2 or 1.7.5 Setting off calculated negative personal income from a sole proprietorship against remuneration for work from a business assessed as a partnership

Here, you enter personal income that you can set off (see below) with remuneration for work in item 1.7.1 or 1.7.4. The conditions for making such set-offs are described in guidelines RF-1225E item 1.30.

The amount to be entered in item 1.7.2 or 1.7.5 is taken from item 1.21 in RF-1224E. Both the year’s negative calculated personal income and previous years’ negative calculated personal income carryforward from the sole proprietorship can be included in the amount. You cannot claim a deduction for previously incurred negative personal income from limited liability companies or businesses assessed as partnerships.

1.7.7 or 1.7.8 Share of spouse’s remuneration for work from a business assessed as a partnership

Remuneration you have received for work for a business assessed as a partnership in which your spouse is a general partner is not taxed as pay, but as business income. You enter your share of the remuneration for work under item 1.7.7 or 1.7.8 if you have not received a separate partner statement, see the description of forms. If the money comes from a business that is engaged in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, reindeer husbandry, fur farming or a children’s day care centre in the partner’s home, you enter the amount under item 1.7.7. Otherwise, you enter the share of the remuneration for work under item 1.7.8. If the overview of the allocation of capital and income between spouses has been entered in the partner statement, the amounts for the partner and spouse should be taken from the overview and entered in the tax return. The amounts are taken from items 1260 and 1261 for businesses engaged in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, reindeer husbandry, fur farming or a children’s day care centre in the partners’s home, or from items 1262 and 1263 for other businesses. The spouse must enter the amount in his or her tax return.

2.1.3, 2.7.7, 2.7.8 or 3.2.19 Business income/deficit from a business assessed as a partnership

Here, you take the amount from item 1140 in RF-1221. If the partner has run a children’s day care centre in his/her own home, the partner’s share of the profit must be entered under item 2.1.3. If the partnership has been engaged in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, reindeer husbandry or fur farming, the partner’s share of the partnership’s profit must be entered under item 2.7.7 in the tax return. In other cases, the profit should be entered under item 2.7.8. If there is a minus sign in front of the amount in the partner statement, the amount must be transferred to item 3.2.19 in the tax return. If the partner submits the «Tax return for self-employed persons etc.» on paper, he/she should put a minus sign in front of the deficit in item 3.2.19. If the overview of the allocation of capital and income between spouses has been completed in the partner statement, the total amounts for the partner and spouse from the overview should be entered under item 2.1.3, 2.7.7 or 2.7.8. The spouse must enter the amounts in his or her tax return.

2.7.10 or 2.7.11 Addition to general income

Information about the calculation of a partner’s additional general income from distributions from businesses assessed as partnerships can be found in the guidelines to the partner statements for businesses assessed as partnerships RF-1222 item 1143 and RF-1288 items 201-216. If the overview of the allocation of capital and income between spouses has been entered in the partner statement, the amounts for the partner and spouse from items 1243 and 1244, respectively, should be entered in the tax return.

3.1.12 or 3.3.7 Gain/loss on the sale etc. of a holding in a business assessed as a partnership

You will find the amount under item 1145 in RF-1221. If income and capital has been allocated between the spouses, the amounts for the partner and his/her spouse are also entered under items 1245 and 1246, respectively. Gains are entered under item 3.1.12 in the tax return, while any loss is entered under item 3.3.7.

4.5.4 or 4.8.1 Share of capital/debt in a business assessed as partnership

You will find the amount under item 1101 in RF-1221. A share of positive net capital should be entered under item 4.5.4 in the tax return, while any share of negative net capital should be entered under item 4.8.1. If you are submitting the «Tax return for self-employed persons etc.» on paper, you should put a minus sign in front of the negative net capital in item 4.8.1. If the overview of the allocation of capital and income between spouses has been entered in the partner statement, the amounts for the partner and spouse from items 1201 and 1202, respectively, should be entered in the tax return.

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Topics

Cars

Company cars

The value of the benefit of private use of your employer’s car is taxable income. If your right to use of the company car is not just sporadic (a certain regularity of use or use of a certain duration), the following rules shall apply even if the actual use is sporadic. The benefit is stipulated to be 30 per cent of the car’s list price as new up to and including NOK 261,600 plus 20 per cent of the list price in excess of this amount; see the example below. By list price is meant the list price used by the main importer on initial registration of the vehicle, including value added tax and vehicle scrap deposit. Freight and registration costs are not included.

See the overview of list prices at skatteetaten.no/listepris.

If the car was initially registered in 2006 or earlier, the value of the benefit shall be calculated on the basis of 75 per cent of the car’s list price. The same applies if the car was initially registered in 2007 or later and you are able to substantiate that job-related driving exceeded 40,000 km during the income year.

If the car was initially registered in 2006 or earlier, and it is documented that the job-related driving exceeded 40,000 km in the income year, the value of the benefit shall be calculated on the basis of 56.25 per cent of the car’s list price.

Example:

Free use of a car for the whole income year 2010

The list price of the car as new in 2009 was NOK 262,600.

The taxable benefit is calculated as follows:

For the first NOK 261,600, the benefit is calculated as NOK 261,600 x 30%	= NOK 78,480
For the next NOK 1,000, the benefit is calculated as NOK 1,000 x 20 %	= NOK 200
Total taxable benefit	= NOK 78,680

For cars powered by electricity alone (el-cars), the value of the benefit shall be calculated on the basis of 50 per cent of the car’s list price, regardless of the job-related driving distance.

For el-cars that were initially registered in 2006 or earlier, the value of the benefit shall be calculated on the basis of 37.5 per cent of the car’s list price.

If you have had a company car arrangement for part of the income year, the taxation of the benefit will be proportional to the number of months or part-months the car was at your disposal.

Any obstacle to use due to the condition of the car, e.g. in connection with garage stays, does not reduce the taxable benefit. Nor will individual obstacles to using the car be taken into account, e.g. holidays, sickness etc.

The taxable benefit shall not be reduced even if you cover the expenses for the car yourself or pay your employer for the use of the car.

Deduction for expenses when using your own or a leased car

You are allowed to deduct expenses in connection with the use of a car in your job/business. Actual expenses are deductible if the car is a work vehicle. If the car is not deemed to be a work vehicle, the deduction is NOK 3.65 per km (NOK 3.70 in Tromsø).

Work vehicles are defined as:

vehicles used for job-related driving only
vehicles driven for at least 6,000 km for work purposes during the income year (assessed over a 3-year period)
vehicles driven less than 6,000 km for work purposes, but which are mostly used for job-related driving during the income year and where circumstances in the job/industry make the use of a car necessary.

Vehicles subject to accounts-based tax assessment

If the car is considered to be a work vehicle, it is subject to accounts-based tax assessment. In such case, you must submit form RF-1125 «Bruk av bil» (Car use – in Norwegian only). All actual costs of the upkeep of the vehicle are deductible (including diminishing-balance depreciation). Diminishing-balance depreciation can be claimed at a rate of up to 20 per cent of the vehicle’s cost price, regardless of when during the year it was purchased. If the work vehicle is also used privately, the costs shall be reduced by an amount corresponding to the addition in income wage earners must declare for use of a corresponding car, see «Company cars». However, the amount of the reduction shall never exceed 75 per cent of the estimated total costs of upkeep of the car (running expenses + estimated depreciation in value or, if applicable, hire cost). See below for more information.

Example:

The list price of the car as new when it was first registered in 2009	= NOK 262,600
Estimated depreciation in value in 2009: NOK 262,600 x 17%	= NOK 44,642
Balance basis 2010	NOK 217,958

The car was purchased and put to job-related use on 31 January 2010. The estimated depreciation in value for the year the car was put to job-related use must be reduced by 335/365, since the car was only used for 335 of the year’s 365 days.

Estimated total costs of upkeep of the car:

Estimated depreciation in value: NOK 217,958 x 17% x 335/365	= NOK 34,007
Running expenses=	= - NOK 40,000
Total running expenses and estimated deprication in value	NOK 74,007
The amount of the reduction (the amount relating to private use) will be limited to NOK 74,007 x 75%	= NOK 55,505

Without this limitation, the amount of the reduction would have been NOK 78,680. See the example under «Company cars».

Note that the proportional reduction (335/365) shall not be taken into account in the calculation for the following year. Next year, the estimated balance basis will be: NOK 217,958 – (NOK 217,958 x 17%) = NOK 180,905.

Running expenses

Running expenses include fuel costs, garage costs, annual vehicle tax and insurance. Road toll payments, ferry expenses and parking fees, on the other hand, are not included in running expenses, but are deductible insofar as they are linked to the job-related driving. Fees for direct membership of a car rescue service are regarded as running expenses. Membership fees for automobile associations (e.g. KNA, NAF or MA) are considered private expenses and are not deductible.

Estimated depreciation in value or hire cost

If you own the car yourself, the estimated depreciation in value is part of the total estimated costs of the upkeep of the car. If you lease/hire the car, you must include the rental rather than the depreciation in value in the total expenses.

The depreciation in value is stipulated on the basis of an annual diminishing-balance depreciation of 17 per cent from and including the income year in which the vehicle was first registered. The car’s list price at the time it was first registered is used as the basis. For subsequent years, 17 per cent is deducted from the previous year’s balance basis.

Only expenses relating to the period of the year during which you used the car as a work vehicle are deductible. If the vehicle was bought or sold during the year or is no longer used as a work vehicle, the estimated diminishing-balance depreciation for the year must be reduced in proportion to the number of days (divided by 365) that the car was used for work purposes.

The (estimated) balance basis for dimini-shing-balance depreciation for subsequent years will not be influenced by the abovementioned reduction, see the example.

Compulsory forms for accounts-based tax assessment

You must submit RF-1125 «Bruk av bil» (Car use – in Norwegian only). If you are claiming a deduction for depreciation, you must submit form RF-1084 «Avskrivning 2010» (Depreciation 2010 – in Norwegian only).

Deduction of expenses based on a standard rate

If the car is not regarded as a work vehicle, you will only be entitled to a deduction at the standard rate for the job-related driving.

The deduction for job-related driving is NOK 3.65 (NOK 3.70 in Tromsø) per km. This rate applies irrespective of the size of the car and covers all ordinary costs of the upkeep of a car. A deduction is also granted for parking fees, road toll payments, ferry expenses etc. insofar as they are linked to job-related driving.

Car allowance

If the car is deemed to be a work vehicle, it will in principle be subject to accounts-based tax assessment. The surplus/deficit is then determined on the basis of actual expenses incurred in connection with job-related driving, reduced for private use.

If the work vehicle is used exclusively as a service vehicle (paid work), you can choose between accounts-based tax assessment and simplified surplus calculation. In the case of simplified surplus calculation, the surplus is stipulated using the rates in the Directorate of Taxes’ valuation rules. If the allowance is greater, the difference is regarded as a taxable surplus. Any surplus is entered under item 2.1.4. If the allowance is lower, the difference is treated as a deficit. Any deficit is entered under item 3.2.2 unless you are claiming the minimum standard deduction.

Rates for 2010:

0–9,000 km NOK 3.65 per km (NOK 3.70)*
over 9,000 km NOK 3.00 per km (NOK 3.05)*

(*) This rate only applies to taxpayers whose place of work is in Tromsø. Abroad, the rate is NOK 3.65 per km regardless of driving distance.

When an allowance is paid for job-related driving by el-car, the deduction rate is NOK 4.00.

The above rates increase by NOK 0.90 per km per passenger, NOK 0.60 per km for the use of a trailer and NOK 0.90 per km for driving on forest or construction roads

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Cohabitants

Cohabitants are persons who live together without being married. Cohabitant must submit separate tax returns and, as a rule, they are assessed separately for income and wealth. For exceptions, see «Spouses, registered partners and spouse-equivalent cohabitants».

Tax on capital and any return on capital is payable by the party who is the real owner of these assets. It is always the cohabitant who is the unit owner who is liable to tax/entitled to a deduction for a share of income/expenses in housing cooperatives, even if both of them live in the apartment.

Each cohabitant can only claim a deduction for interest on debt for which he/she is liable. Note that a cohabitant is not entitled to deduct any interest paid on behalf of the other cohabitant. This applies even if the cohabitants have a mutual agreement concerning who should pay the interest/instalments.

Cohabitants with joint capital/debt

Jointly-owned assets, for example housing, shall be declared in proportion to the share that each of them owns. If ownership is not regulated in an agreement, the capital value shall be divided equally between them.

Debt for which they are jointly liable vis-à-vis the lender for the same period, shall be divided equally between them. Any genuine internal agreement on a different allocation of the debt between them must be signed by both parties and sent to the tax office. An agreement of this kind must be signed at the time the debt is incurred. Any amendment of such an agreement is not regarded as valid unless it can be substantiated that there are genuine reasons for the amendment (for example, significant and permanent changes in income). Interest on debt is divided using the same ratio as the debt itself.

If both cohabitants are unit owners in a housing cooperative, their share of income/expenses shall be divided in proportion to their ownership interest. If ownership is not regulated in an agreement, their share of the income and expenses shall be divided equally between them.

If one (or both) cohabitants is not able to fully utilise deductible items, so that a deficit is incurred, this deficit can be carried forward and deducted from the positive income of the person in question in a subsequent year. Deficit from previous years is deductible under item 3.3.11. The deficit of one of the cohabitants is not deductible by the other.

Surviving cohabitant in undivided possession

A surviving cohabitant who retains undivided possession of an estate including the former cohabitant’s assets is required to submit a separate tax return for the deceased’s income for the year of death.

In the year of death, the surviving cohabitant will be assessed for both his/her own and the deceased’s income. The income will be assessed jointly in tax class 2 or separately in tax class 1, depending on which method results in the lowest total tax. The whole capital (in the undivided estate) at the end of the year is assessed combined (with a double tax-free amount) for the surviving cohabitant. For information about joint assessment, see «Spouses, registered partners and spouse-equivalent cohabitants».

For subsequent years, the surviving spouse will be assessed as a single taxpayer for all income and capital in the undivided estate.

Assets left by the deceased that are not taken over by the surviving spouse in undivided possession of the estate will comprise a separate estate. This estate will be assessed as a separate taxable person for capital in the estate and return on the capital while the estate is undergoing public or private division. A tax return must be submitted for the estate.

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Commuters

You are entitled to a deduction for extra expenses for board and lodging and for home visits when you have to live away from home (your tax domicile) because of work or business, see items 3.2.7 and 3.2.9. It is a condition that the distance from where you live at your place of work and your home is so great that it is not practical to commute daily.

Studies are not regarded as work in this context. If studies are the main reason for living away from home, you are not classified as a commuter even if you have a part-time job in addition to your studies.

If you are single and 22 years old or more (born in 1988 or earlier) at the end of the income year, it is normally a condition that you travel home at least every third week. If the travel distance is short, you are required to return home more often. Less frequent home visits may be accepted if this is warranted by special circumstances, for example illness, shortage of money or studies in the evening.

If you are single and under 22 years of age at the end of the income year, there are no minimum requirements for the frequency of home visits, but the rules require you to travel as regularly and frequently as reasonably possible in the circumstances. If you are in doubt about whether you travel home often enough, contact the tax office.

Your place of residence for tax purposes (tax domicile) is the place which is regarded as your home. You can only have one tax domicile. Your tax domicile and place of residence registered in the population register will usually be one and the same. If you think that you meet the requirements for being classified as a commuter, you should notify the tax office.

The rules relating to where you are regarded as having your tax domicile differ depending on whether you are regarded as a family commuter or a single commuter, see below. The main rule is that the place where you spend most nights (the majority of your daily rest time) is considered to be your tax domicile unless otherwise indicated by the specific provisions relating to family commuters and single commuters.

When deciding where you are deemed to have your tax domicile, it may be necessary to decide whether you should be regarded as living in independent or dependent housing.

Independent or dependent housing

Housing is deemed to be independent when the living area is at least 30 square metres. If there are several people living in the house/apartment, a further 20 square metres must be added for each occupant over the age of 15. You must also have use of the house/apartment for at least 12 months and have access to it every day of the week for it to be considered independent housing. The house/apartment must also have running water and drains.

If you rent housing in a unit which you share with others (bed-sit), you can demand that your share of the common area be added to the area which is used by you alone. If the housing unit has seven or more occupants over the age of 15, only the area you use alone will be taken into account.

By dependent housing is meant housing that does not meet the above requirements for independent housing.

Family commuters

You are regarded as a family commuter if, in your home municipality, you live with:

your spouse/registered partner
own children, or
your dependent siblings.

Foster children are classified as equivalent to own children provided that the foster parents do not receive foster home payments and the relationship otherwise resembles an adoption.

The place where your spouse or children live is considered to be your place of residence. If you live with siblings for whom you are the provider, your place of residence is where your siblings live. Your joint home with your spouse takes precedence over joint homes with others.

If both you and your spouse are commuters, your residence is where you have your joint home with the children. If you do not have children, your residence is the house/apartment that is regarded as independent housing.

If you commute between several inde-pendent houses/apartments, your residence is where you and your spouse together spend the most nights (most of your daily rest time).

Single commuters

If you are not a family commuter, you are classified as a single commuter. Cohabitants are treated as single in this context. However, if you also live with your own children, you are classified as a family commuter.

When determining your tax domicile, the rules for commuters who are under the age of 22 at the end of the income year differ from the rules for commuters over the age of 22.

If you are under 22 years old and commute between your parents’ home and another house/apartment, your parents’ home is regarded as your tax domicile. If you reached the age of 22 or more during the income year, and you have independent housing near your place of work, the latter shall be regarded as your home.

If you commute between independent housing and dependent housing at your place of work, the independent housing is regarded as your home. If both houses/apartments are independent or dependent, your home is where you spend most of your daily rest time as described above.

Important exceptions relating to tax domicile

If you have been resident in a municipality for at least three years before you start to commute, you are nevertheless entitled to remain registered in this municipality, which will then be your tax domicile. This is conditional on the house/apartment having at least twice as much living space as the house/apartment in the municipality where you work and that you either own or pay rent for it. The exception applies to both single commuters and family commuters. You can only apply this rule if the housing units are in different municipalities.

Expense allowances

Expense allowances are payments intended to cover expenses incurred in the performance of your work, assignments or official duties, e.g. subsistence, telephone, travel and car allowances. If an expense allowance is greater than the actual expenses incurred, the surplus is taxable and must be declared under item 2.1.4.

If the allowance is less than your actual expenses, you are entitled to claim a deduction for the deficit under item 3.2.2 provided that you are not claiming the minimum standard deduction. If you claim the minimum standard deduction, any such deficit is included.

However, this does not apply to deficits on allowances intended to cover extra expenses incurred in connection with work involving stays away from home. Such deficits can be deducted in addition to the minimum standard deduction and should be entered under item 3.2.7. Any deficits in connection with allowances for home visits can also be deducted in addition to the minimum standard deduction. The deficit should be entered under item 3.2.9.

The tax authorities can require you to substantiate that the allowance received has actually been used to cover expenses incurred in connection with your job. This applies even if you have received an allowance based on the Norwegian government travel expense rates. The substantiation requirement means that you may for example be required to submit a statement setting out the arrangements you have made in connection with your work.

For information about car allowances, see «Cars».

Subsistence allowance in connection with business travel with overnight stays – in Norway and abroad

In the case of business travel in Norway, the allowance does not normally yield a taxable surplus if you have covered all subsistence expenses and the payment per day does not exceed:

NOK 580 when staying at a hotel when the price of the room does not include breakfast
NOK 522 when staying at a hotel when the price of the room includes breakfast
NOK 292 when staying in other accommodation without cooking facilities, e.g. a guest house or bed-sit/portacabin
NOK 189 when staying in other accommodation with cooking facilities (bed-sit/portacabin or private accommodation).

In the case of business travel abroad, payments in accordance with the government rates for the country in question are not normally considered to result in a surplus if you are able to substantiate that you have stayed at a hotel. If you used other accommodation, the same rates apply as for travel in Norway.

Commuters – savings on household costs

Employees are liable to tax on savings on household costs in connection with commuting (i.e. when the stay away from home is not due to business/ job-related travel) if:

the employer provides board and lodging (subsistence expenses covered directly by the employer)
the expenses are covered on the presentation of receipts.

The saving is stipulated as NOK 79 per day. The amount is specified under code 143-A in your Certificate of Pay and Tax Deducted

Subsistence allowance for business travel without overnight stays – in Norway and abroad

If you have received a subsistence allowance at the government rate or lower for business travel without an overnight stay, this is not regarded as having generated a taxable surplus. In order for any deficit on such an allowance to be deductible, you must be able to document the expenses relating to all such allowances on request. Deficits on allowances for business travel without overnight stays are included in the minimum standard deduction when this deduction is claimed.

Expense allowance to cover the costs of home visits

If you have received an allowance to cover the cost of home visits, you will not be taxed on the allowance unless it exceeds the deduction you could have claimed if you had not received such an allowance, see item 3.2.9. When calculating the deductible amount, the non-deductible amount of NOK 13,700 must first be deducted from the cost of travel between the home and permanent place of work. Any remaining part of the non-deductible amount must then be deducted from the expenses in connection with home visits. If the allowance is greater than the remaining deduction, the difference shall be entered as income under item 2.1.4, see example 1. If it is lower, the difference (deficit) shall be entered as a deduction under item 3.2.9.

Exception for persons with a standard deduction of ten per cent

For information about the tax treatment of allowances for home visits when the employer covers all or some of the costs for persons claiming the standard deduction for foreign employees, see «Guidelines for foreign employees and self-employed persons» at skatteetaten.no.

Allowances for electronic communication services (telephone, broadband etc.)

The taxable surplus on allowances for telephone and broadband etc. is calculated using the same rules as when these expenses are covered as payment in kind to the employee, see «Payments in kind – valuation».

If the employer covers the employee’s expenses for work-related calls and the calls are specified in a receipt, this is tax-free to the employee. Such specification must be sufficiently detailed to substantiate that the expenses in question were work-related. The specification must, for example, include the date, time, number called, the recipient’s name and the duration of the call. The costs of fixed charges such as subscription fees and similar are not regarded as work-related expenses and no tax-free refund is therefore allowed.

Example:

Calculation of surpluses - home visits:

Expense allowance receivved for home visits	NOK 12,000
Deduction for travel to/from work before non-deductible amount (see item 3.2.8)	NOK 5,000
Deduction for home visits before non-deductible amount (see item 3.2.9)	NOK 11,000

The surplus to be declared under item 2.1.4 is calculated as follows:

Expence allowance received for home visits	NOK 12,000
Deduction for home visits before non-deductible amount	NOK 11,000
Remaining non-deductible amount (NOK 13,700 - NOK 5,000)	- NOK 8,700
Deduction to which the taxpayer would have been entitled had he/she not received an allowance NOK 2,300	- NOK 2,300
Surplus	NOK 9,700

Example 2:

Telephone and broadband allowance paid by the employer: NOK 4,000.

paid by the employee him/herself: NOK 5,000.

Actual expences (fixed charges + use)	NOK 9,000
- Tax-free amount	NOK 1,000
=	NOK 8,000

Limited to the maximum, amount for two services	NOK 6,000
- Covered by the employee	NOK 5,000
= Taxable surplus	NOK 1,000

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Housing and other real property

Income from housing or other real property in Norway and abroad is entered under item 2.8.

The benefit of using your own home and holiday home is tax-free. The tax exemption applies to:

self-owned detached houses, semi-detached or multi-unit houses, terraced houses, apartments etc.
housing units in a housing cooperative
dwelling houses on farms
holiday homes.

Income from letting such housing, apart from multi-unit housing, may also be tax-free. Housing for which rental income is tax-free is referred to as tax-exempt housing. Holiday homes for which any rental income is wholly or partially tax-free are also referred to as tax-exempt housing. The conditions for tax-free rental income are described below.

Tax-free rental income from own house

A detached house (family house with or without a bed-sit/small apartment)

Rental income will be tax-free if you let the whole or a large part of your own house for up to NOK 20,000 a year, and you otherwise use it as a home yourself. It is only rental income you receive during a letting period in which you let the whole or a large part of your house that is included in relation to the maximum amount of NOK 20,000. Rental income from a letting period in which up to half of the house is let does not count in relation to the maximum amount. If the maximum amount of NOK 20,000 is exceeded, the house shall be subject to accounts-based tax assessment and all the rental income from the house will be taxable. See below.

Rental income is also tax-free if you let up to half your house and you live in the other half yourself. By «at least half of the house» is meant that the rental value of that part of the house in which you live yourself is equal to or greater than the rental value of the part of the house that you let. Such rental income will nevertheless be taxable if you let the whole or a large part of the house for more than NOK 20,000. See the above.

By «rental value» is meant the normal rental value for an apartment/section of a house on the free market for the purpose for which the let area is used.

If your rental income is tax-free, you are not entitled to any deduction for maintenance, insurance or other expenses relating to the house. A deduction is allowed, however, for interest expenses pursuant to the normal rules for interest on debt.

If the letting is more extensive than described above, the rental income is taxable. In such case, you are entitled to deduct expenses for maintenance, insurance etc. relating to the let part of the house. If the house was assessed as tax-exempt in any year in the period 2005-2009, the deduction for maintenance will be reduced or no longer apply. See «Change of assessment method».

Example:

A detached house owned all year:

A) The owner lived in half the house (reckoned in terms of rental value) for the whole year and let the rest of the house. The rental income is tax-free. The owner is not entitled to deduct expences for maintainance, insuranse etc. relating to the house

B) The owner let a large part of the house (reckoned in terms of rental value) for three months for NOK 20,000 and lived in the house for the whole year. The rental income is tax-free. The owner is not entitled to deduct exxpenses for maintenance, insurance etc. relating to othe house.

A semi-detached house (house with only two family units)

The above rules and examples concerning detached houses apply correspondingly to the family unit you use yourself.

If you meet the conditions for tax-free rental income for the unit you have used as your home, rental income from the family unit that you have not used will also be tax-free.

If the house has been formally divided into sections, each section is treated as a detached house.

A multi-unit house

A multi-unit house is a house consisting of at least two family units plus a self-contained bed-sit/small apartment with a separate entrance and WC. Rental income from a multi-unit house is taxable. The benefit of your own use of such houses is tax-free.

You will find more information about taxation of the letting of housing in the brochure «Skatt ved utleie av bolig» (Taxation on the letting of housing – in Norwegian only).

Taxable rental income

If your rental income is taxable, the house will be subject to accounts-based tax assessment (direct assessment). Only deductions for running expenses relating to the let part of the house will be allowed. If running expenses do not relate to a specific part of the house, deductions must be based on a proportional allocation of expenses based on rental value. Any profit must be entered under item 2.8.2 and any loss under item 3.3.12. See «Accounts-based tax assessment».

Abroad

Income from housing and other real property abroad must be declared under item 2.8.5. See also «Real property abroad».

Owners of units in housing cooperatives

If you have let your apartment to the extent that your rental income is taxable, the apartment will be subject to accounts-based taxation. The rules for whether rental income is tax-free or taxable are the same as for other housing, see above. You enter your rental income and your share of the housing cooperative’s income in form RF-1189E «Letting etc. of real property 2010». You should also enter maintenance costs etc. relating to the let unit and your share of the housing cooperative’s costs, see «Accounts-based tax assessment». Rent/joint expenses in general are not deductible. Instalments on joint debt and the cost of improvements to the property are not deductible. See RF-1189E «Letting etc. of real property 2010». Any profit must be entered under item 2.8.2 and any loss under item 3.3.12 in your tax return.

Owners of units in jointly-owned housing properties

If you have let your house/apartment and your rental income is taxable, your share of the income from the jointly-owned property should not be entered under item 2.8.1, but in form RF-1189E «Letting etc. of real property 2010». The rules for when rental income is tax-free or taxable are the same as for other housing. You should also enter rental income and maintenance costs etc. relating to the let unit, see «Accounts-based tax assessment». Joint expenses in general are not deductible. Instalments on joint debt and the cost of improvements to the property are not deductible. See RF-1189E «Letting etc. of real property 2010» for details. Any profit must be entered under item 2.8.2 and any loss under item 3.3.12 in your tax return.

Plots of land

Net income from letting a plot of land (including cultivated land) that is not business income must be entered under item 2.8.2. Form RF-1189E «Letting etc. of real property 2010» must be enclosed with your tax return.

Income from letting a holiday home that you have used yourself

If you own a holiday home that you use yourself, including a holiday home in a housing cooperative, you will not be taxed on its use (tax-exempt holiday home). If you also let the holiday home, rental income up to NOK 10,000 is tax-free. If the rental income is higher, 85 per cent of the excess amount is deemed to be taxable net income. A separate deduction is not allowed for maintenance costs, insurance etc. relating to the holiday property since these costs are assumed to be covered by the deduction of 15 per cent and the tax-free income of NOK 10,000.

Example:

Holiday home used by the owner, which is also let.

Rental income: NOK 15,000

Skattepliktig inntekt ved utleien:

Gross rental income	NOK 15,000
- tax-free amount	NOK 10,000
Remainder	NOK 5,000

Net rental income: NOK 5,000 x 85 % = NOK 4,250 to be entered under item 2.8.3

If you do not use the holiday home yourself, but only let it, all the rental income is taxable. You are then entitled to a deduction for expenses for maintenance, insurance etc., see «Accounts-based tax assessment». Form RF-1189E «Letting etc. of real property 2010») must be completed and enclosed with your tax return. Any profit must be entered under item 2.8.2 and any loss under item 3.3.12.

Use by close family

Use free of charge of other people’s houses and holiday homes is taxable for the user. If the house/holiday home is used free of charge by a close relative who covers all running expenses, including maintenance, the user will not be taxed. The owner will be taxed on the capital.

Taxable profit on the realisation (sale etc.) of housing, land or other real property

A property is deemed to have been realised on cessation of ownership or transfer of ownership to another party, for example through sale, exchange of property or complete destruction.

Profit/loss on the sale etc. of housing

Any profit from the sale of housing is tax-free provided that you had owned the house/apartment for more than a year when the sale was effected or agreed on, and you have used it as your own home for at least one of the two years preceding the sales date. If you had the house built yourself, the ownership period is reckoned from the date on which you started to use it or the date on which it was completed according to the completion certificate. The period of occupancy is reckoned from the date of moving in to the date of moving out or the date on which a binding sales agreement was signed, whichever comes first. The date of moving out is included in the period of occupancy. Normally, the period of occupancy will only include occupancy during your own period of ownership.

A loss on the sale of a house/apartment is not deductible if a corresponding gain would have been tax-free. If the requirements for period of occupancy and period of ownership are not met, any gain on the sale of the house/apartment is taxable and any loss is deductible.

If you have previously used the house/apartment as your permanent home, but have been prevented from using it on account of your work or for health or similar reasons, the period during which you have not used the house counts as part of the period of occupancy. This only applies if you did not know of or could not be expected to have known of the obstacle to use when you became owner of the house. The same applies if the same factors prevent you from moving in. The rules on obstacles to use also apply if the house/apartment is let.

The period of occupancy in the case of non-use does not include periods during which you live in other housing that you own. However, this does not apply if the other housing is commuter accommodation. In such case, you will be able to accrue periods of occupancy in both the commuter accommodation and the permanent home concurrently.

On the sale etc. of a former joint home following separation or divorce, the spouse who has moved out of the home will be credited for the other spouse’s period of occupancy. This applies even if the spouse who moved out is the sole or part owner and even if the home is sold at a loss. The same applies in the case of the break-up of a relationship between former cohabitants who have or have previously had joint children, if they broke up in 2004 or later. Any taxable gain must be entered under item 3.1.12. Any loss must be entered under item 3.3.6.

If real property that, in principle, can be sold at a tax-free gain has a bigger plot of land than is natural for such a property, part of the gain may be taxed as a gain on the sale of land. If there is a loss on the sale of such a property, part of the loss is deductible as a loss on the sale of land. For more information, see the brochure «Salg mv. av fast eiendom» (Sale etc. of real property – in Norwegian only).

Even if you believe that the gain is tax-free, you must provide information about the sale under item 5.0 (Additional information).

You will find more information about the rules and how to calculate taxable gains/deductible losses in the brochure «Salg mv. av fast eiendom». (Sale etc. of real property – in Norwegian only).

Gains/losses on the sale etc. of holiday homes

Any gain on the sale etc. of a holiday home is tax-free if the owner has used the holiday home personally for at least five of the last eight years and owned it for more than five years. (This also applies to units in housing cooperatives in which the unit is used for holiday purposes). The period of ownership is reckoned from the date the property was purchased until the date on which it was sold. If you have had a holiday home built yourself, the period of ownership is reckoned from the date on which it was completed according to the completion certificate. If you started to use your holiday home before that date, the period of ownership is reckoned from the date on which you started to use it. Only the period of use during your own period of ownership will count.

A loss is not deductible if a corresponding gain would have been tax-free.

You will find more information about the rules and the calculation of taxable gains/deductible losses in the brochure «Salg mv. av fast eiendom». (Sale etc. of real property – in Norwegian only).

Sale etc. of land that has not been built on

Gains/losses on the sale of plots of land that have not been built on are taxable/deductible regardless of how long you have owned the land. For information about plots of land that have been built on, see the above section on «< a href="#profit-loss-on-the-sale-etc.-of-housing">Profit/loss on the sale etc. of housing».

Sale of farm property/forest property

As a rule, any gain/loss on the sale of a farm or forest property is taxable/deductible. However, it is tax-free in whole or in part if the following four conditions are met:

the farm is an «ordinary farm»
the seller has owned the farm for at least six years (fully tax-free if owned for 10 years)
the buyer is entitled to inherit the seller pursuant to the Inheritance Act chapter 1 or 2
the purchase price does not exceed 75 per cent of the estimated sales value.

More information can be obtained from the tax office.

Gains/losses on the sale etc. of real property abroad

Any taxable gain on the sale etc. of real property abroad must be entered under item 3.1.11. Any deductible loss must be entered under item 3.3.6.

Capital

Housing properties and holiday homes

The tax value of houses/apartments in Norway is entered under item 4.3.2. The tax value of holiday homes in Norway is entered under item 4.3.3. The tax value of holiday homes abroad is entered under item 4.6.1.

New valuation rules apply to housing properties from 2010, see item 4.3.2. These valuation rules do not apply to holiday homes. See item 4.3.3 for information about the valuation of holiday homes.

Year-round dwellings that are used as holiday homes will in principle be subject to wealth tax as housing properties. The actual use of the property does not decide whether it is taxed as a housing property or a holiday home. If the property, judging by its nature/characteristics, is a year-round dwelling, it will normally be subject to wealth tax pursuant to the rules that apply to housing properties. The Norwegian Tax Administration bases such assessments on the information in the land register.

The tax value of primary dwellings and holiday homes will be reduced at the taxpayer’s request if the tax value exceeds 30 per cent of its documented market value. A maximum limit of 60 per cent applies to secondary dwellings. See item 4.3.2 for information about the distinction between primary and secondary dwellings.

You can document the market value by submitting a valuation by a qualified appraiser or a value estimate from an estate agent who is familiar with the district. You must pay the appraiser’s fee yourself, and the expense is in principle not tax-deductible. About exceptions for housing properties subject to accounts-based tax assessment, see «Accounts-based tax assessment» below. It must be clear from the valuation/value estimate that the property has been inspected both inside and outside. The tax authorities may decide to disregard any valuation/value estimate if it has been made by an insufficiently qualified person, if the work on the appraisal has not been thorough enough or if the valuation is clearly incorrect.

The market value can also be documented by means of the «observable market value». By «observable market value» is meant the price for which the property or an identical property in the same area has been sold. However, the selling price is not auto-matically applicable if the property was sold to close relatives of the seller or his/her spouse/cohabitant, or if the seller and buyer have any other commonality of interest. In such case, you must substantiate that the property was not sold at a discount, for example by submitting a valuation.

The valuation must have been made or the sale effected subsequent to publication of the 2009 tax assessment. Requests for a reduction in tax value must be submitted to the tax office before the deadline for appealing the 2010 tax assessment. If you can prove that the conditions for a reduction in the tax value are already met, you can claim the reduction when you submit your tax return.

Example:

The deduction for maintenance is calculated as follows:

Number of years of assessment based on tax-imputed rental value/costs relating to/tax-exempt assessment during the last five income years:

A deduction for maintenance relating to the let part of the property is granted as follows:

0 years	Full deduction
1 years	NOK 10,000 + 90 % of the amount in excess of NOK 10,000
2 years	NOK 10,000 + 80 % of the amount in excess of NOK 10,000
3 years	NOK 10,000 + 70 % of the amount in excess of NOK 10,000
4 years	NOK 10,000 + 60 % of the amount in excess of NOK 10,000
5 years	NOK 10,000 + 50 % of the amount in excess of NOK 10,000

Accounts-based tax assessment

Running expenses, including, for example, the expense of insuring the property, ground rent, property tax, local government taxes and maintenance, are not deductible if the housing property or holiday home qualifies for tax-exempt assessment.

Properties that do not qualify for tax-exempt assessment are subject to accounts-based tax assessment . If the housing property is subject to accounts-based tax assessment (the rental income is taxable), only maintenance costs etc. relating to the let part of the house are deductible. Expenses relating to the part of the housing property that is used by the owner are not deductible. The reason for this is that the benefit of living in your own house is tax-free. If maintenance costs cannot be linked to a specific part of the house, the deduction must be based on a proportional allocation of expenses based on the rental value of the part in which you live yourself and the let part. This will typically be the case for exterior maintenance, for example painting the whole house. The same applies to running expenses relating to the whole property, for example local government taxes, property tax, measuring costs in connection with stipulating the capital value, appraiser’s fee etc. in connection with demands of reduction of the tax value, insurance etc.

If the property is subject to accounts-based tax assessment, you must complete and submit form RF-1189E «Letting etc. of real property 2010».

Maintenance costs are expenses incurred in connection with work carried out to restore the property to its former condition.

Any work that improves the standard of the property is regarded as an improvement. Structural alterations are also deemed to be improvements, even if the work does not improve the standard of the property or increase its value. The costs of improvements are not directly deductible, but are added to the cost price of the property. This will reduce the taxable gain or increase the deductible loss if the property is subsequently sold.

When deciding whether work is maintenance or an improvement, account must be taken of developments in materials, building methods etc. since the property was new. The replacement of old parts with new parts in order to maintain a standard corresponding in today’s terms to the former standard of the building (low, medium or high standard) counts as maintenance.

In the case of improvements that are carried out instead of maintenance, you can deduct that part of the expenditure that concerns necessary maintenance. For example, the replacement of a wood-burning stove by a paraffin stove with a tank would normally be regarded as an improvement. In such cases, a deduction can nevertheless be granted for maintenance if the wood-burning stove would have had to be replaced or repaired in any case. The deductible amount is limited to what such maintenance would have cost. The same applies if you use better or more expensive materials than those used originally, for example if you replace ordinary roof tiles with glazed roof tiles.

Work consisting exclusively of alterations is not regarded as maintenance. For example, demolishing or moving a wall to make a room bigger, or moving a bathroom, is not deemed to be maintenance. The same applies to work to reverse a previous change, for example moving a wall back to its original position.

Change of assessment method

During such change, special rules apply that limit the deduction for maintenance costs. Other running expenses, for example local government taxes, are fully deductible from the beginning of the year in which accounts-based assessment begins to apply.

If the same owner has been tax-exempt assessed for the property in the previous income year (up to 182 days) and the letting of the property lasts for less than half the income year, maintenance costs in the first year of accounts-based assessment will not be deductible. All letting during the income year, including during periods when the owner has lived in at least half the property him/herself, will be considered letting. If the property is let for a longer period, maintenance costs in excess of NOK 10,000 that relate to the let part of the property are reduced by 10 per cent for each year the owner has been tax-exempt assessed during the last five income years.

Other real property

Commercial properties - capital

New rules have been introduced with effect from the 2010 income year for stipulating the tax value of unlet commercial property. New rules for let commercial property were introduced with effect from the 2009 income year.

The new rules mean that the tax value must be calculated for the properties each income year. The calculations are carried out using form RF-1098 «Formue av næringseiendom 2010» (Capital value of commercial property 2010 – in Norwegian only).

Offices, warehouses, shops, workshops, factories and plots of land etc. are deemed to be commercial properties. Holiday homes that are let as part of the owner’s business activities are also deemed to be commercial properties.

The rules for let commercial property also apply to such property abroad. However, the rules regarding unlet commercial property do not apply to unlet commercial property abroad. See the valuation rules § 2-1-1 for information about the stipulation of the value of unlet commercial properties abroad.

The following properties are nonetheless not deemed to be commercial property:

agricultural or forestry properties
power stations etc

Let commercial property

The tax value of let commercial property is stipulated on the basis of the owner’s actual rental income. This applies both to properties in Norway and properties abroad. The tax value is calculated using form RF-1098 «Formue av næringseiendom 2010» (Capital value of commercial property 2010 – in Norwegian only). For more information, see the guidelines RF-1099.

Unlet commercial property in Norway

From the income year 2010, the tax value of unlet commercial property in Norway shall be stipulated using a standardised method. The tax value is calculated using form RF-1098 «Formue av næringseiendom 2010» (Capital value of commercial property 2010 – in Norwegian only) and transferred to your tax return. For more information, see the guidelines RF-1099.

Maximum limit (safety valve)

The tax value of commercial property shall be reduced at the taxpayer’s request if it exceeds 60 per cent of the property’s documented market value. It is a condition for such reduction that you present sufficient documentation of the property’s market value. The market value can, for example, be documented by a valuation or value estimate. This rule applies to properties both in Norway and abroad.

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Leased plots of land for houses and holiday homes

The leasehold rights to plots of land for houses and holiday homes are always deemed to be perpetual. Separate tax rules apply to such leaseholds.

Leased plots of land for holiday homes

As a lessee, you will be liable to wealth tax as if you were the owner of the land. The value of the plot of land must therefore be included in the tax value of the building or buildings. The capital value of the property (including the plot of land) must be entered under item 4.3.3. If you have not previously added the value of the plot of land to the tax value of the building, the addition for the value of the land will not be included in the pre-entered tax value for 2010. If this is the case, you must increase the pre-entered amount in item 4.3.3.

The additional amount for the land was stipulated in 2008 at a standard rate of ten times the annual ground rent for 2008. For 2010, the tax value will be 12 times the annual ground rent for 2008.

You are entitled to a deduction for debt for the obligation to pay ground rent (capitalised ground rent). For 2010, this deduction for debt is 10 times the annual ground rent. If the ground rent has been changed during the year, use the rent that applies at the end of the year. You enter the deduction for debt under item 4.8.1.

Owners of units in jointly-owned housing properties

For owners of units in a jointly-owned housing property with a building or buildings on leased land, the deduction for debt will have been correctly entered in advance if the jointly-owned property has submitted the statements for use in the tax assessment to the tax authorities. See item 4.8.1. The individual owners must themselves increase the tax value in item 4.3.3 in accordance with the guidelines above. Information about your share of the ground rent for 2008 can be obtained from the jointly-owned property.

Owners of units in housing cooperatives

For owners of units in a housing cooperative with a building or buildings on leased land, the deduction for debt will have been correctly entered in advance if the housing cooperative has submitted the statements for use in tax assessment to the tax authorities. See the statement from the cooperative and items 4.3.3 and 4.8.1.

Reduction of tax value

If the increase results in the property’s tax value significantly exceeding the valuation level for comparable properties in the municipality, or 30 per cent of its market value, the lessee can demand that it be reduced. See «Housing and other real property» for more information.

Leased plots of land for houses

The value of the plot of land is part of the capital value of the housing property. See item 4.3.2 for information about wealth tax on housing properties.

Owners of units in jointly-owned housing properties

For owners of units in a jointly-owned housing property with a building or buildings on leased land, the deduction for debt should be correctly entered in advance if the jointly-owned property has submitted the statements for use in tax assessment to the tax authorities. See item 4.8.1.

Owners of units in housing cooperatives or limited liability housing companies

For owners of units in a housing cooperative/limited liability housing company with a building or buildings on leased land, the deduction for debt should be correctly entered in advance if the housing cooperative/company submitted the statements for use in tax assessment to the tax authorities. See the statement from the cooperative/company and items 4.8.1.

Lessors

Lessors are not liable to wealth tax on the value of the leased land. Instead, the lessor is liable to wealth tax on his/her right to charge ground rent, i.e. the capitalised value of the ground rent. For 2010, this amount is 10 times the annual ground rent. If the ground rent has been changed during the year, use the rent that applies at the end of the year. The lessor must enter the capitalised value of the ground rent under item 4.5.4.

If the leased plot of land is included in the amount entered in advance, the value of the leased land must be deducted. If the whole property is leased, the whole tax value shall be deleted. For information about how to make this reduction, see skatteetaten.no/festetomt.

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Life insurance

By life insurance is meant an insurance policy that is linked to a person’s life and health. Here, the tax rules for two different types of life insurance are described:

Endowment insurance
Annuities.

Endowment insurance can be taken out as a risk policy alone or as a combined policy. Annuities are always combined policies. Combined insurance policies are both risk-based and savings-based. Only the savings element is taxable and this is dealt with below. Annuities subject to the special taxation rules that apply to individual pension agreements/individual pension schemes (IPA and IPS) pursuant to the Taxation Act, are not discussed here.

Both annuities and endowment insurance policies usually have a guaranteed yield. For policies without a guaranteed yield (unitlinked insurance), the yield will depend on the return on the securities in which the savings are invested. It is a precondition that insurance policies without a guaranteed yield have a sufficient insurance element for them to be taxed pursuant to the rules for endowment insurance and annuities.

Annuities

Disbursements

As a rule, periodic disbursements from annuity policies are taxable in full as capital income. The yield from the savings element is not taxed as it is earned, unlike interest on bank deposits. However, provided that the statutory requirements regarding the product and insurance period are met, you will only be taxed on the part of the disbursement that exceeds previously paid premium. This limitation on the tax liability applies to annuities taken out with companies that are or have been authorised to conduct insurance business in Norway. In practice, this applies to most annuity policies taken out in Norway. Agreements with companies in other EEA states or with a branch of companies in countries outside the EEA area must be evaluated in each case to establish whether they meet the above requirements.

If annuity disbursements are received from foreign insurance companies that neither are nor have been authorised to conduct insurance business in Norway, the whole disbursement will be taxable income and must be entered under item 2.2.2 in your tax return.

Taxable income from individual annuities must be entered under item 2.6.2 in the tax return. Individual unit-linked annuities without a guaranteed yield may result in a loss in relation to the capital invested. Such losses are tax-deductible when disbursements are made from the insurance policy, and should be entered under item 3.3.7 in the tax return.

Taxable disbursements from annuities taken out as continuation insurance and taxable disbursements from annuities taken out pursuant to the Act relating to individual pension schemes for which no deduction from income was granted in connection with the tax assessment must be entered under item 2.6.2 in your tax return. Taxable disbursements from annuities taken out as continuation insurance and taxable disbursements from annuities taken out pursuant to the Act relating to individual pension schemes for which a deduction from income was granted in connection with the tax assessment must be entered under item 2.2.2 in your tax return. The amount is taxable in its entirety, and National Insurance contributions at the low rate shall be levied on it.

Disbursements from group annuities taken out before 1 January 2007 are taxable in their entirety, and National Insurance contributions at the low rate shall be levied on the amount, which must be entered under item 2.2.2. Disbursements from group annuities taken out from and including 1 January 2007 are only liable for tax on that part of the disbursement that exceeds previously paid premium, which should be entered under item 2.6.2.

Your tax deduction card does not take account of taxable income from annuities taken out with companies outside Norway. When you receive the first disbursement from such annuities, you should therefore contact the tax office to arrange for the advance payment of tax, if necessary, thereby avoiding a subsequent demand for underpaid tax with interest.

Capital

In principle, the surrender value of annuities is subject to wealth tax. Amounts subject to wealth tax must be entered under item 4.5.2.

However, if the annuity policy has been acquired using funds from compensation for personal injury awarded pursuant to the Compensatory Damages Act Chapter 3, and the amount of compensation was decided with binding effect before 6 October 2006, the annuity is not subject to wealth tax. This only applies if the compensation was used in whole or in part to purchase an annuity before 30 June 2007. The exemption from wealth tax does not apply to annuities acquired using funds from compensation awarded pursuant to the Compensatory Damages Act section 3-2 a).

Irrespective of the above, individual annuities are not subject to wealth tax if you are 21 years or younger in the income year (born in 1989 or later) and acquired the annuity using money from lump-sum compensation for personal injury pursuant to the provisions of the Compensatory Damages Act Chapter 3. The exemption from wealth tax is conditional on the personal injury having impaired your earning capacity by at least 50 per cent.

An annuity policy is also exempt from wealth tax if you are 21 years or younger in the income year (born in 1989 or later) and the annuity policy was acquired using money from lump-sum compensation for loss of a provider pursuant to the provisions of the Compensatory Damages Act Chapter 3.

The value of annuities taken out with companies that are not or have not been authorised to conduct insurance business in Norway is never liable to wealth tax.

The value of group annuities is not subject to wealth tax.

Endowment insurance

By endowment insurance is meant insurance involving the disbursement of a specific amount. This will usually be in the form of a lump-sum payment, but it is sometimes divided into instalments.

Endowment insurance policies with guaranteed yield are taxable annually on the year’s yield from the savings element. For endowment policies without a guaranteed yield, the yield is taxed on disbursement. Endowment insurance without a savings element is not dealt with here.

Endowment insurance with guaranteed yield

Yield

The calculated annual return is taxable income even if the disbursement is not due until an agreed future date. The income will be taxed as it arises, but the year after it has been earned. This means that in 2010 you will be taxed on the return earned in 2009. It is the company that stipulates the yield. If you are insured with a Norwegian company or a Norwegian branch of a foreign company, you can ask the company to deduct tax payable on this income. The income is entered under item 3.1.4 in the tax return. Policies taken out with companies in another EEA state are taxed in the same way. See, however, the transitional rule described below. Holders of such insurance policies must declare the taxable income under item 3.1.11 in the tax return and be prepared, at the request of the tax office, to document how the amount was arrived at.

Your tax deduction card does not take account of taxable income from endowment insurance taken out with companies outside Norway. You should therefore contact the tax office to arrange for the advance payment of tax if necessary, thereby avoiding a subsequent demand for underpaid tax with interest.

Disbursements

In principle, disbursements from endowment insurance with a guaranteed yield are not taxable income. However, if the insurance was taken out on 1 January 1986 or later with a company outside the EEA area, the whole disbursement will be taxable, with no deduction for premiums paid. The amount must be entered under item 3.1.11 in your tax return. Disbursements from foreign insurance companies to surviving family members etc. are not liable to tax, however.

Previous transitional rule for the income year 2004

If you have taken out endowment insurance with a guaranteed yield with a company in another EEA state and demanded, under the transitional rule, to pay tax on previous years’ yield in the income year 2004, then disbursements received from the insurance policy are not taxable. After 2004, however, yield from the insurance is taxable annually. The deadline for demanding taxation pursuant to the transitional rule was the same deadline as for submitting the tax return for 2004. If you did not request to be taxed pursuant to the transitional rule for endowment insurance with guaranteed yield taken out in another EEA state, disburse-ments from the insurance will be taxable in part. The part of the disbursement that relates to premiums paid before 1 January 2004 and the total yield earned prior to that date is taxable. The rest of the disbursement is not liable to tax. After 2004, tax is payable annually on yield earned on the insurance. The taxable amount must be entered under item 3.1.11.

Capital

For wealth tax assessment purposes, the value of an endowment insurance is defined as 100 per cent of its surrender value. The amount must be entered under item 4.5.2 in the tax return if the policy is with a Norwegian company, and under item 4.6.2 if the policy is with a foreign company.

Unit-linked insurance (endowment insurance without guaranteed yield)

Yield

The yield from this type of insurance is the change in market value of the underlying units in funds etc, minus insurance charges. This yield is only taxed on disbursement. The same applies if you receive such disbursements as an inheritance.

Disbursements

Disbursements from such policies are usually made as lump sums. The taxable income is the gross market value of the underlying units in funds etc. minus the total premiums and charges paid to the insurance company. Disbursements from unit-linked insurance policies with companies outside the EEA are taxable in their entirety, with no deduction for premiums paid.

Any negative difference between market value and premiums and charges paid constitutes a loss on the premium paid. You can deduct this loss under item 3.3.7 in your tax return. For endowment insurance taken out with a Norwegian company or a Norwegian branch of a foreign company, the company will carry out these calculations. If you have an insurance policy with a company in another EEA state, you yourself must calculate the amount and enter your taxable income or deductible loss.

Capital

The tax value of unit-linked endowment insurance with investment options is equal to the surrender value, which consists of the value of the underlying units linked to the savings element of the insurance policy.

If you have taken out the endowment insurance with a Norwegian company or a Norwegian branch of a foreign company, you will find the tax value in the statement you have received from the company.

You enter the tax value under item 4.5.2 in your tax return if you are insured with a Norwegian company and under 4.6.2 if you are insured with a foreign company.

Example:

The calculation is as follows:

Marked value of underlying units

- Premiums and charges paid to the insurance company

= Taxable income/deductible loss

At the request of the tax office, you must be able to document how you arrived at the income/loss.

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Minimum standard deduction – calculation

The minimum standard deduction is a standard deduction from wage earnings, pensions and similar income. If your actual expenses relating to your work etc. are greater than the minimum standard deduction, you can claim a deduction for these expenses under item 3.2.2 instead of using the minimum standard deduction.

The minimum standard deduction is calculated as shown below.

If you only have wage earnings etc., the minimum standard deduction is calculated as follows:

The minimum standard deduction is 36 per cent of your wage earnings. Work assessment allowance also counts as wage earnings. The work assessment allowance replaced the temporary disability benefit and medical and occupational rehabilitation benefits from 1 March 2010. The minimum standard deduction is minimum NOK 31,800 and maximum NOK 72,800. If your income for the year is less than NOK 31,800, the minimum standard deduction shall equal your income from employment. For example, if your income was NOK 20,050, the minimum standard deduction is NOK 20,050.

If you have only lived in Norway for part of the year, the upper limit (NOK 72,800) and the lower limit (NOK 31,800) on the minimum standard deduction will be reduced in proportion to the number of whole or part months you have resided in Norway. The minimum standard deduction shall not be less than NOK 4,000, however.

Only pensions, periodic benefits etc. (not wage earnings etc.)

If you only receive a pension, periodic benefits etc., the minimum standard deduction is 26 per cent of the sum of items 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.6.1 and 2.6.2. The minimum standard deduction is minimum NOK 4,000 and maximum NOK 60,950. If your pension is less than NOK 4,000, the minimum standard deduction will equal the pension. For example, if your income was NOK 3,550, the minimum standard deduction is NOK 3,550.

If you have only lived in Norway for part of the year, the upper limit for the minimum standard deduction (NOK 60,950) will be reduced in proportion to the number of whole or part months you have resided in Norway. The lower limit of NOK 4,000 will not be reduced.

Combination of wage earnings and pension etc.

If your income from employment is NOK 202,223 or more, you are entitled to a minimum standard deduction of NOK 72,800. This applies even if you also receive a pension etc.

If your income from employment is less than NOK 202,223, and you also receive a pension, you are entitled to whichever is the higher of the minimum standard deductions calculated according to the following alternatives:

Alternative 1: Minimum standard deduction calculated only on pay etc., not on pension etc. The calculation will be as shown for «If you only have wage earnings etc.» above.
Alternative 2: The minimum standard deduction is the sum of the minimum standard deductions calculated separately on income from employment etc. and on pensions etc. However, the combined deduction cannot amount to more than NOK 72,800. When calculating the minimum standard deduction, the percentage rates and maximum amounts described above are used for income from employment and pension income, respectively. If you choose this alternative for calculating the minimum standard deduction, the lower limit in the case of wage earnings is NOK 4,000, not NOK 31,800 as is the case if you only receive wage earnings. See alternative 2 in the example.

Example:

Income from employment	NOK 40,000
pension (not children's pension)	NOK 80,000
Total of wage earnings and pension	NOK 120,000

Minimum standard deduction using alternative 1:

Minimum standard deduction calculated on the wage earnings:

36 % of NOK 40,000 = NOK 14,400, but the minimum standard deduction shall never be less than NOK 31,800.

Minimum standard deduction using alternative 2:

Minimum standard deduction calculated on wage earnings:

36 % of NOK 40,000 = NOK 14,400

If alternative 2 is used, the lower limit is NOK 4,000, not NOK 31,800.

The minimum standard deduction from wage earnings using alternative 2 is therefor NOK 14,400

Minimum standard deduction calculated on pension:

26 % of NOK 80,000	= NOK 20,800
Minimum standard deduction using alternative 2	= NOK 35,200

Since alternative 2 results in the highest standard minimum deduction, NOK 35,200 shall be entered under item 3.2.1.

The tax authorities calculate both alternatives and choose the most favourable one.

For information about the minimum standard deduction from children’s pensions and income from employment, see item 3.2.6.

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Parents and children

Who are considered parents?

Foster parents are treated as a child’s parents when the relationship has the character of an adoption and the foster parents do not receive foster home payments. If parental responsi-bility has been established by law and the person in question has actual care and control of the child, the relationship is deemed to have the character of an adoption.

Tax assessment of children

Children aged 12 or younger (born in 1998 or later)

Wage payments of NOK 10,000 or less to children who are 12 years old or younger at the end of the income year are tax-free. Any amount in excess of this is liable to tax and added to the parents’ income. In principle, if the parents live together, each of them will be liable for half the tax on their children’s capital and taxable income. The parents can demand a different allocation. If the parents are not living together at the end of the income year, the parent with whom the child is registered in the population register as residing at the end of the income year will in principle be liable to tax on the child’s capital and income. However, if this parent has not had care and control of the child for the greater part of the year, he or she may demand that this tax liability be transferred to the parent who cared for the child for the greater part of the year.

If the parent who is liable to tax on the child’s capital and income is living with another person who has not adopted the child, the person who is the child’s father or mother will normally be liable to tax on the child’s capital/income. If this parent is married, each of the spouses will be liable for half of the tax on the child’s capital and income. In the case of children from a previous relationship, the spouse who is not the biological mother or father of the child may, provided that he or she has not adopted the child, demand that all tax liability for the child’s capital and income shall rest with the other spouse.

Children will be taxed as independent taxpayers if their parents are dead. Children who do not live with either of their parents due to parental responsibility or care and control having been taken away from both parents are also taxed independently.

Children and adolescents aged 13 to 16 (born between 1994 and 1997)

Children and adolescents who have reached the age of 13 at the end of the income year and who have earned income from their own work must submit a tax return for their income from employment. The parents will be assessed for other income and capital as described above for younger children. The income and capital of children of cohabitants is normally pre-entered in the mother’s tax return.

Young people aged 17 or older (born 1993 or earlier)

Young people aged 17 or more at the end of the income year must submit their own tax return for their whole capital and income.

Lump-sum compensation for children and young people

Children and young people who are assessed together with their parents in accordance with the rules described above and who have received lump-sum compensation for a personal injury or for the loss of a provider pursuant to the Compensatory Damages Act Chapter 3 may nevertheless be assessed separately for the capital and the return on the lump-sum compensation. The parents must provide information in item 5.0 (Additional information) in their tax return about how much the lump-sum compensation amounts to and about the return on the compensation. The child’s capital and return on the lump-sum compensation will then be assessed separately if this results in lower tax than joint assessment with the child’s parents. Any capital from and return on the child’s lump-sum compensation will then be excluded from the parents’ tax assessment.

Persons who have not reached the age of 22 in the income year (born in 1989 or later) and who have received lump-sum compen-sation for a personal injury pursuant to the provisions of the Compensatory Damages Act Chapter 3 are also exempt from wealth tax on the compensation, provided that the personal injury has resulted in at least 50 per cent impairment of earning capacity. This capital is exempt from wealth tax and the capital shall neither be included in the parents’ nor the child’s tax assessment. The ordinary rules concerning wealth tax applies with effect from the income year in which the child reaches the age of 22.

Persons who have not reached the age of 22 in 2010 and who have received lump-sum compensation for the loss of a provider pursuant to the provisions of the Compen-satory Damages Act Chapter 3 are also exempt from wealth tax on the compen-sation, and the capital shall neither be included in the parents’ nor the child’s tax assessment. The ordinary rules concerning wealth tax applies with effect from the income year in which the child reaches the age of 22.

If the amount has been entered in advance, it shall be deleted if the conditions for exemption from wealth tax are met.

For information about individual annuities acquired using lump-sum compensation, see «Life insurance».

If the individual annuity was acquired using funds from compensation awarded for personal injury pursuant to the provisions of the Compensatory Damages Act Chapter 3, and if the amount of the compensation was decided with binding effect before 6 October 2006, and the compensation was used in whole or in part to purchase an annuity before 30 June 2007, see «Life insurance».

Child-care deduction

Single parents

For information about who is deemed to be a single parent, see «Tax assessment in tax class 2 – single parent». For information about shared care and control, see «Shared care and control of children».

A single parent will be allowed a deduction for documented expenses for the minding and care of children of up to:

NOK 25,000 for one child, and
NOK 15,000 for each additional child.

Main rule for spouses

Spouses who live together can claim a total deduction for documented expenses for the minding and care of children of up to:

NOK 25,000 for one child, and
NOK 15,000 for each additional child.

This applies irrespective of whether the children are joint children or children of previous relationships. The deduction is divided equally between the spouses unless they have agreed on a different allocation.

Exception: If the marriage was entered into during the course of the income year and both spouses have children from a previous relationship, each of them may claim a child-care deduction for their own children from a previous relationship if this results in a bigger combined child-care deduction for the spouses than the main rule. The spouses will not have this option the following year. See examples.

Cohabitants

Cohabitants (whether or not they are deemed to be spouse-equivalent for tax purposes) who have joint children are allowed to deduct documented costs for the minding and care of children (child-care deduction) of up to:

NOK 25,000 for one child, and
NOK 15,000 for each additional child.

This applies even if one or both of them also has children from a previous relationship. If the cohabitants only have children from previous relationships, the maximum amount applies to each of them separately.

Which spouse/cohabitant is entitled to the deduction?

Spouses who are assessed together (joint or separate income assessment)

The child-care deduction is divided equally between the spouses unless they decide on a different allocation.

Marriage ended during the year

If spouses divorce or separate, the spouse taking over sole care and control and with whom the child continues to live will be entitled to the child-care deduction. If there are several children and each of the parents retains sole care and control of at least one of them, both parents may be entitled to a child-care deduction. This is conditional on the parents actually living apart. Further-more, the division of the care and control function must be of a permanent nature. See the section on «Shared care and control of children» below.

Cohabitants (both those deemed for tax purposes to be equivalent to spouses and those who are not)

If cohabitants have joint children, each of them will be entitled to half the deduction unless they have agreed on a different allocation. This applies irrespective of whether one or both of the cohabitants also has children from a previous relationship.

In the case of cohabitants without joint children, the child-care deduction will fall to the parent who is the mother or father of the child/children from a previous relationship. In these cases it is not possible to choose a different allocation. If one of the cohabitants has a child/children from a previous relationship and the couple has no joint children, the other spouse is not entitled to any child-care deduction from his or her income.

Break-up of a relationship during the year

If there are circumstances that indicate that one of the parents has primary care and control of a child, the person caring for the child for the greater part of the year, i.e. the one with whom the child has been living for the greater part of the year, will be entitled to the child-care deduction.

Shared care and control of children (when the parents do not live together)

The parents are deemed to have shared care and control when a child actually spends an equal amount of time with each of his/her parents (neither parent has primary care and control). If both parents pay for minding and care of the child/children, each of them is entitled to a child-care deduction every year. The total child-care deduction for the parents combined cannot exceed the maximum amount for one or more children, see above. Each parent is entitled to a deduction in proportion to the share that he or she has paid of the total expenses. Shared care and control does not mean that each of the parents can claim the maximum child-care deduction. Alternatively, the parents can claim the child-care deduction in alternate years. The parent with whom the child (or children) is (are) living at the end of the year of divorce/separation/break-up can claim the child-care deduction for that year, the other parent for the following year etc.

If the parents have several children, each child must be considered separately.

Change in care and control

If each of the parents had sole care and control of the child/children for part of the income year, the parent who had sole care and control for the greater part of the year will be entitled to the child-care deduction. If the parent with sole care and control dies, the deduction shall still be made from the deceased parent’s income. If the surviving parent takes over care and control of the child, this parent will also be entitled to a child-care deduction.

Example:

The parents marry in 2010. They each have a child from a previous relationship. Their total expenses for the minding and care of the children amount to NOK 39,000. These expenses break down as follows:

Child from previous relationship:	NOK 36,000
Child from previous relationship:	NOK 3,000

before they married, each parent was entitled to a deduction of up to NOK 25,000 (because they each ahd one child from a previous relationship).

In the above example, one of the parents could claim a child-care deduction of NOK 25,000 (the maximum amount) and the other NOK 3,000, amounting to a total deduction of NOK 28,000. Pursuant to othe main rule, thay are jointly entitled to a maximum deduction of NOK 40,000 (two children: NOK 25,000 + NOK 15,000), but, because their costs do not amount to more than NOK 39,000, the deduction must be limited to this amount.

It will therefor be most favorable to follow the main rule and claim a deduction of NOK 39,000.

Example:

The parents marry in 2010. Their total expenses for the minding and care of children amount to NOK 55,000. The expenses break down as follows:

Child from previos relationship:	NOK 29,000
Child from previos relationship:	NOK 26,000

Before they married, each parent was entitled to a deduction of up to NOK 25,000 (Because they each ahd one child from a prevois relationship).

Pursuant to the main rule, thay are jointly entitled to a maximum deduction of NOK 40,000 (two children: NOK 25,000 + NOK 15,000).

In this case, the most favourable solution will be to apply the exception rule. This will entitle them to a total child-care deduction of NOK 50,000 instead of NOK 40,000.

Tax assessment in tax class 2 – single parent

Parents will be assessed in tax class 2 if they have care and control of children aged 17 or younger (born in 1993 or later) or if they provide for young people aged 18 or older (born in 1992 or earlier), and are:

unmarried (a cohabitant deemed for tax purposes to be equivalent to a spouse who acquired spouse-equivalent status on 31 October 2009 or earlier is not considered to be unmarried)
divorced, separated or widowed
cohabitants with no joint children (does not apply to cohabitants deemed for tax purposes to be equivalent to spouses and who are assessed as spouses), or
married/deemed for tax purposes to be equivalent to spouses after 31 October 2009 with no joint children, provided that the spouses/cohabitants do not demand to be assessed jointly.

Having care and control of a child usually involves having parental responsibility (alone or shared) and having the child living with you. If a child has lived away from home to attend school or stay in an institution, the conditions for care and control may still be met, provided that the child is home during holidays and at weekends, or that the person with parental responsibility visits the child frequently. Virtually full provision for a child is required in order to be classified as the ‘actual provider’ for children aged 18 or older (born in 1992 or earlier). This condition is explained in more detail below.

Divorce and separation

Care and control of children

When spouses divorce or separate, the spouse who is awarded sole care and control (has care and control alone) and with whom the child lives will be entitled to tax assessment in tax class 2. If there are several children and each of the parents has sole care and control of at least one of them, both parents can be regarded as single parents and be entitled to assessment in tax class 2. This is conditional on the parents actually living apart after the break-up of the relationship. Furthermore, the division of the care and control of the children must be of a permanent nature.

If sole care and control is transferred to the other parent during the income year, the parent who has had care and control as a single parent for most of the income year will be assessed in tax class 2.

If the parent who has sole care and control dies, then he or she will always be assessed in tax class 2 as a single parent, even if the surviving parent has care and control at the end of the income year and is thus eligible for assessment in tax class 2 as a single parent.

If both parents have had sole care and control of the child, the parent with whom the child has lived for the greater part of the year will be entitled to assessment in tax class 2 as a single parent. If the parents have several children, each child must be considered separately.

If the child (children), by agreement or in practice, spends (spend) an equal amount of time with each of the parents (shared care and control), each of the parents can be assessed in tax class 2 in alternate years, provided that there is nothing to indicate that one of them has had primary care and control. The spouse with whom the child (or children) lives at the end of the year of the divorce/separation will be entitled to assessment in tax class 2 for that year, the other parent the following year etc. The requirement for status as a single parent must be met by the parent in question during the income year.

The right to assessment in tax class 2 does not apply if the parent is not a single parent, e.g. if the parent in question has a child in a new relationship or enters into a new marriage. If care and control continues to be shared, assessment in tax class 2 will continue to apply in alternate years to the parent who remains single. If care and control is shared equally, the single parent is not entitled to assessment in tax class 2 each year even if the other parent cannot utilise tax class 2.

Tax class 2 due to provision for children born in 1992 or earlier

In the case of children who are 18 years or older, you will only be entitled to tax class 2 as a single parent if you have actually provided for them.

If the child’s income did not exceed half the average National Insurance basic amount, it can normally be assumed that the child is provided for. For 2010, this amount was NOK 37,361. The income is calculated as follows: The child’s general income minus any special allowances, i.e. the amount in item 3.6 in the tax return, is used as the basis. Any tax-free child maintenance payments are added. The minimum standard deduction and other deductions that do not usually involve actual costs are added. These deductions are specified under items 3.2.1, 3.2.6 and 3.3.7. Deductions for any pension premiums (item 3.2.12) and deficit carried forward from previous years (item 3.3.11) are added.

Example:

Pay	NOK 20,000
Minimum standard deduction	NOK 20,000
General income	NOK 0
Child maintenance (not liable to tax)	NOK 30,000

The child's income is calculated as follows::

General income	NOK 0
+ minimum standard deduction	NOK 20,000
+ child maintenance	NOK 30,000
= Income	NOK 50,000

This example will normally not entitle to assessment in tax class 2. See information about exceptions below.

Children who have been on their initial national service for the greater part of the income year, or who have received a loan from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund without means testing in relation to their parents’ income, will not normally be regarded as being provided for, even if their estimated income does not exceed half the average National Insurance basic amount.

If the provider’s burden is particularly great due to disability etc, it can be concluded that the child has actually been provided for even if the child’s estimated income is more than half the average National Insurance basic amount and/or the child has received a loan from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund without means testing. The decision as to whether the child has actually been provided for in such cases will be based on an overall evaluation that also takes account of all tax-free benefits and loans.

Assessment in tax class 2 because of provision for children aged 18 or older is not granted automatically; it must be claimed by the provider. The claim must be made and justified under item 5.0 (Additional information) in the tax return.

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Payments in kind – valuation

Payments in kind are benefits in the form of goods, shares, low-interest loans, services, rights of use or other benefits that are not cash, cheques or similar. As a rule, payments in kind in an employment relationship are liable to tax. This applies irrespective of whether the benefit is made available to the recipient free of charge or at a reduced price/rate. The income must be entered under item 2.1.1.

It is difficult to put an exact value on some payments in kind. Fixed rates are therefore used to calculate the value of such payments in kind. The rates that apply to benefits in the form of low-interest loans from employers, free board and lodging and electronic communication (free telephone etc.) are shown below. For information about private use of an employer’s car, see «Cars». If the value of a taxable payment in kind is not entered in advance, you must declare the benefit in your tax return. If there are no valuation rates (see below) you do not have to declare the value. The tax office will make the valuation on the basis of the information you provide about the payment in kind.

Benefit of low-interest loans from employers

The benefit of low-interest loans from employers is deemed to be taxable income if the interest rate on the loan in 2010 was lower than the normal rate stipulated by the Ministry of Finance and the loan was:

furnished by your current or former employer, or
furnished by others with your employer acting as intermediary, or your employment relationship was the reason for the loan.

The normal interest rate is stipulated up to six times a year. In 2010, the normal interest rate on low-interest loans was:

Jan./Feb.	March/April	May/June:
2.00%	2.25%	2.50%
July/Aug.	Sept./Oct.	Nov./Dec.
2.50%	2.75%	2.75%

It does not matter whether your employer has borrowed the money at a lower interest rate, nor does it matter if you could have obtained a loan on as reasonable terms elsewhere. However, the benefit of low-interest loans from employers is not taxable if loans are available from your employer on the same terms to borrowers who are not employees. The taxable benefit consists of the difference between the actual interest paid, including charges, under the loan agreement and the interest based on the normal interest rate. If the benefit has not been entered in advance, you must calculate the benefit and enter it under item 2.1.1. The taxable benefit and the interest you have paid are deductible and should be entered under item 3.3.1.

Free board and lodging

As a rule, free board and lodging is taxable. It should be reported as pay under code 110-A in the Certificate of Pay and Tax Deducted and entered in advance in the tax return. If the free board and lodging is provided in connection with periods of work entailing stays away from home, it is not taxable. Employees who receive free board when commuting are liable to tax on savings on household costs. The saving on costs is stipulated at NOK 79 per day and shall be reported as pay under code 143-A.

The daily rates for taxable free board and lodging for the 2010 income year are:
Free board and lodging	NOK 108
Free board (all meals)	NOK 79
Free board (two meals)	NOK 62
Free board (one meal)	NOK 41
Free lodging (single or shared room)	NOK 29

Free board for offshore workers

Offshore workers whose personal income exceeded NOK 600,000 in 2010 shall pay tax on the benefit of free board. The value of taxable free board should be reported under code 119 (-A) in the Certificate of Pay and Tax Deducted and pre-entered under item 2.1.1 in your tax return.

Offshore workers whose personal income was NOK 600,000 or less in 2010 are not liable to tax on the benefit of free board. The tax-free benefit should be reported under code 527 (-A) in the Certificate of Pay and Tax Deducted. This amount shall not be declared in the tax return.

Your employer does not always have an overview of your total personal income for the year. The Certificate of Pay and Tax Deducted may therefore be based on incorrect information. The information in your Certificate of Pay and Tax Deducted has been transferred to your tax return. You must therefore check the pre-entered information carefully. If any of the pre-entered amounts are incorrect, you must correct item 2.1.1 in your tax return.

Electronic communication (free telephone, broadband etc.)

The calculated benefit of private use of your employer’s telephone, broadband etc. (EC services) outside the normal work situation has been stipulated as up to NOK 4,000 for one EC service and up to NOK 6,000 for two or more EC services. The benefit is calculated on the basis of the total value of these services in excess of NOK 1,000. The value of these services is calculated as fixed costs plus use, minus the value of contents services, see below. In the case of employees who have paid a share of the costs, the taxable benefit is reduced by an amount corresponding to the employee’s own payment. The benefit should be declared as pay under code 130-A in the Certificate of Pay and Tax Deducted.

By contents services is meant calls to numbers in the 820 and 829 series, four-digit numbers between 1850 and 1899 and SMS/MMS messages to four and five-digit numbers. If the costs of the contents service are covered by the employer, a distinction must be drawn between costs for private use and the cost of work-related use of the content services. In addition to the standard amount, the employer’s coverage of the costs of private use of contents services is also taxable as income to the employee. If you are self-employed/engaged in business, see also item 6995 in the guidelines to filling in «Income statement 1 for 2010».

If you have enjoyed free use of a telephone etc. for part of the income year, the calculation is based on the total costs incurred during the period in which you had free use of the telephone etc., but the amounts of NOK 4,000 (one EC service), NOK 6,000 (two or more EC services) and NOK 1,000 (tax-free allowance) shall be reduced in proportion to the number of whole or part months the services have been at your disposal.

Example a:

Free telephone for the whole income year 2010

Value of the service	NOK 3,000
- Tax-free amount	NOK 1,000
= Taxable benefit	NOK 2,000

Example b:

Employer-financed telephone and broadband for the whole year 2010. Paid by the employee him/herself: NOK 1,500.

Value of the service (broadband + telephone)	NOK 9,000
- Tax-free amount	NOK 1,000
= Calculated benefit before limitation	NOK 8,000
Limited to the maximum amount for two services	NOK 6,000
- Covered by the employee	NOK 1,500
= Taxable benefit	NOK 4,500

Example c:

Free telephone (one EC service) for six months.

Value of theservice during the period	NOK 3,500
- Tax-free allowance: NOK 1,000 x 6/12	NOK 500
= Calculated benefit before limitation	NOK 3,000
Limited to 6/12 of the maximum benefit of NOK 4,000	NOK 2,000
= Taxable benefit	NOK 2,000

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Real property abroad

Capital in the form of real property abroad and income from or a gain on the sale of such property are, in principle, liable to tax in Norway. This will also apply to shares in holiday complexes (timeshares) abroad and units in foreign timeshare companies when they are deemed to be real property.

If capital in, income from and gains on the sale of real property are not taxable in Norway, you must nonetheless provide information about the income etc. in your tax return or in a separate enclosure.

Income from real property abroad

Income from real property abroad is in principle liable to tax in Norway. When the real property is in a country with which Norway has a tax treaty that employs the exemption method in order to avoid double taxation, the income from the real property shall not be liable to tax in Norway. The countries to which this applies are listed to the right.

If the income from real property abroad is liable to tax in Norway, the income will be stipulated pursuant to Norwegian rules. Your own use of a house/holiday home abroad is tax-exempt in the same way as if the house/holiday home had been in Norway. See «Housing and other real property».

Taxable rental income from the letting of real property abroad must be declared under item 2.8.5. You must complete and submit form RF-1189E «Letting etc. of real property 2010».

A deduction from Norwegian tax can only be claimed for foreign tax that is classified as wealth tax or income tax. You can only claim such a deduction if you can provide documentation of foreign tax payments. You must also submit form RF-1147E «Deduction for tax paid abroad by a person (credit) 2010» , see guidelines RF-1148.

You cannot claim a deduction in Norwegian tax for foreign property tax. If income from real property abroad is liable to tax in Norway, a deduction can be claimed in the income for the property tax paid abroad. If the use of the real property abroad is exempt from tax in Norway, a deduction cannot be claimed for foreign property tax or other tax paid abroad. For information about such use, see «Housing and other real property».

Gains/losses on the sale etc. of real property abroad

In principle, any gain on the sale or other realisation of real property abroad is liable to tax in Norway. Any loss on the sale of real property abroad is in principle deductible. See «Housing and other real property».

When the real property is in a country with which Norway has a tax treaty that employs the exemption method in order to avoid double taxation, the gain is not liable to taxation in Norway. Nor are you entitled to deduct any loss. The countries to which this applies are listed to the right.

Any taxable gain on the sale or other realisation of real property abroad shall be declared under item 3.1.11.

If you are claiming a deduction in Norwegian tax for tax paid abroad on the gain, such payment must be documented. You must also submit form RF-1147E «Deduction for tax paid abroad by a person (credit) 2010» , see guidelines RF-1148.

Any loss on the sale or other realisation of real property abroad that is deductible in Norway must be entered under item 3.3.6. You must provide information about the property and about how you have calculated the loss. The tax office may demand documentation.

Capital in real property abroad

Capital in the form of real property abroad is in principle liable to tax in Norway. When the real property is in a country with which Norway has a tax treaty that employs the exemption method in order to avoid double taxation, the capital represented by the real property is not liable to tax in Norway. The countries to which this applies are listed to the right.

Capital in real property abroad that is liable to tax in Norway must be declared under item 4.6.1. You must also state the country in which the property is located. For information about valuation, see items 4.3.3 and 4.3.5. The new rules about the stipulation of the value of housing described under item 4.3.2 do not apply to housing abroad.

If a Norwegian tax value has not previously been stipulated, the tax office will complete this item. The tax office will need information about the kind of property involved (a holiday home, plot of land etc.), the country in which it is located, when it was purchased (date), the purchase price and, if available, its sales value.

Real property is valued at the tax value pursuant to Norwegian rules. The property value stipulated by foreign tax authorities shall not be used.

If you provided information about the property in the tax return for 2009, the tax value should be pre-entered in your tax return.

Capital in real property that is not liable to tax in Norway shall not be entered under item 4.6.1, but you must nonetheless provide information about the property. The information will have a bearing on the allocation of debt and interest on debt between Norway and the foreign country.

If the property is a let commercial property, you must fill in form RF-1098 «Formue av næringseiendom 2010» (Capital value of commercial property 2010 – in Norwegian only), see item 4.3.5.

If the property is situated in one of the countries listed below, the capital and income will not be liable to tax in Norway. You will not be entitled to a full deduction for debt and interest on debt.

Barbados
Belgium
Benin
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Brazil
Bulgaria
Philippines
Indonesia
Israel
Italy
Kenya
China
Croatia
Malta
Marocco
The Dutch Antilles
Portugal
Serbia
Sri Lanka
Tunisia
Tyrkey
Germany
United States
Zimbabwe

If the property is situated in one of the countries listed below, the income will not be liable to tax in Norway. You will not be entitled to a full deduction for the interest on debt.

Egypt
Cõte d’ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Jamaica
Malaysia
Pakistan
Korea, Republic of (South Korea)
Trinidad og Tobago
Zambia

If the property is situated in Mexico, the capital will not be taxed in Norway. You will be entitled to a full deduction for debt.

Deductions for debt and interest on debt

If you have a loan abroad, you must document the amount of interest you have paid on the loan. Interest on debt to foreign creditors is only deductible if the interest expense can be documented. You can obtain more information about the documentation required from the tax office.

You will not be entitled to deduct the full amount of any debt or interest on debt if the capital/income from the real property abroad is exempt from taxation in Norway pursuant to a tax treaty.

The total debt and interest on debt in Norway and abroad is allocated in accordance with an allocation key based on the ratio between the value of the real property not liable to tax in Norway and the value of the taxpayer’s total assets. The taxpayer is not entitled to a deduction for the debt and interest on debt which is allocated to real property abroad. The same allocation key shall be used for debt and interest on debt. For spouses, both spouses’ debts and interest on debt shall be included in the allocation. The values as of 31 December in the income year are used as the basis. This means that the deduction for debt and interest on debt shall only be limited if the taxpayer owns real property abroad at the end of the year.

An allocation of debt and interest on debt shall be carried out even if the real property is not taxed abroad.

The value of the real property abroad and the taxpayer’s other total taxable assets shall be valued at the Norwegian tax value (tax value of capital). See information about the stipulation of tax value above. Capital in Norway is taxable capital after deduction of a tax-free allowance in cash, home contents and other moveable property.

The tax office stipulates the value of real property abroad and allocates debt and interest on debt on the basis of the information in the tax return. The rules concerning the allocation of debt and interest on debt also apply in cases where shares in a holiday complex (timeshares) abroad and foreign timeshare companies are deemed to be real property that is not liable to tax in Norway.

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Shares etc.

Updated information about taxation of shares can be found at skatteetaten.no/aksjer.

The shareholder model

The shareholder model applies to natural persons, including deceased’s estates and bankrupt’s estates when the debtor in bankruptcy is a natural person. The rules apply to ownership in both Norwegian and foreign companies.

The principle of the shareholder model is that share dividend and gains on shares are liable to tax, but the risk-free return can reduce the taxable dividend or gain. The deductible risk-free return for the year will be calculated for each share and granted to the person who owns the share at the end of the income year. The risk-free return can never be deducted from income from other shares.

The year’s risk-free return can reduce the taxable dividend received in 2010.

An unutilised risk-free return from previous years can be deducted from both share dividend and gains on the same share for the 2010 income year.

Equity certificates (formerly primary capital certificates) and units in unit trusts etc. are treated in the same way as shares. The shareholder model came into effect on 1 January 2006.

How is the deductible risk-free return calculated?

Deductible risk-free return = basis for risk-free return x risk-free interest rate.

As a rule, the basis for the deductible risk-free return for 2010 is equal to the acquisition value/opening value (of the share) with the addition of any unutilised risk-free return from previous years.

For the 2010 income year the risk-free interest rate is 1,6 per cent.

Stipulation of the opening value

The opening value of shares, equity certificates (formerly primary capital certificates) and units in unit trusts acquired in 2010 is stipulated for tax purposes in autumn 2011. These values will be stipulated with binding effect and will be used as the basis for the calculation of the deductible risk-free return and gains/losses in connection with subsequent realisation of such shares.

For most Norwegian shares and foreign shares listed on Oslo Børs, you will receive form RF-1088 «Aksjer og egenkapitalbevis 2010» (Shares and equity certificates 2010 – in Norwegian only) from the Norwegian Tax Administration. This statement provides information about the opening value of the shares. You must check the statement. If you agree with the information provided in the statement, you do not have to submit it.

If you have not received form RF-1088 «Aksjer og egenkapitalbevis 2010» (Shares and equity certificates 2010 – in Norwegian only), you must submit form RF-1059 «Aksjer og fondsandeler mv. 2010» (Shares and units in funds etc. 2010 – in Norwegian only). There, you specify the opening value, calculate any taxable dividend after deduction of the risk-free return and calculate the taxable gain/deductible loss.

The opening value of shares etc. that you acquired before 1 January 2010 and which the Norwegian Tax Administration had information about should have been stipulated for tax purposes. Most shareholders will have received a letter from the Norwegian Tax Administration showing the stipulated tax values.

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Special allowance for major sickness expenses

A special allowance is granted for expenses due to persistent illness or debility, provided that the expenses amount to at least NOK 9,180 during the income year. By «persistent» in this context is meant that the illness/debility is expected to be of at least two years’ duration. There is no special allowance for expenses that would normally be incurred by other persons not suffering from a corresponding illness or debility. If you are claiming a special allowance, you must enclose a medical certificate with your tax return. However, if you have previously submitted a medical certificate documenting that you have a chronic illness, you are not required to submit a medical certificate for each year for which you claim the special allowance. If you provide for children who suffer from a persistent illness or debility, you can claim a special allowance for extra supervision expenses provided that the same expenses have not been deducted as normal child-care expenses, see item 3.2.10 (child-care deduction). Such expenses may be deducted even if they are less than NOK 9,180.

If you or someone you provide for have other deductible sickness expenses, these expenses can also be deducted if, together with costs of supervision, they amount to at least NOK 9,180. If the total sickness expenses are lower than NOK 9,180, a special allowance is only granted for extra supervision costs. You are deemed to provide for a person if you pay a not insignificant part of that person’s ordinary living costs. Sickness expenses shall not be included in the assessment of whether you provide for someone.

If spouses each claim a special allowance, they must each have expenses which amount to at least NOK 9,180.

Sickness expenses must be substantiated/documented at the request of the tax office. Extra expenses are deductible if the tax authorities find it highly probable that you have actually incurred them. Forms provided by special interest organisations for the specification of extra expenses in connection with a specific illness are not automatically accepted as adequate documentation or substantiation of such expenses. If you incur regular extra expenses that are difficult to document, it may be sufficient to substantiate that they were incurred for a continuous period (of at least one month) in the course of the year.

The special allowance for major sickness expenses may be granted in addition to any special allowances for age or disability.

Example

Your sickness expenses amount to NOK 10,000 (not including supervision expenses). In connection with the illness, you receive a tax-free benefit from the government of NOK 1,000. Your sickness expenses then amount to NOK 9,000. You are thus not entitled to a special allowance, since the amount is less than the minimum of NOK 9,180. However, the benefit shall not be deducted from other expenses than those the benefit was intended to cover.

Expenses for treatment, care or a stay in an institution or with a private health care practitioner outside the Norwegian public health service will only qualify for a special allowance if corresponding treatment or care is not available from the Norwegian health and social services, and the treatment is deemed to be medically justifiable.

Expenses in connection with persistent illness or debility include direct costs (medication and doctors’ fees etc.), indirect costs (transport costs etc., extra costs due to higher insurance premiums etc.), extra expenses for a more costly diet (expensive diet) and costs of supervision, care and help in the home. The costs of visiting the ill person may also be included if the person with the persistent illness is your spouse or a child that you provide for. Expenses that you would have incurred in any case do not entitle to a special allowance.

If you have received a tax-free benefit from the government to cover costs in connection with the illness or debility in question (for example basic benefit or supplementary benefit), your deductible sickness expenses will be reduced by the amount of the benefit received.

Special information relating to diabetics:

Relevant extra expenses for diabetics may, for example, include:

extra wear and tear on clothes and bed linen
higher insurance premiums etc.
foot treatment
physical therapy
treatment aids and equipment, including special shoes and stockings
diet, including the cost of hypo food
medicines
travel in connection with treatment
dental treatment.

The requirements for documentation/substantiation of extra expenses for diabetics are the same as for other sickness expenses. This means that documentation of extra expenses that can be easily documented by receipts must be presented at the request of the tax office. Examples of such expenses are expenses for extra medical consultations, patient charges, aids and equipment.

If you claim a special allowance for extra dietary expenses, you must be able to provide documentation in the form of a medical certificate stating that the illness can be regulated by diet. Stipulation of extra dietary expenses is based on the National Institute of Consumer Research’s (SIFO) standard budget for 2010 for consumer expenses for food and drink, see sifo.no. This standard budget differentiates between food and drink expenses for different age groups and between the sexes, and account is taken of economies of scale if several people share a household. It is sufficient that you can produce receipts for expenses relating to the purchase of food (but not chocolate, crisps etc.) and drink (but not alcoholic beverages) for a continuous period of at least a month during the income year.

Only necessary extra dietary expenses are deductible. This means that you are not allowed a deduction for the extra expenses of an unreasonably expensive diet. If the diet is part of a larger household, only your own extra expenses, reduced for any economies of scale, are deductible.

If you are unable to substantiate the extent of your actual extra dietary expenses, the extra costs will be stipulated at NOK 4,000 for the whole income year 2010. This amount also includes the cost of hypo food.

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Spouses, registered partners and spouse-equivalent cohabitants

Spouses

Spouses are two persons who are married to each other pursuant to the Marriage Act. Marriages entered into abroad and recognised in Norway are treated on a par with other marriages.

Registered partners

Registered partners are two persons who have registered partnership pursuant to the Norwegian Registered Partnerships Act. Within the meaning of the Taxation Act, the term ‘spouses’ also refers to registered partners.

Spouse-equivalent cohabitants

Cohabitants are two persons of the same or opposite sex who live together and are neither married nor registered partners. Only spouse-equivalent cohabitants are discussed here. For information about other cohabitants (not spouse-equivalent for tax purposes), see «Cohabitants».

The following cohabitants with a duty to report to NAV are deemed to be «spouse-equivalent cohabitants» in the tax law sense:

former spouses/registered partners who have become cohabitants, where at least one of them is entitled to a National Insurance pension or an early-retirement pension with public subsidy (AFP)
cohabitants who have or have had joint children, where at least one of the cohabitants is entitled to a National Insurance pension or an early retirement pension with public subsidy (AFP).

However, the cohabitants will not be treated as equivalent to spouses if both of them were granted National Insurance pensions as single persons prior to 1 January 1994 and the cohabitation started before that date.

Unless otherwise specified, all references in these guidelines to tax rules for spouses also apply to cohabitants deemed for tax purposes to be equivalent to spouses.

Obligation to submit a tax return

Each spouse must submit his or her own tax return. A surviving spouse retaining undivided possession of the estate is required to submit a separate tax return for the deceased spouse’s income for the year of death.

Joint tax assessment

Married before 1 November 2009

Spouses who married on 31 October 2009 or earlier will be assessed jointly. Their capital will always be assessed jointly in tax class 2. Their income (net income and personal income) will be assessed either jointly in tax class 2 or separately in tax class 1.

When spouses are assessed jointly in tax class 2, the tax is divided proportionally between them on the basis of the capital/income of each spouse.

National Insurance contributions are calculated on the basis of the personal income of each of the spouses regardless of whether they are assessed jointly or separately.

Joint tax assessment of income

Municipal, county and equalisation tax is levied at a rate of 28 per cent on the spouses’ combined net income after the deduction of a personal allowance of NOK 84,420.

In Finnmark and Nord-Troms, 24.5 per cent municipal, county and equalisation tax to the state is levied on each spouse’s net income after it has been reduced by a personal allowance of NOK 84,420 and a special income allowance of NOK 30,000.

A personal allowance of NOK 456,400 is deducted from the spouses’ combined personal income before calculating surtax.

These deductible allowances are not to be entered in your tax return.

Separate tax assessment of income

Municipal, county and equalisation tax at a rate of 28 per cent is levied on each spouse’s net income after the deduction of a personal allowance of NOK 42,210.

In Finnmark and Nord-Troms, 24.5 per cent municipal, county and equalisation tax to the state is levied on spouses’ combined net income after it has been reduced by a personal allowance of NOK 42,210 and a special income allowance of NOK 15,000.

A personal allowance of NOK 456,400 is deducted from each spouse’s personal income before calculating surtax.

These deductible allowances are not to be entered in your tax return.

Which assessment method is the most favourable?

If each of the spouses has a net income of NOK 42,210 or more, separate assessment is as favourable as or more favourable than joint assessment. In such cases, the spouses are assessed separately.

If the combined personal income of both spouses does not exceed NOK 456,400, and one of the spouses has a net income of less than NOK 42,210, joint assessment is always the most favourable method of assessment.

If the joint personal income of the spouses exceeds NOK 456,400 and one of them has a net income of less than NOK 42,210, separate assessment will lead to lower surtax on their personal incomes than joint assessment, but the municipal, county and equalisation tax on net income will be higher. Which assessment method is the most favourable in such cases will depend on how high their personal income is and how low their net income is. In such cases, the tax authorities choose the assessment method that is most favourable for the spouses jointly.

Even if joint assessment is most favourable, the spouses can demand to be assessed separately.

Spouses who have capital income and/or capital expenses are free to choose which of the spouses’ tax returns they wish to enter them in (see below). If it is possible for the spouses to allocate/transfer the income or expenses between themselves so that neither of them has a net income of less than NOK 42,210 (NOK 57,210 in Finnmark and Nord-Troms), this may be favourable for the spouses jointly – see the example. Even if it proves impossible to bring the lower of their incomes up to this level, it may nevertheless be in the spouses’ interests to make the lowest income as high as possible. This will enable them to use as much as possible of the personal allowance when separate assessment is the most favourable method of assessment.

The tax is reduced by NOK 28 for every NOK 100 by which the lower of the two net incomes is increased, until it reaches NOK 42,210 (the personal allowance in tax class 1).

In Finnmark and Nord-Troms, the tax saving amounts to NOK 24.50 for every NOK 100 by which the lower net income increases until the net income amounts to NOK 57,210 (the personal allowance in tax class 1 (NOK 42,210) plus the special income allowance of NOK 15,000).

Allocation of income and expenses between spouses

Income from employment, pensions, National Insurance benefits etc. must be declared in the tax return of the spouse who has carried out the work or is entitled to the pension etc. Expenses relating to the abovementioned income shall be entered in the tax return of the spouse who has carried out the work or is entitled to the pension etc. Spouses can choose the tax return in which they wish to enter interest income, share dividends, gains on the sale of real property and other capital income. The same applies to special allowances for major sickness expenses and capital expenses such as interest on debt and losses on the sale of shares. If the spouses fail to agree, the income and expenses shall be entered in the tax return of the spouse who has earned the income or been obliged to pay the expense. Any loss carried forward from previous years (item 3.3.11 in the tax return) shall be entered in the tax return of the person who sustained the loss.

For the transfer of interest income/interest on debt etc. between spouses to lead to a reduction in tax, the combined personal income of the spouses must exceed NOK 456,400 and one of them must have a net income of less than NOK 42,210 (NOK 57,210) before the transfer.

If the spouses live permanently apart or if they married after 31 October 2009, see «Separate tax assessment» below.

Resident in Norway for tax purposes for part of the year only

The above amounts/calculations do not apply to taxpayers who, for tax purposes, have only been resident in Norway for part of the year.

Surviving spouse in undivided possession

In the year of death, a surviving spouse in undivided possession of an estate will be assessed for both his/her own and the deceased’s income. The income will be assessed jointly in tax class 2 or separately in tax class 1, depending on which method results in the lowest tax overall. The whole capital at the end of the year is assessed combined (with a double tax-free amount) for the surviving spouse.

For subsequent years, the surviving spouse will be assessed as a single taxpayer for all income and capital in the undivided estate.

Separate tax assessment

Married after 31 October 2009

Spouses who married after 31 October 2009 are usually assessed separately. However, the spouse with the lower income (item 3.6) can demand to be assessed jointly with the other spouse if they set up home together before the end of the income year. Such a demand should be made under item 5.0 (Additional information) in the tax return. Spouses who are assessed separately are assessed as two independent taxpayers on their own capital and income, and the personal allowance will be based on the individual spouse’s circumstances. As a rule, each of them will be assessed in tax class 1. If you were a single parent on entering into the marriage, you will be assessed in tax class 2 provided that the conditions for this are satisfied. See «Parents and children».

Spouses who live apart

Spouses who live permanently apart, for example because one of the spouses is in an institution, shall be assessed separately.

Spouses shall also be assessed separately if they live in different municipalities and do not have a joint home, for example because of their work.

Separated/divorced

Spouses who separated/divorced or moved apart before the end of 2010 shall be assessed separately. Tax on business income, pay, pensions and similar is levied on the spouse who earned the income. Deduction items relating to specific income are deductible by the spouse who is taxed on the income. This will apply, for example, to the minimum standard deduction, union dues and expenses for travel between the home and permanent place of work.

Interest on debt and other expenses not relating to specific sources of income shall in principle be deducted from the income of the person who paid the expense.

Interest on debt incurred during the year in which the spouses separated is deductible by the spouse who is liable for the debt unless they agree on another allocation. If both spouses are liable for the debt, the interest will be allocated equally provided that there is nothing to indicate a difference in their liability. The chosen allocation of joint capital/yield and debt/interest in the tax return for the separation year is not legally binding on the final settlement between the spouses. If the final division of the estate has not been completed and the spouses disagree about the division of their joint capital/yield and debt/interest, wealth tax on separate assets will be payable by the owner of the asset even if the other spouse is awarded right of use of the asset, for example a house. In the case of jointly owned assets, each spouse is liable for half of the wealth tax. Tax on any yield is payable by the spouse who owns the asset. Debt is divided on a fifty-fifty basis unless another allocation can be shown to be correct. Interest on debt is divided in the same ratio as the debt itself.

The spouse who had one or more of the spouses’ children living with him or her at the end of 2010 (registered as living there in the population register) will be regarded as a single parent for 2010 provided that the other conditions are satisfied.

A spouse who has provided for the other spouse for the greater part of the separation year can demand to be assessed in tax class 2 instead of claiming a deduction for any maintenance payments to the other spouse. Such a claim for assessment in tax class 2 must be made under item 5.0 (Additional information) in the tax return.

Example:

Example (not applilcable to Finnmark and Nord-Troms):

The spouses have received tax returns with the following already pre-entered:

Spouse A:

Pay (personal income)	NOK 441,000
Minimum standard deduction	- NOK 72,800
Interest income	NOK 150,350
Net income	NOK 518,550

Spouse B:

Pay (personal income)	NOK 100,000
Minimum standard deduction	- NOK 36,000
Interest on debt	- NOK 57,000
Net income	NOK 7,000

If, for example, spouse A transfers NOK 35,210 of his/her interest income to spouse B, spouse B will have a net income of NOK 42,210 and spouse A a net income of NOK 483,340. By making such a transfer, both spouses will be able to make full use of the personal allowance (NOK 42,210). This will reduce their total tax payment by NOK 9,858 (NOK 35,210 x 28%) compared with what they would have had to pay if they did not make such a transfer. The tax reduction would be the same if spouse B were to transfer NOK 35,210 of the interest on his/her debt to spouse A.

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Tax limitation

Tax limitation for pensioners and recipients of National Insurance benefits with low general income

You are entitled to tax limitation if you:

are entitled to a special allowance for age or disability (disability pension for impairment of earning capacity by at least 2/3), see items 3.5.1 and 3.5.2, or
have received either early-retirement pension (AFP), surviving spouse’s pension or transitional benefit.

The tax limitation is granted automatically in connection with the tax assessment. You therefore do not need to claim it.

Information about the rule

The tax limitation rule means that you do not have to pay municipal/county tax, equalisation tax to the state or National Insurance contributions if your income does not exceed NOK 113,700. You arrive at your income by starting with item 3.6. If relevant, you then add:

special allowance (item 3.5)
1.5 per cent of net wealth in excess of NOK 200,000. The capital value of your primary dwelling shall not be included in the capital that forms the basis for the addition in income. This also applies to the value of housing units in housing cooperatives that the unit holder uses as his/her home.
any deductible tax-free return for share dividend and/or gains on shares, see the topic «Shares etc. ».

If you are a partner in a partnership, you must, if applicable, deduct the amount that is subject to extra tax on withdrawals (items 2.7.10 or 2.7.11).

For spouses (including registered partners and spouse-equivalent cohabitants) whose income is assessed jointly or separately, the amount is NOK 206,700 for both spouses together even if only one of them meets the above conditions.

If the income is greater than NOK 113,700/206,700, the total amount of municipal/county tax, equalisation tax to the state and National Insurance contributions shall not exceed 55 per cent of the excess amount. Any surtax and/or wealth tax will not be reduced.

If you are entitled to a deductible risk-free return, this must be added to the amount in item 3.6 in order to arrive at your general income.

Example - single old-age pensioner:

Figures from the tax return:

Item 2.2.1 - Old-age pension	NOK 160,000
Item 3.3.1 - Interest income	NOK 5,000
Item 3.2.1 - Minimum standard deduction	NOK 41,600
Item 3.5 - Special allowance	NOK 19,368
Total basis for income tax	NOK 104,032

Item 4.9 - Net wealth	NOK 800,000
- Item 4.3.2 Primary dwelling	NOK 329,300
= Net amount	NOK 470,700
-	NOK 200,000
= Net amount in excess of NOK 200,000:	NOK 270,700

Wealth tax amounts to NOK 1,100, but is not covered by the taxlimitation rule.

Income tax is limited to:

Item 3.6	NOK 104,032
+ Item 3.5	NOK 19,368
+ 1,5 % of the wealth over NOK 270,700	NOK 4,061
= Calculation basis for tax limitation	NOK 127,461
- Tax-free amount	NOK 113,700
= Amount taxable at 55 %	NOK 13,761
Computed tax: 55 % of NOK 13,761	NOK 7,569

The ordinary tax without the tax limitation would have amounted to NOK 22,110.

The taxpayer has thus been granted a tax reduction of NOK 14,541.

Tax limitation due to inability to pay tax

A tax limitation is not granted automatically, but on the basis of individual means testing.

Tax limitation is not usually granted to taxpayers who:

have been entitled to a loan from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund for a large part of the year
have had their income stipulated by discretionary judgement
experience a temporary fall in income
have only been in employment for part of the year or have been employed part-time (e.g. because of education)
have chosen not to take paid employment.

The tax office carries out an overall discretionary assessment of the taxpayer’s financial position in order to decide whether the taxpayer has such low income that tax limitation can be granted. By low income is meant income that is insufficient to provide a necessary, moderate standard of subsistence for the taxpayer him/herself and those for whom he or she is obliged to provide. A calculation basis shall be arrived at for the assessment. Item 3.6 is the starting point. Additions are made for:

special allowance
deductible risk-free return
tax-exempt benefits such as child maintenance, inheritances, gifts, lottery winnings etc.
expenses for which a deduction has been granted in the tax assessment, but that are not necessary for subsistence purposes. This applies, for example, to interest on debt on holiday homes, pleasure boats, cars and unnecessarily expensive housing etc. The same applies to sums paid into individual pension agreements and losses on the sale of, for example, real property.
an addition to income of 1.5 per cent of net capital in excess of NOK 200,000 (other household members’ net capital will also be included). The capital value of your primary dwelling shall not be included in the capital that forms the basis for the addition in income. This also applies to the value of housing units in housing cooperatives that the unit holder uses as his/her home.

Account will also be taken of spouse’s income. The income of spouses is considered jointly, including for the year in which they married, even if they are assessed separately. Spouses who are separated are classified as single persons with effect from the year of separation. The income of children who are assessed together with the taxpayer is added to the taxpayer’s income. The same applies to the income of any other members of the household over and above the amount estimated to be necessary for their own subsistence.

If the tax authorities find that you are entitled to a tax reduction due to inability to pay tax, the tax will be reduced based on the calculation basis as mentioned above. The calculation of how much the tax will be reduced will be carried out in the same way as for taxpayers with low income. See «Tax limitation for pensioners and recipients of National Insurance benefits with low income» above.

If you believe that you are entitled to a tax limitation, state your claim under item 5.0 (Additional information).

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Travel to/from work/job-related travel

You are entitled to a deduction for travel between your home and permanent place of work (travel to/from work), see item 3.2.8. The deduction is only given for amounts in excess of NOK 13,700 (the non-deductible amount).

The deduction is NOK 1.50 per km. If the total travel distance, including home visits (see item 3.2.9), exceeds 35,000 km, the rate will normally be NOK 0.70 per km for the number of kilometres in excess of 35,000 km.

If your documented expenses exceed this amount, you can claim a deduction for actual expenses limited upwards to NOK 1.50 per km.

As a rule, the deduction is calculated on the basis of the shortest travel distance between your home and permanent place of work, by car or scheduled public transport, excluding air travel. This applies irrespective of your actual expenses and the means of transport used. The total daily travel distance can be rounded up to the nearest kilometre.

If your employer provides transport and this benefit is tax-free, you must not include the distance covered by such transport. This applies, for example, to employees who travel free of charge on their employer’s scheduled means of transport. However, the benefit of free use of your employer’s car is taxable, and it may therefore entitle you to a deduction for the distance travelled.

You are entitled to a deduction for the number of journeys you have made during the course of the year. Full-time work is usually reckoned to equal 230 days a year.

Example:

Taxpayer travels between his og her home and permanent place of work every day. The shortest travel distance is 21 km each way.

The deduction is calculated as follows:

NOK 1,50 x 21 x 2 x 230 =	NOK 14,490
Amount not included in the deduction (non-deductible amount)	- NOK 13,700
Deductive amount to be entred under item 3.2.8	NOK 790

The number of journeys is reduced if you work part-time. If you work four days a week instead of five, you must base the calculation on 230 working days x 4/5 = 184 working days. If you are absent from work more than 15 days during the year because of taking more than five weeks’ holidays, illness, job-related travel, leave of absence etc., you must reduce the number of travel days.

If you cut your travelling time by at least two hours for every return journey to and from work by using a car rather than a scheduled means of transport, you can nonetheless use the distance by road as the basis. In such case, you can also claim a deduction for road tolls and ferry expenses that you have covered yourself, provided that these costs total more than NOK 3,300. The cheapest ticket type must be used as the basis. You must be able to document your expenses on request. If you claim a deduction for ferry expenses, you are not entitled to the kilometre rate (NOK 1.50/0.70 per km) for the distance travelled by ferry.

Travel time is reckoned as the total travel time for the return journey to your place of work and back. The calculation shall also take account of walking time, waiting time when changing means of transport and waiting time at your place of work unless you have flexible working hours. Walking time is defined as 15 minutes per km. Travel time by car is defined as one minute per km (60 km/h).

In principle, the deduction for home visits (see item 3.2.9) is calculated according to the same rules as those mentioned previously under this topic. The non-deductible amount of NOK 13,700 and the rule that road tolls and ferry expenses must exceed NOK 3,300 apply to home visits and travel between the home and workplace combined.

The difference between travel to/from work and job-related travel

It is important to distinguish between travel to/from work and job-related travel, since these types of travel are treated differently for tax purposes.

For travel to/from work, the deduction is calculated as shown above. Travel expenses to/from work that are covered by your employer are deemed to be taxable income (coverage of private expenses).

If the journey is regarded as work-related, you can claim a deduction for the actual costs. If you use your car for such travel, see «Cars».

You cannot claim a deduction for job-related travel expenses on top of the minimum standard deduction. If you are not claiming the minimum standard deduction, you should enter the deductible amount under item 3.2.2. Self-employed persons etc. enter such deductions in their accounts. Your employer’s coverage of deductible expenses for job-related travel is not taxable income.

What is travel to/from work and what is job related travel?

Main rules:

Travel to/from work includes:

travel between your home and your permanent place of work
travel between permanent places of work.

Job-related travel includes:

travel between your home and a non-permanent place of work
travel between a permanent place of work and a non-permanent place of work
travel between non-permanent places of work.

Exception:

Even if the journey is travel to/from work according to the main rule, the following types of travel shall nevertheless be reckoned as job-related travel:

travel when you are required to live away from home on account of your work (does not apply to travel for the purpose of home visits)
travel to a place where you work for a maximum of 10 days during the income year
travel between the home and permanent place of work in order to embark on an onward journey classified as job-related travel (only applies if you stay in the place of work for a short time and do not carry out any ordinary work while there – the same applies to the return journey)
travel where your work requires you to regularly transport work equipment by car
travel from the place where you are staying to your permanent place of work when summoned to perform necessary work outside normal working hours
travel between your permanent place of work and a rendezvous point from which your employer organises further transport to an offshore facility, vessel or another country
travel (additional travel) in excess of the distance between your home and permanent place of work when travelling to a permanent place of work via a non-permanent place of work
travel (additional travel) in excess of the distance between your permanent places of work when travelling to permanent places of work via a non-permanent place of work.

By «home» is meant your main residence, commuter accommodation or other overnight accommodation used during periods of work entailing stays way from home.

What is regarded as a permanent/non-permanent place of work?

If you work in one place only in an employment relationship (as an employee/as a self-employed person or in connection with income-generating activities), that place is your permanent place of work. If, on the other hand, you have several places of work in connection with one employment relationship, your permanent place of work is the place where you carry out most of your work during the following two-month periods: January-February, March-April etc.

Example:

You have two places of work in the same employment relationship: Oslo and Bergen. Except for the period may-June, you spent most of your working hours/working days in Oslo. Thus, Bergen was your permanent place of work in May-June, while Oslo was your permanent place of work for the remaining months.

A place in which you work continuously for a period of more than two weeks (not necessarily calendar weeks) is regarded as your permanent place of work regardless of the two-month rule. If you are absent from work for up to three consecutive working days due to illness, holidays etc., these days are counted as working days under the two-week rule.

Example:

During the period January- February you worked for the same employer for five weeks in workplace A, 2 ½ consecutive weeks in workplace B and the rest of the time in workplace C.

Pursuant to the two-month rule, your permanent place of work was A, and, according to the two-week rule, it was B.

Your permanent place of work would be B, even if you worked one and a half weeks in February and one week in March, provided that the period of work was continuous.

If you have several workplaces during the course of a working day, you must spend more than half your working hours in one and the same place for it to be your permanent place of work according to the two-week rule.

The rendezvous point for being assigned work or preparing for work assignments is regarded as your permanent place of work if it remains the same for more than two consecutive weeks.

If you have so many places of work that none of them can be regarded as the place in which you normally work, you are regarded as not having a permanent place of work.

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Important forms

Forms it may be relevant to enclose with the tax return are listed below. Forms that are relevant to sole proprietorships only are described in RF-2003 «Start help for self-employed people etc.».

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Partner statement

Partners in enterprises assessed as partnerships (ANS, DA, KS etc.) receive form RF-1221 «Deltakerens oppgave over formue og inntekt i deltagerliknet selskap 2010» (Partner’s statement of own capital and income in enterprises assessed as partnerships 2010 – in Norwegian only) from the partnership. Check the information in RF-1233 and transfer it to the relevant items in RF-1221. If you are submitting your tax return online, you yourself must create a form RF-1221 as an attachment to the tax return and register the information provided in the partner statement. If you are submitting your tax return on paper, you must sign the RF-1221 and enclose it with your tax return.

RF-1059 «Aksjer og fondsandeler mv. 2010» (Shares and units in funds etc. 2010 – in Norwegian only)

Guidelines RF-1072 to the form.

RF-1070 «Renteinntekt til ekstra skattlegging 2010»(Interest income subject to extra tax 2010 – in Norwegian only)

This is a form that you can use if you submit your tax return online. Otherwise, corresponding help with calculation is available at skatteetaten.no. There is no separate form on paper.

RF-1084 «Avskrivning 2010» (Depreciation 2010 – in Norwegian only)

The guidelines are included in the form.

RF-1088 «Aksjer og egenkapitalbevis 2010» (Shares and equity certificates 2010 – in Norwegian only)

Guidelines RF-2033 to the form.

RF-1098 «Formue av næringseiendom 2010» (Capital value of commercial property 2010– in Norwegian only)

Guidelines RF-1099 to the form.

RF-1125 «Bruk av bil» (Car use – in Norwegian only)

Guidelines are available on the reverse side of the form.

RF-1141 «Gevinst og tap på aksjer og andeler ved utflytting 2010» (Gains and losses on shares and units on moving from Norway 2010 – in Norwegian only).

Guidelines RF-1280 to the form.

RF-1147E «Deduction for tax paid abroad by a person (credit) 2010»

If you have income that is taxable abroad, and the tax treaty with the country in question applies the credit method to avoid double taxation, the income is also taxable in Norway. If you claim a deduction in Norwegian tax for tax paid abroad, you must submit form RF-1147. If you have business income that is taxed abroad, you must also submit form RF-1149.

RF-1150 «Nedsetting av inntektsskatt på lønn 2010» (Reduction in income tax on wages 2010 – in Norwegian only)

If you are claiming a reduction in tax on wage earnings pursuant to the alternative exemption model, you must submit form RF-1150. The guidelines are included in the form.

RF-1189E «Letting etc. of real property 2010»

Guidelines are available on the reverse side of the form.

RF-1219 «Gevinst- og tapskonto 2010» (Profit and loss account 2010 – in Norwegian only)

Guidelines RF-1210 to the form.

RF-1221 «Deltakerens oppgave over formue og inntekt i deltakerliknet selskap 2010.» (Partner’s statement of capital and income in enterprises assessed as partnerships 2010 – in Norwegian only)

Guidelines RF-1222 to the form.

RF-1231E «Deposits in foreign banks 2010»

The guidelines are included in the form.

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How much will your tax be?

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Index

The index refers to the item number in the tax return.

A
Abroad
- bank deposits	item 4.1.9
- capital (other)	item 4.6.2
- capital in real property	item 4.6.1
- debts	item 4.8.3
- gains on shares	item 3.1.10
- interest on bank deposits	item 3.1.11
- interest on debt	item 3.3.2
- income from real property	item 2.8.5
- pay	item 2.1.1
- other income	item 3.1.11
- share dividend	item 3.1.7
- shares, capital	item 4.6.2
Accounts-based tax assessment of houses	-see housing
Actual expenses in employment	item 3.2.2
Annuities
- disbursements items	2.2.2, 2.6.2
- surrender value	item 4.5.2
Life insurance	- see annuities and endowment insurance
Apartments	-see housing

B
Back payment of wages/pension	item 2.6.2
Bank deposits in Norway	(see also Abroad)
- capital	Item 4.1.1
- interest	item 3.1.1
Benefits derived from surrendered property
- in agriculture and forestry
deduction (income statement)
income	item 2.2.2.
- outside agriculture and forestry
deduction	item 3.3.3
income	item 2.6.2
Board and lodging
- extra expenses without overnight stay	item 3.2.2
- extra expenses, overnight stay	item 3.2.7
Boats
- sales value NOK 50,000 or more	item 4.2.4
- sales value under NOK 50,000	item 4.2.3
Bonds
- capital	items 4.1.7, 4.1.8
- gains	item 3.1.10
- interest	item 3.1.2
- losses	item 3.3.10
Bond funds
- capital	item 4.1.5
- dividend	item 3.1.2
- gain on sale	item 3.1.9
- loss on sale	item 3.3.9
Business income	item 2.7

C
Caravans
- capital	item 4.2.6
Care of children	- see childminders
Cars
- allowance	item 2.1.4
- benefit (company car)	item 2.1.1
- capital	item 4.2.5
- home visits	item 3.2.9
- travel to/from work	item 3.2.8
Cash etc	item 4.1.3
Child-care deduction	item 3.2.10
Child care in own home
- income	item 2.1.3
Childminders
- child-care deduction	item 3.2.10
- care in child's own home (income)	item 2.1.1
- care in childminder's home (income)	item 2.1.3
Children
- children's pension	items 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.6.3
- income from employment	item 2.4.1
- special income deduction for young people	item 3.3.7
Children’s day care centre in private home	item 2.1.3
Cohabitants	item 1.3
Commuters
- deduction for extra expenses for board and lodging	item 3.2.7
- expenses, home visits	item 3.2.9
- savings on household costs	item 2.1.4
- surplus from coverage of travel expenses	item 2.1.1
Craft and handicraft work	item 2.1.5
Currency gains	item 3.1.12

D
Debt
- debts abroad	item 4.8.3
- interest abroad	item 3.3.2
- debts in Norway	item 4.8.1
- interest in Norway	item 3.3.1
Deficit
- previous years' deficit to be carried forward	item 3.3.11
- the year’s deficit on letting of real property	item 3.3.12
Detached houses	- see housing
Diabetes	item 3.5.4
Director's fees	item 2.1.1
Disability benefit, temporary
- income	item 2.2.1
- special allowance	item 3.5.2
Disability pension
- income	item 2.2.1
- special allowance	item 3.5.2
- research	item 3.3.7

E
Early-retirement pension (AFP)	item 2.2.2
Employment-related options
- benefit from employer	item 2.1.1
- capital	item 4.1.8
Equity capital instruments	- see shares
Expense allowances
- deficit	items 3.2.2, 3.2.7
- surplus	item 2.1.4
Extra expenses
- business travel/work-related stays away from home	item 3.2.7

F
Fees	item 2.1.1
Fishermen
- pay	item 2.1.1
- special allowance for fishermen and hunters at sea	item 3.2.14
Flat in housing cooperative	- see housing

G
Gains/winnings
- sale of house, land etc.	item 2.8.4
- taxable lottery winnings etc	item 3.1.12
- tax-free lottery winnings etc.	item 1.5.2
Gifts/donations
- gifts from employer	item 2.1.1
- information about gifts received	item 1.5.3
- scientific research	item 3.3.7
- voluntary organisations etc.	item 3.3.7
Ground rent	items 4.5.4, 4.8.1

H
Holiday cabins	- see housing
Holiday homes	- see housing
Home contents/moveable property	item 4.2
Home visits	item 3.2.9
House moving allowance	item 2.1.4
Housing
- deficit on letting	item 3.3.12
- gain on sale etc.	item 2.8.4
- holiday homes
income	item 2.8.3
capital	item 4.3.3
- housing cooperatives
share of income	item 2.8.1
share of capital	item 4.5.3
share of costs	item 3.3.4
share of debt	item 4.8.2
share of tax value	item 4.3.1
- jointly owned properties
share of capital	item 4.5.3
share of costs	item 3.3.4
share of debt	item 4.8.2
share of income	item 2.8.1
- letting (rent)	item 2.8.2
- loss on sale etc.	item 3.3.6
- tax value of own home	item 4.3.2

I
Income from employment
- other income from employment	item 2.1.5
- pay	items 2.1.1, 2.4.1
- payments in kind	item 2.1.1
Individual pension agreements (IPA)
- capital	item 4.5.1
- income	item 2.2.2
Individual pension schemes (IPS)	item 3.3.5
Inheritance	item 1.5.3
Insurance	items 3.1.4, 3.3.7, 3.1.11,3.3.5, 4.5.2, 4.6.2
Interest
- abroad	item 3.1.11
- income	items 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3
- on debts in Norway	item 3.3.1
- on debts abroad	item 3.3.2
Introductory benefit	item 2.2.2

J
Joint ownership	- see housing

L
Loss on sale of houses, plots of land etc.	item 3.3.6
Lottery and betting winnings
- taxable	item 3.1.12
- tax-free	item 1.5.2
Low-interest loans
- income	item 2.1.1
- deduction	item 3.3.1
- debts	item 4.8.1

M
Maintenance payments (from/to former spouse)
- deduction	item 3.3.3
- income	item 2.6.1
Maternity benefit	item 2.1.1
Minimum standard deduction	items 3.2.1, 3.2.4, 3.2.5,
Motor vehicles	item 4.2.5

N
Nuisance bonus	item 2.1.4

O
Occupational pensions
- deduction for premium	item 3.2.12
- disbursed	item 2.2.2
Old-age pension
- pension	item 2.2.1
- special allowance	item 3.5.2
Outstanding claims
- capital	item 4.1.6
- interest	item 3.1.2

P
Pay	- see income from employment
Payments in kind	item 2.1.1
- Commercial property	item 4.3.5
Pensions
- paid in arrears	item 2.2
- payment from the National Insurance	item 2.2.1
- payment from others	item 2.2.2
- pension supplement for spouse	item 2.2.4
- premium for pension scheme	item 3.2.12
- special allowance	item 3.5
Periods of work entailing stays away from home	item 3.2.7
Pleasure boat
- capital	items 4.2.3, 4.2.4
Plots of land
- capital	item 4.3.5
- gains	item 2.8.4
- losses	item 3.3.6
Premium fund (IPA)	item 4.5.1

Q
Qualification benefit	item 2.1.1

R
Real property	- see housing
Rehabilitation benefit	item 2.1.1

S
Sale of houses, plots of land etc.
- gains	item 2.8.4
- losses	item 3.3.6
Seafarers
- income	item 2.1.2
- seafarers' allowance	item 3.2.13
Securities	see shares and bonds
Shares
- capital	items 4.1.7, 4.1.8
- dividend	items 3.1.5, 3.1.7
- gain on sale etc.	items 3.1.8, 3.1.10
gain on moving from Norway	item 3.1.12
- loss on sale etc.	items 3.3.8, 3.3.10
loss on moving from Norway	item 3.3.7
Sickness benefit	items 2.1.1, 2.7.13
Sickness expenses	item 3.5.4
Single parents
- child-care deduction	item 3.2.10
Special allowances
- age	item 3.5.1
- disability	item 3.5.2
- major sickness expenses	item 3.5.4
- slightly impaired earning capacity	item 3.5.3
Special deduction from income	item 3.3.7
Subsistence allowance	item 2.1.4
Supplementary benefit for spouse	item 2.2.4
Supplementary benefits	item 2.2.2
Surplus on expense allowances	item 2.2.4
Surrender value
- life insurance	item 4.5.2
Surviving spouse's pension	item 2.2.1

T
Tax value	item 4.3
Telephone (electronic communication)	see Payments in kind
Temporary disability benefit
- income	item 2.1.1
- special allowance	item 3.5.2
Tools allowance
- surplus	item 2.1.4
Trade union dues	item 3.2.11
Transitional benefit	item 2.2.1
Travel
- home visits	item 3.2.9
- travel to/from work	item 3.2.8
- work-related travel	item 3.2.2
Travel allowance	item 2.1.4
Travel to/from work	item 3.2.8

U
Unemployment
- unemployment benefit	item 2.1.1
Unit-linked insurance
- capital	item 4.5.2
- gain on disbursement	item 3.1.4
- loss on disbursement	item 3.3.7
Unit trusts
- capital	item 4.1.4
- dividend	item 3.1.6
- gain on sale	item 3.1.9
- loss on sale	item 3.3.9

W
Work assessment allowance	item 2.1.1
Work clothing allowance	item 2.1.4

Y
Young people's housing
- savings (BSU)	item 1.5.1

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Rates

Wealth tax

Municipality, single person	NOK 0 – NOK 700,000	0%
	over NOK 700,000	0.7%
Municipality, married couple	NOK 0 – NOK 1,400,000	0%
	over NOK 1,400,000	0.7%
State, single person	NOK 0 – NOK 700,000	0%
	over NOK 700,000	0.4%
State, married couple	NOK 0 – NOK 1,400,000	0%
	over NOK 1,400,000	0.4%

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National Insurance contributions

Income from employment	7.8%
Childminders	7.8%
Business income in agriculture, forestry and fishing	7.8%
Other business income	11%
Pension income etc.	3.0%
The National Insurance contribution is 3% for persons born in 1994 or later and 1940 or earlier, regardless of the type of income.
However, the National Insurance contribution shall not exceed 25% of income in excess of NOK 39,600.

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Surtax

Tax classes 1 and 2:

9% of amounts from and including NOK 456,401 up to and including NOK 741,700.

For taxpayers in Finnmark and Nord-Troms, the rate is 7%

12% of amounts over NOK 741,700.

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Tax on net income

(general income minus any special allowances, see item 3.5 and the personal allowance)

28%. For taxpayers in Finnmark and Nord-Troms, the rate is 24.5%.

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Maximum marginal tax rates

The maximum marginal tax rate on pay and personal income from agriculture, forestry and fishing is 47.8%.

The maximum marginal tax rate on income from other business activity is 51%.

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Personal allowance relating to general income

The deduction is granted automatically in connection with the tax assessment
(not to be entered in the tax return).

Tax class 1	NOK 42,210
Tax class 2	NOK 84,420

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Special allowance relating to general income in Finnmark and Nord-Troms

The deduction is granted automatically in connection with the tax assessment (not to be entered in the tax return)

Tax class 1	NOK 15,000
Tax class 2	NOK 30,000

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Young people’s housing savings (BSU)(under 34 years of age)

Tax deduction rate	20%
Maximum annual savings amount	NOK 20,000
Maximum total savings amount	NOK 150,000

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Se også

Topics

Levering av selvangivelsen etter fristen

Alt om

Folkeregistrering

Bibliotek

Guidelines to the individual items 2010

Tips en venn

Del artikkelen

Some new rules

Housing - capital

Holiday homes - capital

Leasehold land

Donations to foreign voluntary organisations

The term «the amount must be entered under item»

Information for foreign employees staying in Norway at skatteetaten.no

Guidelines:

Brochures:

1.3 Cohabitants

1.5 Other information

1.5.1 Young people’s housing saving (BSU) scheme

1.5.2 Lottery and betting winnings etc.

1.5.3 Inheritance and gifts

1.5.6 Income, capital and/or debts abroad

2.1 Pay and equivalent benefits

2.1.1 Pay etc.

2.1.2 Income entitling to a seafarers’ allowance

2.1.3 Income for child care in the childminder’s own home

2.1.4 Surpluses from expense allowances

2.1.5 Other income from work

2.2 Pensions, employment-related annuities etc.

2.2.1 Own pension from the National Insurance scheme

2.2.2 Own pension etc. from a pension scheme other than the National Insurance scheme

2.2.4 Supplementary benefit for spouse

2.4 Children’s income from employment

2.4.1 Children aged 12 years or younger

2.6 Maintenance, annuities, children’s pensions etc.

2.6.1 Taxable maintenance payments received

2.6.2 Other income

2.6.3 Children’s pension

2.7 Business income/ income from self-employment

To submit the tax return on paper:

How to submit the tax return online via altinn.no:

2.8 Income from housing and other real property

2.8.1 The owner of a unit in a housing cooperative/jointly-owned housing property’s share of income

2.8.2 Net income from the letting of real property outside the context of a business

2.8.3 Taxable income from holiday homes

2.8.4 Taxable gains on the realisation (sale etc.) of housing, land and other real property

2.8.5 Income from real property abroad

3.1 Capital income and other income

3.1.1 Interest income on bank deposits etc.

3.1.2 Other interest income

3.1.3 Interest on loans to companies that is subject to extra tax (RF-1070)

3.1.4 Yield from endowment insurance

3.1.5 Taxable share dividend etc. (RF-1088)

3.1.6 Taxable yield from units in unit trusts

3.1.7 Taxable dividend not declared under items 3.1.5 or 3.1.6

Other taxable share dividend etc. (RF-1059)

Other taxable share dividend etc. (for which no form RF-1088 or RF-1059 is to be submitted)

3.1.8 Taxable gains on the sale of shares etc. (RF-1088)

3.1.9 Taxable gains on the sale of units in securities funds

3.1.10 Taxable gains on the sale of shares etc. (RF-1059)

3.1.11 Income from abroad

3.1.12 Other income

Deduction items

3.2 Deductions from income from employment etc.

3.2.1 Minimum standard deduction from own income

3.2.2 Actual expenses

3.2.4 Minimum standard deduction from supplementary benefit for spouse

3.2.5 Minimum standard deduction from children’s income

3.2.6 Minimum standard deduction from children’s pension

3.2.7 Extra expenses for board and lodging etc. in connection with stays away from home

Extra subsistence expenses

Deduction rates – Norway

Deduction rates – abroad

Number of days absent from the home

Extra subsistence expenses in connection with home visits

Extra accommodation expenses

Real home in another EEA member state

Deficits on expense allowances for board and/or lodging

3.2.8 Deduction for travel between the home and permanent workplace (travel to/from work)

3.2.9 Deduction for travel expenses for home visits

3.2.10 Deduction for child-care expenses (child-care deduction)