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Local Norway
26-06-2025
- Business
- Local Norway
'Outrageous pork': What's in Norway Conservatives' bumper tax pledge?
The party has so far made three big promises to cut taxes for ordinary workers, and two big promises to cut taxes for businesses, with the total package adding up to close to 60 billion kroner (€5bn) in reduced taxes. The party is claiming that this will put an extra 24,000 kroner in the pockets of a typical couple or family in Norway. That is enough to pay for an extra holiday or an (admittedly very beaten-up) second-hand car. Advertisement Here are the main personal tax cuts on offer: New tax rebate on earned income: The party on Tuesday announced plans to bring in a 1,000 kroner tax rebate on the monthly salaries of everyone who is in work in Norway. 150,000 kroner threshold for income tax : The party also pledged to change income tax rules so that the first 150,000 kroner of salary earned is tax free. A higher threshold for wealth tax overall. The party also wants to raise the threshold for paying wealth tax above the current level of 1.7 million kroner per individual. The party estimates that the cuts in taxes on individuals add up to 36.5 billion kroner. Advertisement Here are the main tax cuts for businesses and their owners: Repeal of stricter 2024 exit tax rules . Under the proposed changes, foreigners will only be taxed on Norwegian-earned capital gains once they are realised, not automatically upon leaving the country. Abolish wealth tax on "working capital" : The party wants to stop including assets essential for companies or self-employed people to operate, such as machinery, tools, and computers, in wealth taxation calculations. Lower the tax on salmon farms and other aquatic businesses . This may not mean much to most foreigners, but the party is promising to lower and simplify the so-called havbruksskatten, or "sea-use tax", which is mainly levied on salmon farms. The party estimates that the cuts in taxes for businesses add up to 21 billion kroner. Will a typical taxpayer be better off overall? That depends. The tax cut pledge is suspiciously short on details. The Conservatives have not said when the cuts will come into force, meaning they might be planning to bring them in gradually, meeting the promised levels only in the final year of the next parliamentary term. They have also not detailed how they will be paid for. The ruling Labour party is,as a result, arguing that the promised tax cuts will have to be paid for by corresponding cuts to benefits, meaning citizens may find that at least some of the gains they make end up being spent on, for example, higher kindergarten fees.
Local Norway
11-06-2025
- Business
- Local Norway
KEY POINTS: How Norwegian parties' election pledges could affect foreigners
CONSERVATIVE PARTY Economy and Taxation If it wins, The Conservative Party is pledging a broad tax-cutting agenda: Income tax reductions for all Abolish wealth tax on "working capital", and a higher threshold for wealth tax over all. Repeal of stricter 2024 exit tax rules. Under the proposed changes, foreigners will only be taxed on Norwegian-earned capital gains once realised - not upon leaving the country. Work permits and Labour Migration The Conservative Party is positive towards skilled labour migration and is promising: A fast-track permit scheme for highly skilled workers, modelled on Denmark' recognition of foreign qualifications and the potential for a joint Nordic recognition scheme. Allowing skilled workers to get permits even without formal qualifications. Citizenship, residency and family reunification The party takes a tougher line on foreigners who want to stay in Norway, pledging: An increase the minimum level of spoken Norwegian required for citizenship from B1 to B2. Applicants will be ineligible for citizenship if they have debts to the public sector, have missed tax payments, or have been required to repay public benefits. Dual citizens could lose Norwegian citizenship if found guilty of serious crimes. Permanent residence will require four years of financial self-sufficiency, no public debt, and verified ID. Tighter rules for family reunion, with a requirement that relatives who come to Norway need learn Norwegian and that their relatives in Norway show they are able to support them Advertisement Labour Party Economy and taxation While the other two big parties want to cut tax, the Labour Party is pledging to keep tax levels the same while expanding the state involvement in the economy. It is pledging: Keep the combined taxes and fees paid by people and companies in Norway at the same level as today. Tighten regulations on the marketing consumer loans and credit cards, unreasonably high interest rates on consumer loans and 262 limiting earnings from debt collection Work permits and Labour Migration The Labour Party wants to help foreigners in Norway find work by: Faster skills assessment for newly arrived immigrants, including those without documentation, to be carried out by the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) Expanded language training, including better access for migrant workers and their families. Improved NAV procedures to help immigrants find work faster. Make Norway "a more attractive country for international researchers and students". Citizenship, residency and family reunion Labour has only modest plans for this area, pledging: A review of citizenship regulations, including the rules for and practice of revoking citizenship. Shorter waitinng times for family reunification application Work to reduce the processing time and waiting time for applications for family reunification Stronger self-sufficiency requirements for sponsoring family members. Introduction of an "integration contract" obligating both parties to complete language and cultural training, with penalties for non-compliance. Advertisement PROGRESS PARTY Economy and taxation The Progress Party is fighting this election on a promise of aggressive tax cuts: Reduced tax rates for all income groups. Abolish Norway's wealth tax (currently 1.1 percent on any assets above a threshold of 1.7 million kroner) Cut VAT on food from 15 percent to 7.5 percent Abolish property tax ( eiendomsskatt ). This is currently levied by municipalities and can be up to 0.4 percent of the taxable value of the property. Cap electricity prices at 50 øre per kWh . Slash road taxes, fuel taxes, and abolish road tolls. Citizenship and Permanent Residency While the Progress Party is not campaigning on an anti-immigration platform, its policies remain the most radical on citizenship, permanent residency and immigration. The Progress Party is proposing the most far-reaching changes to citizenship and residency requirements, pledging to: Extend the required residency period to gain citizenship to 10 years (currently 7). It will be five years for spouses of Norwegians. Raise the bar for permanent residence to 8 years (currently 5). Impose tougher language and self-sufficiency tests. Require new citizens to swear allegiance at a mandatory ceremony. Strip dual citizens of citizenship if convicted of terrorism, gang crime or other serious offences. Immigration and integration Asylum centers to be established in Africa and Asia, with asylum seekers sent out while their cases are processed. A package "of significantly greater value", to incentivise immigrants to return to their countries of origin Conditional unemployment benefits tied to completion of language, civics, and job-training courses Language test for four-year-olds to target early intervention in immigrant-heavy areas. Moratorium on refugee resettlement in areas where non-Western immigrants exceed 15 percent of the population. Refugees only allowed to settle in municipalities with proven quality services and job markets. Mandatory deportation of any foreigner sentenced to more than 3 months' prison. Ban on religious garments in public authority roles, hijabs in primary schools, and face coverings in public spaces and schools. End free legal aid for immigration cases.
