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Taxes and Accounting in Finland
Overview by Globlatrade.net: Accounting Rules
- Tax Year
- From January 1st to December 31st
- Accounting Standards
- The Finnish Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) is a commonly used accounting standard in Finland. Companies that are quoted in the stock-exchange have to use the IAS/IFRS standards (EU obligation since 2005).
- Accounting Regulation Bodies
- The European Federation of Accountants
Chamber of Commerce
- Accounting Reports
- The accounting report is made annually. In the report intangible assets can be shown in the balance sheet or in expenses in the profit and loss account (choice of the company). Physical fixed assets must be estimated at the original or production cost. Current assets have to appear at the lower cost and value of the market. Stocks are estimated at the weighed average cost or by the FIFO method.
- Publication Requirements
- Law refers to the notion of "good accounting method" as regards the methods of companies for the elaboration of financial status. All companies have to send a copy of their annual report to the legal authorities of the country. This annual report must contain a profit and loss account, a balance sheet and an annual report.
- Professional Accountancy Bodies
- KHT-yhdistys ry , The Finnish Institute of Authorised Public Accountants
HTM-tilintarkastajat ry , Association of Accountants (in Finnish only)
Association of Finnish Accounting Firms , Association of Finnish Accounting Firms
- Certification and Auditing
- Companies have to seek a statutory auditor to conduct an annual audit of the financial health of their organization. You can contact the Central Chamber of Commerce and Local Chambers of Commerce.
- Accounting News
- Accounting news (in Finnish only)
Tax Rates
Consumption Taxes
- Nature of the Tax
- Value Added Tax (VAT)
- Tax Rate
- 23%
- Reduced Tax Rate
- A 13% rate applies to basic foodstuff and animal feed. The excise duty on alcoholic beverages is 12%.
A 9% rate applies to passenger transport, books, medicines, accommodation services and entry fees to cultural events. - Other Consumption Taxes
- Exceptions include the sale or rental of immovable property, financial and insurance services, healthcare and education.
Corporate Taxes
- Company Tax
- 26%
- Tax Rate For Foreign Companies
- Finnish companies are taxed on their worldwide income; non-resident companies are taxed only on income sourced in Finland.
- Capital Gains Taxation
- In 2010, the tax rate on capital gains is 28%.
- Main Allowable Deductions and Tax Credit
- Deductions normally include expenses that are incurred to generate or retain the company’s income such as payments of interest and royalties, realized foreign-exchange losses, 50% of entertainment costs, irrevocable orders to buy goods, doubtful sales receivables, fees for establishing an organization and reorganization costs, R&D expenses, etc.
- Other Corporate Taxes
- None
Individual Taxes
Tax Rate
| State income tax | Progressive rates from 8.5% up to 31.5% on revenues over EUR 62 001. |
| Municipal tax | from 16.5% to 21% |
| Church tax | from 1% to 2% (depending on regions) |
- Allowable Deductions and Tax Credit
- The following deductions are allowable:
- expenses incurred in excess of EUR500 for traveling to and from work;
- statutory pension insurance and unemployment insurance premiums;
- interest on a loan if the loan was used to buy a permanent home or property that is used to acquire income;
- capital losses;
- medical expenses and alimony are not deductible, but there is a deductible maintenance allowance of EUR80 per child from earned income for each child living with a former spouse. - Special Expatriate Tax Regime
- at a flat rate of 35% if that person’s regular monthly cash salary exceeds EUR5,800 (except for teachers and researchers) for 48 months. The application has to be filed within 90 days from the start of the work in Finland.
Double Taxation Treaties
- Countries With Whom a Double Taxation Treaty Have Been Signed
- See the list of Finland's tax treaties
- Withholding Taxes
- Dividends: 28%, Interest: 0%, Royalties: 28%
Sources of Fiscal Information
- Tax Authorities
- National Board of Taxes
- Other Domestic Resources
- Employment Office guide on taxation of foreigners
Taxation Guide from the Ministry of Finance
Intellectual Property
- National Organizations
- Ministry of Education and Culture
National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland (NBPR) - Regional Organizations
- European Patent Office
- International Membership
- Member of the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization)
Signatory to the Paris Convention For the Protection of Intellectual Property
Membership to the TRIPS agreement - Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
National Regulation and International Agreements
| Type of property and law | Validity | International Agreements Signed |
| Patent Patents act | 20 years | Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Strasbourg agreement Concerning the International Patent Classification |
| Trademark Trademarks act | 10 years | Trademark law treaty Nice agreement Protocol relating to the Madrid Agreement |
| Design Registered designs act | 5 years, renewable | |
| Copyright Copyright act | Berne convention Convention for the Protection of Producers of Phonograms Against Unauthorized Duplication of Their Phonograms Rome ConventionFor the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations WIPO Copyright Treaty WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty | |
| Industrial Models Act on utility model rights | 4 years, renewable (maximum 10 years total) |
Legal Framework
- Independence of Justice
- Yes
- Equal Treatment of Nationals and Foreigners
- Yes
- The Language of Justice
- Finnish and Swedish
- Recourse to an Interpreter
- In connection with certain matters involving the fundamental rights of an individual, such as taking a child into custody, the party concerned is, according to the Language Act, always entitled to use his or her own language regardless of the language of the municipality. If necessary, interpreters can be used.
- Sources of the Law and Legal Similarities
- Finland has a parliamentary system. The main source of the law is the constitution of March 2000. The legal system is based on civil law system which originates from the Swedish law. European Community law is directly applicable and takes precedence over national legislation. The country accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, but with reservations.
- Checking National Laws Online
- Constitution of Finland
Legislation in Finland
Standards
- National Standards Organizations
- Finnish Standards Association (SFS)
- Integration in the International Standards Network
- The Finnish Standards Association SFS and its standards-writing bodies, the Finnish Electrotechnical Standards Association and Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority are members of the European standards organizations CEN, CENELEC and ETSI. SFS is also a member of the International Organization ISO and IEC.
- Classification of Standards
- SFS (or SFS-EN) + 4 or more digits showing the technical area and the rank in the division.
- Online Consultation of Standards
- National SFS Standards are sold in Finland only by SFS. Distribution of SFS standards abroad is handled by national ISO member bodies. SFS standards can be viewed in the Catalogue of SFS Standards or downloaded from the online shop of SFS.
- Certification Organizations
- Finnish Standards Association (SFS)
Business Practices
- General Information
- A guide to Finnish customs and manners by Virtual Finland
Finnish business culture as seen by the Kwintessential website
Finnish business culture as seen by the Executiveplanet website
- Opening Hours and Days
- Offices are closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Public Holidays
| New Year’s Day | January 1 |
| Epiphany | January 6 |
| Good Friday | End of March or April, changes according to the year |
| Easter | Sunday and Monday following the Good Friday |
| May Day | May 1 |
| Ascension Day | May, changes according to the year |
| Whitsun | May, changes according to the year |
| Mid-Summer Day | End of June, changes according to the year |
| All Saints’ Day | End of October or beginning of November, changes according to the year |
| Independence Day | December 6 |
| Christmas Eve and Day | December 24-25 |
| Boxing Day | December 26 |
Periods When Companies Usually Close
| Christmas | One week between Christmas and New Year |
| Summer holidays | 1-4 weeks starting from Midsummer (around June 24) |
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Experts Views (1)
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With 27 EU Member States, each with their own VAT legislation to consider, VAT can be a time consuming and confusing task for international business.
Accordance on 24 Jan 2012 related to Taxes and Accounting in Finland
