COMPANY ESTABLISHMENT
Before undertaking business activities in Sweden, it is necessary to choose the appropriate legal form. The chosen company structure affects all aspects of the business, including taxation, accounting, reporting obligations, and liability. Selecting the correct legal form is therefore a strategic decision for any investor. Sweden offers a transparent and largely digital company registration process, and the government has significantly simplified business establishment procedures in recent years through centralized online platforms such as Verksamt.se.
Swedish business law does not rely on a single Commercial Code. Instead, several Acts regulate different legal forms. The most common forms of business entities in Sweden include sole proprietorships (enskild näringsverksamhet), trading partnerships (handelsbolag), limited partnerships (kommanditbolag), limited companies (aktiebolag), and branches of foreign companies (filial).
For foreign investors, the limited company (aktiebolag) and branch (filial) remain the most commonly used structures.
Non‑EU/EEA citizens who intend to start or run their own business in Sweden for more than three months must apply for a residence permit for self‑employed persons. A standard work permit is not sufficient for this purpose.
Applications are handled by the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) and must usually be submitted from outside Sweden before entry. Applicants must demonstrate relevant business experience, ownership of at least 50% of the company, sufficient personal funds, and a viable business plan capable of supporting the applicant after a two‑year probationary period.
Foreign nationals in Sweden can act as sole proprietors. The sole ownership in Sweden doesn’t require a minimum share capital, and it is the basic form of business in Sweden. The founder is taking all the decisions necessary for the good function of the entity and can use the profits after submitting the personal tax income declaration to the tax authorities.
TAXATION
Corporate income in Sweden is generally taxed at a flat rate of 20.6%. This rate applies equally to Swedish companies and to foreign companies with a permanent establishment (PE) in Sweden.
Foreign companies without a permanent establishment are taxed only on Swedish‑sourced income as defined by tax law and applicable tax treaties.
Swedish tax residents are taxed on worldwide income and pay a municipal income tax averaging approximately 32%, plus national income tax of 20% on annual taxable income exceeding SEK 643,000 (2026 threshold).
Non‑residents working in Sweden generally fall under the SINK regime, which applies a flat withholding tax of 22.5% in 2026, with no deductions. The SINK rate is scheduled to decrease further to 20% from 1 January 2027.
The standard VAT rate in Sweden remains 25%.
From 1 April 2026 until 31 December 2027, VAT on most food and non‑alcoholic beverages sold in shops or as takeaway is temporarily reduced from 12% to 6%.
Passenger transport is generally subject to 6% VAT. Healthcare, financial services, and certain cultural activities are VAT‑exempt. Exported goods are zero‑rated.
Foreign companies providing taxable services to Swedish clients may be required to register for Swedish VAT or apply reverse‑charge rules depending on the service type.
ACCOUNTING
Legal context
Accounting legislation in Sweden consists of mandatory accounting acts – the Annual Accounts Act of 1995 (årsredovisningslagen) and the Book-keeping Act of 1999 (bokföringslagen) being the most important. Both the Annual Accounts Act and the Book-keeping Act are general frameworks for accounting and both Acts refer to “generally accepted accounting principles”.
The Annual Accounts Act is based on an EU Directive. Credit institutions, brokerages and dealers in securities, and insurance companies, are covered by two specific accounting acts.
Setting standards
The Swedish Accounting Standards Board’s (BFN) main objective is to promote, in Sweden, the development of generally accepted accounting principles in terms of the current recording of transactions and the preparation of annual financial statements.
It issues general guidelines and information on accounting matters and practices. These general guidelines set out what constitutes “generally accepted accounting principles” in Sweden. The Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finansinspektionen) is responsible for issuing standards required for financial companies.
Generally accepted accounting principles
“Generally accepted accounting principles” means conducting book-keeping in accordance with prevailing laws on the field and in line with accepted practice and in compliance with BFN’s general guidelines.
The rules of the Book-keeping Act regarding the current recording of transactions, supporting vouchers and archiving apply to all entities required to maintain accounting records. All companies that conduct business activity are required to maintain accounting records. In addition, all limited companies, partnerships and co-operatives, as well as certain foundations and non-profit associations, are always required to maintain accounting records even if they do not conduct business activity.
Rules on simplified annual accounts (förenklat årsbokslut) can be found in the Book-keeping Act. Rules on annual financial statements (årsbokslut) can be found in the Book-keeping Act and the Annual Accounts Act. Rules on annual reports (årsredovisning) can be found in the Annual Accounts Act.
As of 1 July 2024, Swedish companies may store accounting material entirely in digital format. Paper originals may be destroyed once securely digitized, provided the digital records meet durability and accessibility requirements. This change significantly reduces administrative burdens for companies operating in Sweden.
Where to find the rules
BFN’s guides, statements and general guidelines can be found under Redovisningsregler. The Book-keeping Act and Annual Accounts Act are also provided there. (In Swedish only).
EMPLOYMENT
The regulation of employment in Swedish is governed by the Labor Code , Lagen om anställningsskydd (LAS) applies only for employees and are not applicable for executives. Swedish labor laws apply to foreign nationals and foreign businesses in Sweden in the same manner as to domestic entities. All regulations related to minimum guarantees, employment benefits and compensation supersedes any agreement between the employer and employee. The employee-sided nature of Swedish labor legislation makes employment in Sweden complex.
The Employment Protection Act (LAS) applies to most employees in Sweden but does not apply to managing directors and certain senior executives. LAS has undergone significant reform, with current rules focusing on “factual reasons” for termination and expanded employer flexibility in redundancy situations.
Expats are liable to pay resident Swedish taxes and social charges only if they stay in the country at least 183 days during a calendar year. Your employer will typically arrange for your registration with the Swedish tax office and secure your social security number. Self-employed workers will need to arrange their tax registration and Swedish social security number themselves. Swedish social security payments are deducted from your gross salary by the employer.
In the condition of an employer-terminated agreement as a result of redundancy or liquidation, the rules are stipulated in LAS .
Termination of the employment agreement by the employee may be carried out by providing a notice according to LAS, the notice should be in written , LAS cannot be overridden by contractual terms.
The Highly Qualified Specialist (HQS) program was introduced in 2001 and allows companies in Sweden to employ foreign national workers with various benefits including a simplified application process and exemption from quotas.
PAYROLL & TAX
There are specific rules for payroll and taxation in Sweden, depending on whether foreign national or Swedish residents are employed. The primary concerns for a foreign company that needs to comply with tax laws in Sweden: Individual income tax (IIT) for employees in Sweden, social security costs, payroll tax, sales tax, and withholding tax.
Your Payroll Options in Sweden:
Remote Payroll
A remote payroll in Sweden is where a foreign company, i.e. a non-resident company, payrolls a resident employee in Sweden. The only option for a non-resident company to payroll its employees (both local and foreign) in Sweden is to use fully outsourced services like a ”HUB” which will employ and payroll the staff on their behalf.
Local Payroll Administration
In some cases, a company will register their business in Sweden under one of the forms available, (ole trader, trading partnership, limited company, economic association) but prefer to have another company administer its payroll. This can be accomplished through a payroll provider. It is important to note that the company, as the Employer of Record, is still fully responsible for compliance with employment, immigration, tax and payroll regulations. But the payroll calculations, payments and filings can all be outsourced to the payroll provider.
Internal Payroll
Larger companies with a commitment to Sweden may wish to run their own local payroll for all employees, foreign and local. In order to accomplish this, they will have to complete incorporation, register the business and then hire the necessary staff. There will be a need for in country human resources personnel who have the background needed to manage a Swedish payroll, and can fulfill all tax, withholding, and payroll requirements.
This approach carries significant cost and requires some knowledge of local employment and payroll regulations. The company will need a local accounting firm and potentially legal counsel to ensure full compliance with Swedish employment laws.
Fully Outsourced Payroll & Employment
Companies can outsource the employment and payroll of their staff in Sweden to a ”HUB”.This is possible for both foreign workers and Swedish nationals. This is the easiest, fastest and safest way to payroll staff in Sweden.
The HUB manages all aspects of payroll for workers in Sweden, including taxes, withholding, social security payments and other statutory requirements. The HUB becomes the Employer of Record and employs the staff on behalf of the client.Staff are paid monthly with tax and social security deducted at source and paid to local authorities. The HUB will invoice the client monthly in advance of the payroll date. The invoice consists of the Total Cost of Employment (Base salary + Employers Statutory Contributions + Additional statutory contributions)
BEING AN EXPAT
Residence permit has to be applied before moving to Sweden. Ideally the applications are done via the website of “Migrationsverket”. However if the foreign national is already in Sweden and in need of a residency permit, it has to be applied at the office of “Migrationverket”.
Foreigners looking to reside in Sweden will have to brace themselves for a lengthy apartment-hunting. Expats are advised to seek out real estate agencies when looking for an apartment.
Sweden does not apply a strict 183‑day tax residency rule. Tax residency is determined based on habitual abode, permanent home, or essential ties to Sweden. In practice, continuous presence of approximately six months may trigger tax residency, often retroactively from the first day of stay.
The 183‑day rule primarily applies within tax treaty and SINK contexts for short‑term assignments and does not constitute a general residency safe harbor.
NEED ASSISTANCE?
Establishing and operating a business in Sweden involves navigating complex regulations covering taxation, accounting, employment, and payroll. Each company’s situation is unique, and expert local guidance can help ensure full compliance while supporting efficient and sustainable operations.
If you have any questions regarding company establishment, accounting, taxation, payroll, employment matters, or doing business in Sweden in general, Leinonen Sweden is ready to assist. Our experienced local team supports international and domestic businesses with practical, compliant, and tailored solutions throughout the entire business lifecycle.
