Salary and Tax in Sweden: Useful Sentences
Full sentences that explain Swedish payslips, overtime and holiday pay, and how the yearly tax return works.
These sentences explain the system behind the payslip: gross and net, tax tables, overtime and supplements, holiday pay, pensions, and the yearly tax return from Skatteverket — refunds, extra tax and deadlines.
- 1
Jag har fått min första lön i Sverige!
I've had my first salary in Sweden!
Tip: Swedes 'get' a salary.
- 2
Lönen kommer in på kontot i slutet av månaden.
The salary comes into the account at the end of the month.
Tip: 'In the end of the month' = at the end.
- 3
På lönespecifikationen ser man både bruttolön och nettolön.
On the payslip you can see both gross and net pay.
Tip: 'Both ... and' works just like in English.
- 4
Bruttolönen är lönen före skatt.
Gross salary is the salary before tax.
Tip: 'Before' for time and order.
- 5
Nettolönen är det som faktiskt hamnar på kontot.
Net salary is what actually ends up in your account.
Tip: The verb means to end up, land.
- 6
Skattetabellen avgör hur mycket skatt som dras varje månad.
The tax table decides how much tax is taken each month.
Tip: An -s passive in the subclause: 'is drawn'.
- 7
Kommunalskatten skiljer sig lite mellan olika kommuner.
Municipal tax varies a little between municipalities.
Tip: A reflexive verb: 'separates itself' = differs.
- 8
Om man tjänar mycket betalar man också statlig skatt.
If you earn a lot, you also pay state tax.
Tip: The verb for earning is 'serve'. Inversion after the if-clause.
- 9
Jag fick en lönehöjning, men det märks knappt efter skatt.
I got a pay rise, but it's barely noticeable after tax.
Tip: An -s verb: 'it is noticed' = it's noticeable.
- 10
Vi har lönesamtal en gång om året.
We have a salary review once a year.
Tip: 'Once about the year' = once a year.
- 11
Jag förstår inte varför skatten är högre den här månaden.
I don't understand why the tax is higher this month.
Tip: 'Not' comes right after the verb in a main clause.
- 12
Hos oss betalas övertiden ut månaden efter.
Where I work, overtime is paid the month after.
Tip: An -s passive of the particle verb 'pay out'.
- 13
Man kan ofta ta ut övertiden som komp i stället för pengar.
You can often take overtime as time off instead of money.
Tip: The short word is everyday slang for time off in lieu.
- 14
Jag jobbar mycket kvällar och helger, så OB-tillägget gör stor skillnad.
I work a lot of evenings and weekends, so the supplement makes a big difference.
Tip: 'Makes big difference' — no article.
- 15
Hur semesterlönen räknas ut står ofta i kollektivavtalet.
How holiday pay is calculated is often set out in the collective agreement.
Tip: Passive particle verb: 'is counted out'. Text 'stands' in a document.
- 16
Som timanställd får man ofta semesterersättning i stället för betald semester.
If you're paid by the hour, you often get holiday compensation instead of paid holiday.
Tip: 'As hour-employed' — one word for being paid by the hour.
- 17
Min arbetsgivare betalar in till min tjänstepension varje månad.
My employer pays into my occupational pension every month.
Tip: 'Pay in to' = pay into.
- 18
Arbetsgivaren betalar också arbetsgivaravgifter utöver lönen.
The employer also pays employer contributions on top of the salary.
Tip: The preposition means 'on top of, beyond'.
- 19
Det är viktigt att kolla att allt stämmer på lönespecen.
It's important to check that everything on the payslip is right.
Tip: The colloquial short word for the payslip.
- 20
Om något är fel ska man kontakta löneavdelningen så snart som möjligt.
If something's wrong, you should contact payroll as soon as possible.
Tip: Inversion after the if-clause.
- 21
Jag har fått för mycket betalt och måste betala tillbaka.
I've been overpaid and have to pay it back.
Tip: 'Got too much paid' = been overpaid.
- 22
Jag har bytt bank, så jag måste meddela mitt nya kontonummer.
I've changed banks, so I have to give them my new account number.
Tip: No article needed after the verb for switching. Account number is an ett-word.
- 23
Har man två jobb är det extra viktigt att kolla skatten.
If you have two jobs, it's extra important to check your tax.
Tip: Starting with the verb makes an if-clause without 'if'.
- 24
Varje vår får man sin deklaration från Skatteverket.
Every spring you get your tax return from Skatteverket.
Tip: Time phrase first, so the verb comes second.
- 25
De flesta deklarerar digitalt med BankID.
Most people file their tax return digitally with BankID.
Tip: 'The most' = most people.
- 26
Om uppgifterna stämmer kan man bara godkänna deklarationen.
If the details are correct, you can just approve the tax return.
Tip: The noun means details, information. 'Just' = only.
- 27
Räntan på bolånet kan man dra av i deklarationen.
You can deduct the interest on your mortgage in your tax return.
Tip: 'Draw off' = deduct. The object comes first for emphasis.
- 28
Har man betalat in för mycket skatt får man pengar tillbaka.
If you've paid too much tax, you get money back.
Tip: Conditional inversion again: verb first means 'if'.
- 29
Har man betalat för lite skatt blir det kvarskatt.
If you've paid too little tax, you'll owe the rest.
Tip: 'It becomes' = there will be.
- 30
Om man inte deklarerar i tid kan man få betala en förseningsavgift.
If you don't file your tax return on time, you may have to pay a late fee.
Tip: 'In time' = on time. 'Get to pay' = have to pay.
- 31
Man kan ansöka om jämkning om man vet att man får stora avdrag.
You can apply to have your tax adjusted if you know you'll have large deductions.
Tip: The noun means adjusting your monthly tax in advance.