The Swedish National Debt Office has published the Governmental borrowing rate as of 30 November 2022, which amounts to 1.94%. This means an effective yield tax for life insurance policies of 0.88% for income year 2023.
Historical graph of the effective yield tax up to 2023
Click here to see a full-sized version of the graph
Since 1994, life insurance policies have been taxed at a standard rate by levying an annual yield tax. Since 2012, assets in investment savings accounts (ISK) has been taxed in a similar way through a standard levying of income tax.
For both forms of savings, assets are taxed as if they yield a presumed return each year corresponding to the Governmental borrowing rate (GBR) as of 30 November of the previous year. This standard presumed return is taxed with a capital income tax of 30%.
As of 1 January 2018, the calculation basis for taxation of both investment models is based on GBR + 1%. The lower threshold of 1.25% for calculating the tax, which was introduced from 1 January 2016 still applies.
On 24 November 2022, the GBR amounting to 1.94% for income year 2023 was published, which will form the basis for the taxation of life insurance policies and ISK.
Based on the GBR of 1.94%, the effective yield tax for life insurance policies amounts to 0.88% ((1.94% + 1%) x 30%) of the value of the life insurance policy as of 1 January 2023 + the full value of premiums paid up to and including 30 June 2023 and half the value of premiums paid between 1 July and 31 December 2023.
Due to the increased interest rates on a Swedish as well as global basis, the yield tax for income year 2023 has risen compared to the previous years. However, we believe that life insurance policies are still a very attractive investment vehicle for tax purposes, in comparison with, for example, investments made on a privately owned account. Taxation at a reasonable level, the added succession and portability planning opportunities and ease of administration, still makes life insurance policies a very attractive long-term investment tool for managing your assets.
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