2023-05-242022/23:SkU12 · p.3SkUTaxation
Capital taxation
Review of capital income taxation
What's at stake: At stake is whether differences in how various forms of capital income and wealth are taxed should be reviewed to reduce inequality, or whether the current system of capital taxation should remain unchanged for now, since changes affect many people's finances.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The reservation wanted to review capital taxation for greater consistency and tax large fortunes more heavily to counter growing inequality, while the committee held that changes in this area affect many people and should be made cautiously, without a directive to government now.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions, noting that changes in the area of capital taxation affect many people and should therefore be made cautiously and over time, and does not direct any statement to the government on the future direction of the work.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 7 (S, V)
The reserving parties (S, V) want a review of the taxation of capital incomes for greater consistency in capital taxation and heavier taxation of large fortunes, pointing out that inequality in Sweden has grown since the early 2000s and that many people with high capital incomes currently benefit from extensive exemptions.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 7 by S, V.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/18/0/6 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | No | No 0/93/0/14 | follows the plan | confidence: high | not addressed |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/13/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | Yes | Yes 21/0/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | Yes | Yes 11/0/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | Yes | Yes 14/0/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 59/0/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| SD | Yes | Yes 63/0/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2022/23:1029 by Johan Hultberg (M) claim 3, 2022/23:2138 by Niklas Karlsson et al. (S) claim 6 and 2022/23:2277 by Märta Stenevi et al. (MP) claim 13.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:1029 av Johan Hultberg (M) yrkande 3, 2022/23:2138 av Niklas Karlsson m.fl. (S) yrkande 6 och 2022/23:2277 av Märta Stenevi m.fl. (MP) yrkande 13.
Riksdag decision: Parliament directed a request, a so-called announcement (tillkännagivande), to the Government to clarify the law on investment savings accounts. An investment savings account is a savings form subject to imputed taxation, which means that the tax is not based on the actual return but on an annual tax calculated on the value of the assets in the account. Parliament considers that today there are limited opportunities for savers to transfer shares acquired in connection with a stock exchange listing or a new share issue directly into an investment savings account. According to current regulations, one must have one's investment savings account with the issuing institution that handles the stock exchange listing to receive one's shares directly. If one has one's investment savings account with another party, the shares must go via a securities account into the investment savings account. In such a transfer, the shares are thus considered to be sold for tax purposes, meaning any capital gains must be reported and capital losses deducted. The clarification means that holders of investment savings accounts shall be treated equally and thus be able to participate in more new share issues. The announcement came in connection with Parliament handling motions submitted during the general motion period 2022. Parliament said no to other motions on business, capital and property. Parliament considers, among other things, that work is already ongoing in the areas that the motions address.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants an exemption to be introduced so that Kommuninvest is not covered by the risk tax. (S, V) — Reservation 7
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan's tax line is that capital and the highest incomes shall be taxed harder, that taxes shall equalize income and wealth gaps and that million-pound inheritances, luxury villas and large capital gains shall be taxed.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's tax line is that capital and the highest incomes shall be taxed harder, that taxes shall equalize income and wealth gaps and that million-pound inheritances, luxury villas and large capital gains shall be taxed. The counter-proposal's requirement for increased consistency in capital taxation and stricter taxation of large fortunes is exactly this. The justification about growing gaps and extensive exemptions is found in the plan's own analysis.
Original (Swedish)
Planens skattelinje är att kapital och de högsta inkomsterna ska beskattas hårdare, att skatterna ska utjämna inkomst- och förmögenhetsklyftor och att mångmiljonarv, lyxvillor och stora aktievinster ska beskattas. Motförslagets krav på ökad enhetlighet i kapitalbeskattningen och hårdare beskattning av stora förmögenheter är exakt detta. Motiveringen om växande klyftor och omfattande undantag återfinns i planens egen analys.
- raised capital taxationdecisive»innebär en ökad beskattning av kapital och högre skatt på de högsta« (party programme ↗)“means increased taxation of capital and higher tax on the highest”
- tax on fortunes»Vi vill inte höja skatten för vanliga löntagare utan på mångmiljonarv, lyxvillor och stora aktievinster som man inte ens behöver jobba för.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We do not want to raise tax for ordinary wage-earners but on million-pound inheritances, luxury villas and large capital gains that you do not even need to work for.”
- tax shall equalize gaps»till att utjämna inkomst- och förmögenhetsklyftor, de ska motverka« (party programme ↗)“to equalize income and wealth gaps, they shall counteract”
- gradually raised tax take»är det genom en gradvis ökad beskattning som« (party programme ↗)“it is through gradually increased taxation that”
The plan establishes that taxes shall be progressive and levied according to ability to pay and that all incomes in principle shall be taxed alike, and it contains a commitment to a new tax aimed at the very richest.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that taxes shall be progressive and levied according to ability to pay and that all incomes in principle shall be taxed alike, and it contains a commitment to a new tax aimed at the very richest. A review of capital income taxation for greater uniformity and harder taxation of large fortunes thus points in the direction the plan supports. The plan is at the same time against a property tax, but that only limits the choice of instrument, not the direction. The plan supports the requirement.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att skatterna ska vara progressiva och tas ut efter bärkraft och att alla inkomster i princip ska beskattas lika, och den innehåller ett åtagande om en ny skatt riktad mot de allra rikaste. En översyn av kapitalinkomstbeskattningen för större enhetlighet och hårdare beskattning av stora förmögenheter ligger därmed i planens riktning. Planen är samtidigt emot en fastighetsskatt, men det begränsar bara instrumentvalet, inte inriktningen. Planen stöder kravet.
- tax according to ability to paydecisive»Skatterna ska vara progressiva och tas ut efter bärkraft« (party programme ↗)“Taxes shall be progressive and levied according to ability to pay”
- tax on the very richest»Vi vill införa en beredskapsskatt för de allra rikaste.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to introduce an emergency tax for the very richest.”
- uniform taxation»breda skattebaser och att alla förvärvsinkomster och ersättningar« (party programme ↗)“broad tax bases and that all earned income and compensation”
- no to property tax»Vi är emot införandet av en fastighetsskatt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We are against the introduction of a property tax.”
The election manifesto requires that those with most money contribute more through progressive taxation of capital, which is precisely the harder and more uniform capital taxation the counter-proposal demands.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires that those with most money contribute more through progressive taxation of capital, which is precisely the harder and more uniform capital taxation the counter-proposal demands. The party programme adds that economic policy shall strive for equality and that inequality shall decrease. The plan therefore supports the demand.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver att de med mest pengar bidrar mer genom en progressiv beskattning av kapital, vilket är just den hårdare och mer enhetliga kapitalbeskattning motförslaget efterlyser. Partiprogrammet lägger till att den ekonomiska politiken ska sträva efter jämlikhet och att klyftorna ska minska. Planen stöder därför kravet.
- progressive capital taxationdecisive»att de med mest pengar, som också orsakar större utsläpp, ska bidra mer till omställningen och välfärden genom en progressiv beskattning av kapital.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“that those with most money, who also cause greater emissions, shall contribute more to the transition and welfare through progressive taxation of capital.”
- equality as tax goal»Den ekonomiska politiken ska sträva efter jämlikhet.« (party programme ↗)“Economic policy shall strive for equality.”
- reduced inequality»De ekonomiska klyftorna ska minska.« (party programme ↗)“Economic inequality shall decrease.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The election manifesto establishes that the total tax burden shall come down and that the party does not participate in tax increases that damage jobs or private saving.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto establishes that the total tax burden shall come down and that the party does not participate in tax increases that damage jobs or private saving. The counter-proposal conversely wants to tax large fortunes more heavily, which precisely affects saving and ownership. The party programme moreover explicitly warns against confiscatory and arbitrary taxation as an infringement of property rights.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att det totala skattetrycket ska ner och att partiet inte medverkar till skattehöjningar som skadar jobben eller det egna sparandet. Motförslaget vill tvärtom beskatta stora förmögenheter hårdare, vilket träffar just sparande och ägande. Partiprogrammet varnar dessutom uttryckligen för konfiskatoriska och godtyckliga beskattningar som ingrepp i äganderätten.
- no tax increases on savingdecisive»Det totala skattetrycket måste ner nästa mandatperiod. Vi kommer inte att medverka till några skattehöjningar som skadar jobben, det egna sparandet eller gör det dyrare att bo.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The total tax burden must come down next term. We will not participate in any tax increases that damage jobs, private saving or make housing more expensive.”
- no confiscatory taxes»Brott mot äganderätten, med konfiskatoriska och godtyckliga beskattningar och ingrepp, underminerar förtroendet och långsiktigheten i samhället.« (party programme ↗)“Infringement of property rights, with confiscatory and arbitrary taxation and interventions, undermines trust and long-term perspective in society.”
- competitive capital tax»Våra skatter behöver vara globalt konkurrenskraftiga, stimulera till innovationer och entreprenörskap« (party programme ↗)“Our taxes need to be globally competitive, stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship”
- tax limits self-determination»Beskattning begränsar dock människors självbestämmande« (party programme ↗)“Taxation however limits people's self-determination”
The plan establishes that social-liberal economic policy shall fight poverty, not wealth, and that taxes can only play a limited redistributive role.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that social-liberal economic policy shall fight poverty, not wealth, and that taxes can only play a limited redistributive role. The counter-proposal's demand for harsher taxation of large fortunes therefore goes against the plan, which instead wants to lower tax on savings. Increased uniformity in capital taxation has some support in the plan, but the guiding line is lower, not higher, capital tax.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att den socialliberala ekonomiska politiken ska bekämpa fattigdom, inte rikedom, och att skatter bara kan spela en begränsad omfördelande roll. Motförslagets krav på hårdare beskattning av stora förmögenheter går därför emot planen, som i stället vill sänka skatten på sparande. Ökad enhetlighet i kapitalbeskattningen har visst stöd i planen, men den bärande linjen är lägre, inte högre, kapitalskatt.
- fight poverty not wealthdecisive»Den socialliberala ekonomiska politiken syftar till att bekämpa fattigdom, inte rikedom.« (party programme ↗)“Social-liberal economic policy aims to fight poverty, not wealth.”
- lower tax on savings»I stället för att som regeringen gång på gång höja skatten på sparande vill vi sänka den.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Instead of, like the government again and again, raising tax on savings we want to lower it.”
- limited redistribution via tax»Därutöver kan skatter spela en viss – men begränsad – omfördelande roll.« (party programme ↗)“Moreover taxes can play a certain – but limited – redistributive role.”
- tax-free savings»Vi vill sänka skatten på investeringssparkonton genom att bland annat göra de första 300 000 kronorna på ett ISK helt skattefria.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to lower tax on investment savings accounts by, among other things, making the first 300,000 kronor on an ISK completely tax-free.”
The plan requires competitive capital taxes and that taxation does not hollow out property rights, which are described as a human right.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires competitive capital taxes and that taxation does not hollow out property rights, which are described as a human right. It also requires that the individual to the greatest possible extent be able to keep their own income. Heavier taxation of large fortunes goes against these commitments, although the plan's requirement for equal treatment speaks in favour of increased uniformity in capital taxation.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver konkurrenskraftiga kapitalskatter och att beskattning inte urholkar äganderätten, som beskrivs som en mänsklig rättighet. Den kräver också att den enskilde i största möjliga utsträckning får behålla sin egen inkomst. En hårdare beskattning av stora förmögenheter går emot dessa åtaganden, även om planens krav på likabehandling talar för ökad enhetlighet i kapitalbeskattningen.
- competitive capital taxesdecisive»Kapitalskatterna måste därför vara konkurrenskraftiga.« (party programme ↗)“Capital taxes must therefore be competitive.”
- no hollowing out of property rights»andra former av beskattning får inte urholka äganderätten och ska utformas enligt vedertagna skatterättsliga principer som skatt efter bärkraft och likabehandling.« (party programme ↗)“other forms of taxation must not hollow out property rights and shall be designed according to established tax law principles such as taxation according to ability to pay and equal treatment.”
- property rights as a right»Rätten till egendom är en mänsklig rättighet och« (party programme ↗)“The right to property is a human right and”
- keep their own income»Skattesystemet ska vara utformat så att den enskilde i största möjliga utsträckning får behålla sin egen« (party programme ↗)“The tax system shall be designed so that the individual to the greatest possible extent is able to keep their own”
The counter-proposal wants to tax large fortunes more heavily and review capital income taxation for greater consistency.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants to tax large fortunes more heavily and review capital income taxation for greater consistency. The plan goes in the opposite direction: the tax on investment savings accounts shall be lowered, a tax-increase cap shall prevent overall taxes from rising, and the conclusion is that more tax is not a solution. State expenditures should instead be kept down by combating waste.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill beskatta stora förmögenheter hårdare och se över kapitalinkomstbeskattningen för ökad enhetlighet. Planen går i rakt motsatt riktning: skatten på investeringssparkonton ska sänkas, ett skattehöjarstopp ska hindra att de samlade skatterna höjs och slutsatsen är att mer skatt inte är någon lösning. Statens utgifter ska i stället hållas nere genom att slöseri bekämpas.
- skattehöjarstoppdecisive»Införa ett skattehöjarstopp under den kommande mandatperioden som innebär att de samlade skatterna inte höjs« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce a tax-increase cap during the coming mandate period that means overall taxes will not be raised”
- lägre kapitalskatt»Sänka skatten på investeringssparkonton (ISK) – så att du lättare kan spara till en bostad eller till pensionen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Lower the tax on investment savings accounts (ISK) – so you can more easily save for a home or for retirement”
- inga nya skatter»mer skatt är ingen lösning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“more tax is not a solution”
- hushållning framför skattehöjning»Offentligt slöseri i alla former ska bekämpas.« (party programme ↗)“Public waste in all forms shall be combated.”
The counter-proposal demands harder taxation of large fortunes and increased uniformity in capital taxation.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal demands harder taxation of large fortunes and increased uniformity in capital taxation. The election manifesto establishes that taxes should be at a level that does not hamper Swedish businesses and that better-designed taxes in the long term increase revenues through growth, while the party programme warns against tax collection that removes incentives to contribute to growth. The plan also values property rights and a responsible market economy, therefore stricter capital and wealth taxation is rejected.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget kräver hårdare beskattning av stora förmögenheter och ökad enhetlighet i kapitalbeskattningen. Valmanifestet slår fast att skatterna ska ligga på en nivå som inte hämmar svenska företag och att bättre utformade skatter på sikt ökar intäkterna genom tillväxt, medan partiprogrammet varnar för ett skatteuttag som undanröjer incitamenten att bidra till tillväxten. Planen värnar också äganderätten och en ansvarsfull marknadsekonomi, varför en skärpt kapital- och förmögenhetsbeskattning avvisas.
- no growth-inhibiting taxesdecisive»Ha skatter på en nivå som inte hämmar svenska företag i den internationella konkurrensen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Have taxes at a level that does not hamper Swedish businesses in international competition”
- lower tax gives growth»Sänkta eller bättre utformade skatter kommer i många fall att på sikt öka skatteintäkterna eftersom en sådan politik leder till ökad tillväxt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduced or better-designed taxes will in many cases in the long term increase tax revenues because such policy leads to increased growth.”
- tax must not kill incentives»undanröjer incitamenten för att vilja bidra till den ekonomiska tillväxten« (party programme ↗)“removes the incentives to want to contribute to economic growth”
- property rights as foundation»Sverigedemokraterna betraktar äganderätten som en nödvändig förutsättning för en lyckosam« (party programme ↗)“The Sweden Democrats view property rights as a necessary prerequisite for a successful”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:SkU12)
- Committee report full text (HA01SkU12)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1006 — Långsiktigt planerande och byggande av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1015 — En konkurrenskraftig svensk sjöfart av Jimmy Ståhl m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1022 — Sverigevänlig skatte- och indrivningspolitik för välfärd, trygghet och företagande av Per Söderlund m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1029 — Bättre villkor för buffert- och pensionssparande och en stärkt arbetslinje för äldre av Johan Hultberg (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1124 — En hållbar besöksnäring av Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1245 — Ordning och reda på arbetsmarknaden av Ciczie Weidby m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:1249 — Hyresrätt och allmännytta av Malcolm Momodou Jallow m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:1364 — Näringslivets sponsring av kultur av Roland Utbult (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:1544 — Beredskapsskatt av Linus Sköld (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1643 — En hållbar digitalisering av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1672 — En levande landsbygd för Sveriges bästa av Annie Lööf m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1673 — Jämställdhet för hållbar utveckling av Annie Lööf m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1702 — Generationsskifte i bostadsbeståndet av Malin Danielsson (L)
- Motion 2022/23:1705 — Beredskapsskatt av Annika Strandhäll (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1709 — Politiska uppdrag i 3:12-reglerna av Peter Ollén (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1738 — Konkurrensneutralitet mellan medieföretag verksamma i Sverige av Laila Naraghi (S)
- Motion 2022/23:190 — Möjlighet till lägre reavinstskatt vid försäljning av privatbostad av Jörgen Grubb (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:2138 — Skattepolitik av Niklas Karlsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2170 — För en stark grön näringslivsutveckling av Elin Söderberg m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:2176 — Paket för att stärka den fria konsten av Amanda Lind (MP)
Source: The Swedish Parliament