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Company income tax, dividend tax and dividends in Denmark in 2023

Limited liability companies in Denmark (ApS or A/S) pay company income tax on their taxable profits. Denmark’s company income tax rate is 22% for limited liability companies in 2023. After company income tax is paid, the company can distribute the remaining profits as dividends to the shareholders. The dividend tax typically ranges from 0% to 42% when paid to shareholders, depending on how much dividend is distributed and to who. In general, unmarried resident shareholders can receive up to 58.900 DKK at a dividend tax rate of 27% in 2023. Holding companies generally do not pay dividend tax in Denmark when they own 10% or more of the company that distributes the dividend.

Company income tax, dividend tax and dividends in Denmark in 2023

Company income tax, dividend tax and dividends for limited liability companies in Denmark in 2023

This blog discusses company income tax, dividend tax and dividends in Denmark in 2023 for limited liability companies.


Relevant tax rates and limits used in this blog

RESIDENT PHYSICAL PERSON Year 2022 Year 2023
Dividend tax: This is the low tax rate when the dividend is below the limit 27% 27%
Dividend tax: This is the high tax rate when the dividend is above the limit 42% 42%
Dividend tax: Limit where the low tax rate changes to the high tax rate, unmarried 57.200 DKK 58.900 DKK
Dividend tax: Limit where the low tax rate changes to the high tax rate, married 114.400 DKK 117.800 DKK
Maximum tax bracket (“topskat”): Limit before ATP og 8% AM-contribution is deducted 600.543 DKK 618.369 DKK
Maximum tax bracket (“topskat”): Limit after ATP og 8% AM-contribution is deducted 552.500 DKK 568.900 DKK
Maximum tax rate (“topskat”) 15% 15%
ATP: Employees own contribution 1.135,80 DKK per year 1.135,80 DKK per year


RESIDENT COMPANY DIVIDEND TAX
When owning 10% or more of an unlisted company 0%
When owning less than 10% of an unlisted company (portfolio shares) 15,4% – only 70% of the dividend is taxed with 22%
When owning 10% or more of a listed company 22%
When owning less than 10% of a listed (listed portfolio shares) 22%


Relevant deadlines used in this blog

DESCRIPTION DEADLINE
Deadline for submitting the annual report 6 months after the fiscal year ends
Deadline for submitting the tax return 6 months after the fiscal year ends
Deadline for paying dividend tax 10 days following the month where the decision to distribute the dividend was made
Deadline for paying company income tax instalment 1 (ordinary instalment) 20 March
Deadline for paying company income tax instalment 2 (ordinary instalment) 20 November
Deadline for paying company income tax instalment 3 (voluntary instalment) 1 February in the fiscal year following the end of the fiscal year


COMPANY INCOME TAX IN DENMARK IN 2023

Limited liability companies in Denmark pay company income tax on their profits.

The company income tax in Denmark for 2023 is 22%.


How to calculate the taxable company income?

The taxable company income is calculated by taking the company’s sales and deducting the company’s costs.

This amount is called the “earnings before tax”.

It is the same result in your accounting reports – e.g. by printing a profit and loss statement in e-conomic (or in the accounting program you use).

When you know the earnings before tax, your accountant/auditor needs to make some tax adjustments, and he/she can then calculate the taxable company income.

The “taxable company income” is always slightly different from the “earnings before tax” in the accounting system.

The tax adjustments are primarily regarding depreciation and certain types of expenses that cannot be deducted in full – or where the deduction in tax may be higher than what you have deducted in your accounting.

The taxable company income is declared on the company’s tax return annually.

The deadline for declaring the company’s taxable income is six months from the end of the fiscal year.


Does a company pay company income tax if there is a deficit in the taxable company income?

No company income tax is paid if the taxable company income is 0 DKK.



Deficits can be brought forward

A deficit in the taxable income can be brought forward to future years, where it can be offset in taxable company income profits before the company needs to pay company income tax.

Example:

Suppose the company has a deficit in the taxable company income of 100.000 DKK in 2023 and a taxable company income profit in 2024 of 100.000 DKK.

In that case, the company can offset its deficit from 2023 so that the taxable company income in 2024 is 0 DKK (100.000 DKK profit in 2024 – 100.000 DKK deficit in 2023 = 0 DKK in taxable profit).

Then no company income tax will be paid in either 2023 or 2024.

On the tax office website SKAT Erhverv, a register of deficits is maintained, showing what deficits have already been offset in profits and what to offset in future profits.



Payment of company income tax

Company income tax is due for payment on 20 March and 20 November each year.

We call these payments the two “ordinary company income tax payments”.

These two payments will naturally be based upon an estimate since nobody knows the actual profit before the year has ended.

In addition to these two payments, there is an optional extra third payment on the 1st of February in the year after the fiscal year ends.

This enables the company to adjust the payments of company income tax once the accounting is done for the fiscal year ended. By paying more company income tax here, the company can save money on later interest for late payment of company income tax.

We call this third payment the “voluntary company income tax payment”.

Suppose you have a limited liability company. The first time you receive a letter from the tax office about paying company income tax, it will almost always state that the tax office has estimated that the company should pay 0 DKK in company income tax.

This is because the tax office doesn’t know yet, how much the company is supposed to pay, so they’ll send a letter informing you that these ordinary company income payments are due in March and November, but they won’t state the payable amount;

Your accountant or auditor can help you estimate the ordinary company income tax payments.


Company income tax in Denmark in 2023


How do you estimate the company income tax instalments?

Let’s say you’re in January, and you already know you will have a profit this year.

Start making an estimate of the profit for the entire year as precisely as you can.

Then calculate 22% of the estimated profit and divide this by two – this will be the two payments of ordinary company income tax due for payment on 20 March and 20 November.

You can always change the instalments of company income tax on the tax office website “SKAT Erhverv”.

Here you will also find the payment details for your internet bank.

If the amount you estimate isn’t precise, then it’s no big deal because when the year is finished, you’re required to make an annual report and submit a tax return with the correct amount.

Then in the following year, you’ll pay the remaining tax or receive a refund, depending on whether you over-or underestimated your payments.

Annual reports must be submitted six months after the fiscal year ends.

Company tax declarations must be submitted six months after the fiscal year ends.

The tax statement is received in November, the same year the tax declaration is submitted.

If any remaining company income tax is due for payment, it needs to be paid on 20 November of the same year.


Deadlines

Annual reports must be submitted to the Danish Business Authority on VIRK no later than six months after the end of the fiscal year.

NB: In the past, the deadline to submit annual reports was five months after the end of the fiscal year, but in 2022 it is changed to 6 months after the end of the fiscal year.

Tax returns must be submitted to the Danish tax office on SKAT Erhverv no later than six months after the end of the fiscal year.

Dividend tax must be declared and paid no later than on the 10th day of the month following the decision to distribute the dividend.


When does the company receive the annual tax summary?

The annual tax summary is received in the e-Boks in November following the end of the fiscal year.


When does the company have to pay additional company income tax not covered by the ordinary and voluntary payments?

Additional company income tax not covered by the ordinary and voluntary payments is paid in November following the end of the fiscal year.


Payment of company income tax in the first fiscal year – when the fiscal year ends 31.12

Limited liability companies don’t necessarily have to follow the calendar year.

They’re allowed to have a split year, which means you may have up to 18 months in your first fiscal year.

For instance, if you start the company on 1 July 2023, your first year can run from 1 July 2023 to 31 December 2024, which is 18 months.

Another option is for the first year to end on 31 December 2023.

It’s completely up to you, but the maximum is 18 months in the first fiscal year.

The following fiscal years will always be 12 months.

The tax gets more complicated if you choose to have 18 months in the first year.

You will then have a partial payment on November 20th in the first year and March and November in the second year (all payments belonging to the first fiscal year).

The fiscal year has to be finished before we submit the tax declaration, so in this example, with an 18-month fiscal year, the fiscal year would start on 1 July 2023 and finish on 31 December 2024, after which the tax declaration would be submitted on 30 June 2025.

Company income taxes are declared six months after the fiscal year ends.

In this example, with an 18-month fiscal year, after we submit the tax declaration on 30 June 2025, the tax office will calculate the actual company income tax, which will be 22% of the taxable profit (rate in 2023), plus some interest.

This tax will be due on 20 November 2025, and any tax you might already have paid in November (first year) and March and November (second year) will be offset in the total company income tax due.

You’ll receive an annual company income tax statement that will show all this information, including your profit from 1 July 2023 to 31 December 2024, as well as the 22% in company tax and added late fee interest, which is around 4,4% p.a. (this was the rate in 2022 and it is expected to be the same in 2023).

You can also receive a company income tax refund.

This happens if you paid too much in company income tax.


Company income tax, dividend tax and dividend for limited liability companies in Denmark in 2023


Payment of company income tax in the first fiscal year – when the fiscal year does not end 31.12

A company can decide when they’d like their fiscal year to end, but only 10% of our clients choose something other than the calendar year. Most companies choose 31 December because it’s easier to produce an annual overview if it follows the calendar year.

But some people prefer ending the year on 30 June or 31 January.

The company income tax can get tricky for those who do not follow the calendar year.

Let’s assume that you have June 30th as the end of your fiscal year, for example.

You’re still allowed to have 18 months in your first fiscal year, but if you start a company on 1 July 2023 and your fiscal year ends on 30 June 2024, your first fiscal year will only be 12 months.

The partial company income tax payments make this a bit complicated.

In the first year, 2023, as is normal, you most likely will not pay anything in November.

Then in 2024, you’ll make a partial payment in March, and even though the year finishes on 30 June 2024, the partial payment you make in November 2024 still counts toward your first fiscal year, despite being paid after the first fiscal year has finished.

One advantage of this is you can avoid paying interest because you have more time to calculate the correct profit, from which you can calculate exactly how much you must pay in additional tax for the last instalment in November 2024.


Joint taxation

If your company is owned by another company with more than 50%, e.g. via a holding company, then you will need to apply “joint taxation”.

In joint taxation, the owner (who owns more than 50%), called the management company, must manage the payment of the company income tax to the Danish Tax Office.

The management company instead collects the company tax from the company.

The company income tax collected by the management company from the company is called the “joint taxation contribution”.

The joint taxation contribution corresponds to the company income tax that the company must pay on its taxable profits.


DIVIDEND TAX AND DIVIDENDS IN DENMARK IN 2023


What is a dividend?

A dividend is a part of the profit passed to the company’s owners.

This is called:

– To pay a dividend
– To distribute a dividend

The company does not have to pay a dividend to the owners of the company if there has been a profit.

However, doing this can often make sense if there is a lot of money in the company.

Furthermore, if you both own the company and are employed by the company as a director with a salary, there may be a tax gain for you by paying yourself a dividend (read more below).



What amounts can be distributed as dividends?

The company can distribute reserves as dividends to the shareholders.

Reserves are profits after company income tax is paid, which is accumulated in the company.


When can a dividend be distributed?

When a company has a profit, dividends can be distributed to the shareholders.


How to distribute a dividend?

A dividend must always be approved at a general meeting.

There are two types of general meetings.


The ordinary general meeting:

This is where the shareholders approve the annual report. It is also where the shareholders can decide that a dividend must be distributed to the shareholders based on the result they have just approved.

The ordinary general meeting is held once per year.


The extraordinary general Meeting:

An extraordinary general meeting can be held during the year if some important decisions cannot wait until the ordinary general meeting.

These may be changes to the management, new auditor etc. – but this also applies to the distribution of dividends for the current year.



Dividends and dividend tax must be declared to the danish tax office

The decision to distribute a dividend is recorded in the general meeting minutes.

The dividend and the dividend tax are then reported to the Danish tax office on SKAT Erhverv.


Distribution of dividends in the first fiscal year

It is not allowed to distribute dividends during the first fiscal year.

A dividend can be distributed after the fiscal year has ended, and the annual report has been approved at the annual general assembly meeting.

The distributed dividend and dividend tax must be declared to the tax office.


Distribution of dividends in the second fiscal year and later

During the second fiscal year, it is allowed to distribute dividends during the year also, as long as the dividends are approved at an extraordinary general meeting.


When distributing ordinary dividends for 2022, use the dividend tax rates for 2023

When distributing ordinary dividends for 2022 at the annual general meeting, which is held in 2023, remember to use the dividend tax rates for 2023.

So even though dividends are distributed for 2022, you still get to use the rates for 2023 because the decision is made in 2023.


Distribution of dividends to physical persons that is residents of Denmark

Dividend tax needs to be paid when dividends are distributed to shareholders which are physical persons.

The first 58.900 DKK (2023) is taxed with a 27% dividend tax.

If the dividend exceeds 58.900 DKK (2023), the dividend tax is 42% on everything exceeding 58.900 DKK (2023).

If the shareholder is married, the limit where the dividend tax changes from 27% to 42% is 117.800 DKK (2023).

The company must withhold the 27% dividend tax from the distributed dividend and pay this dividend tax directly to the tax office.

The dividend and dividend tax is declared on SKAT Erhverv, the tax office website.

The dividend tax is due for payment the following month on the 10th day.

The company use the payment details for “Skattekontoen” to pay the dividend tax.

The payment ID is shown when submitting the dividend and dividend tax declaration.

The remaining tax, if the shareholder also needs to pay a 42% dividend tax on amounts exceeding 58.900 DKK (2023), is paid by the shareholder to the tax office.

This can be done as a pre-payment on the year’s self-assessment or the annual tax summary.


Dividend tax and dividends in Denmark in 2023


Distribution of dividends to physical persons that is non-residents of Denmark

For non-residents of Denmark, the dividend tax will depend on the double taxation treaty between the country of residence and Denmark.

Usually, the dividend tax is 15% when a person is a non-resident of Denmark.

The 15% dividend tax is withheld by the Danish company when distributing the dividend.


Distribution of dividends to holding companies that own 10% or more of an unlisted company

Holding companies in Denmark that own 10% or more of an unlisted company in Denmark do not have to pay dividend tax when receiving a dividend from the unlisted company.


Distribution of dividends to holding companies that own less than 10% of an unlisted company

Holding companies in Denmark that own less than 10% of another company in Denmark will pay 15,4% in dividend tax on dividends.

The 15,4% is calculated as a 22% tax of 70% of the dividend.


Payment of dividend tax

Dividend tax must be paid on the 10th of the month following the decision to distribute the dividend.

Once you have declared the dividend and dividend tax on SKAT Erhverv, the dividend tax will appear on the “Skattekonto” when due for payment.

When submitting the declaration, you pay the dividend tax with the payment ID on the confirmation.

Read more about declaring dividend here


If your company is owned by a holding company

Suppose you have a profit in your limited liability company, and you want to transfer this profit to your holding company. In that case, it comes down to how many shares your holding company owns and whether the holding company will need to pay dividend tax.

Suppose your holding company owns 10% or more than 10% of the shares of the company. In that case, the company can distribute the dividend to the holding company without withholding dividend tax.


Why would you transfer a dividend to the holding company?

By transferring the profit from the company to the holding company, creditors will not be able to claim this money later if something goes wrong.

This is because the money has been paid out as a dividend to the holding company.

When the money is paid to the holding company, you can use it for new investments or hold it there for safety purposes.

The tax office can, in some situations, claim the money again from the holding company if f.ex. employee taxes are unpaid in the company (but this requires a 50% or more shareholder stake by the holding company).

Read more about holding companies here


Dividend tax and dividends in Denmark in 2023


HOW CAN YOU BEST GET PAID FROM THE COMPANY AS THE SOLE SHAREHOLDER AND DIRECTOR?

If you are the sole shareholder and director, you can also pay money to yourself from the company.

There are two ways you can do this:


1: Salary

You can be hired as the director in the company, even though you are also the shareholder, and then receive a salary for your work.


2: Dividend

You can receive a dividend from the company if there is a profit after the company income tax is paid.

Dividends up to 58.900 DKK are taxed at 27% (2023).

Dividends exceeding 58.900 DKK are taxed at 42% (2023).

If you are married, a double limit of 117.800 DK applies (2023).


Examples of the calculation of dividend tax and total taxes

If the company income tax is 22%, dividends up to 58.900 DKK are taxed at 27% (2023), and dividends exceeding 58.900 DKK is taxed at 42% (2023), then the calculation looks like this:


Dividend paid: 50.000 DKK

To pay the dividend, the company already had to pay 22% of the company’s income tax.

The 22% company income tax is 14.102 DKK (profit before tax: 64.102 DKK – company income tax of 22%: 14.102 DKK = the remaining amount is 50.000 DKK, which then can be paid as a dividend).

You must then pay an additional 27% dividend tax from the 50.000 DKK.

This will be: 13.500 DKK

You will have paid the following taxes: 14.102 DKK (22% company income tax) + 13.500 DKK (dividend tax) = 27.602 DKK in company income tax and dividend tax – or what equals 43,06% of the 64.102 DKK profit before tax.


Dividend paid: 100.000 DKK

To pay the dividend, the company already had to pay 22% of the company income tax.

The 22% company income tax is 28.205 DKK (profit before tax: 128.205 DKK – company income tax of 22%: 28.205 DKK = the remaining amount is 100.000 DKK, which then can be paid as a dividend).

You now need to pay a 27% dividend tax on the first 58.900 DKK (2023), which amounts to 15.903 DKK.

Furthermore, you need to pay a 42% dividend tax on the dividend exceeding the 58.900 DKK (42% of 100.000 DKK – 58.900 DKK = 41.100 DKK * 42%), which equals: 17.262 DKK.

In total, you will have paid the following taxes: 28.205 DKK (22% company income tax) + 15.903 DKK (dividend tax 27% up to 58.900 DKK) + 17.262 DKK (dividend tax 42% of the dividend exceeding 58.900 DKK) = 61.370 DKK in company income tax and dividend tax – or what equals 47,87% of the 128.205 DKK profit before tax.


Married couples

There are special rules if you are married.

The amount you can pay as a dividend with the 27% dividend tax is doubled so that instead of 58.900 DKK, you can pay out 117.800 DKK (2023).


So what is the better option – to receive a salary or to receive a dividend?

For the majority, it is best to first receive a salary up to the limit of the maximum tax bracket and then afterwards to receive a dividend up to the limit of the low tax rate (58.900 DKK, 27%) afterwards.

And then to receive a salary where the maximum tax applies.

It gives the following income priority:

1: Salary up to the limit of the maximum tax bracket (2023: Gross salary before ATP and 8% AM-contribution are deducted: 618.369 DKK)

2: Dividend up to the limit of the low 27% dividend tax rate (2023: 58.900 DKK if you are not married, and 117.800 DKK if you are married)

3: Salary where maximum tax applies


Summary of important limits, tax rates and deadlines in 2023


RESIDENT PHYSICAL PERSON Year 2022 Year 2023
Dividend tax: This is the low tax rate when the dividend is below the limit 27% 27%
Dividend tax: This is the high tax rate when the dividend is above the limit 42% 42%
Dividend tax: Limit where the low tax rate changes to the high tax rate, unmarried 57.200 DKK 58.900 DKK
Dividend tax: Limit where the low tax rate changes to the high tax rate, married 114.400 DKK 117.800 DKK
Maximum tax bracket (“topskat”): Limit before ATP og 8% AM-contribution is deducted 600.543 DKK 618.369 DKK
Maximum tax bracket (“topskat”): Limit after ATP og 8% AM-contribution is deducted 552.500 DKK 568.900 DKK
Maximum tax rate (“topskat”) 15% 15%
ATP: Employees own contribution 1.135,80 DKK per year 1.135,80 DKK per year


RESIDENT COMPANY DIVIDEND TAX
When owning 10% or more of an unlisted company 0%
When owning less than 10% of an unlisted company (portfolio shares) 15,4% – only 70% of the dividend is taxed with 22%
When owning 10% or more of a listed company 22%
When owning less than 10% of a listed (listed portfolio shares) 22%


Relevant deadlines used in this blog

DESCRIPTION DEADLINE
Deadline for submitting the annual report 6 months after the fiscal year ends
Deadline for submitting the tax return 6 months after the fiscal year ends
Deadline for paying dividend tax 10 days following the month where the decision to distribute the dividend was made
Deadline for paying company income tax instalment 1 (ordinary instalment) 20 March
Deadline for paying company income tax instalment 2 (ordinary instalment) 20 November
Deadline for paying company income tax instalment 3 (voluntary instalment) 1 February in the fiscal year following the end of the fiscal year


(This blog is updated: 10.3.2023)


Do you have any questions about company income tax, dividend tax or dividend in 2023?