Tax rates in Denmark

Company Tax

22%

Tax Rate For Foreign Companies

Non-resident companies are taxed only on their Denmark-sourced profits.
Denmark does not apply the worldwide taxation principle, hence resident companies are only taxed on their Denmark-sourced income ("territoriality" principle).

Capital Gains Taxation

Capital gains are generally included in taxable income and are subject to the standard corporate tax rate (22%). Capital gains derived by a Danish corporate shareholder from the sale of group shares, subsidiary shares and unlisted portfolio shares (shareholdings less than 10% in unlisted companies), are tax-exempt (at the same time, losses are non-deductible). Capital gains on listed portfolio shares are subject to tax at 22%. Foreign shareholders generally are not subject to Danish capital gains tax on the disposal of shares in Danish companies.

Main Allowable Deductions and Tax Credits

Ordinary business expenses are generally deductible. Tax incentives in the form of a full deduction of expenses on R&D, the acquisition of patents and know-how, depreciation on assets acquired for R&D purposes etc. are also available. Annual depreciation allowances on machinery and equipment may be claimed under the diminishing-balance method at up to 25%. Companies may deduct a small amount in gifts to certain organisations mentioned in the Danish tax authorities' guidelines (up to a maximum of DKK 17,000 for the tax year 2023). A Danish corporation can claim a deduction for royalties, management fees, and similar payments made to foreign affiliates if such amounts are made on an arm's length basis and reflect services received. Bad debts can generally be deducted unless they are inter-company debts.

The deduction for R&D was equal to 103% for 2020, 105% for the period 2021-2022, 108% for 2023-2025, and 110% for 2026. However, following the COVID-19 crisis, the government decided to raise the deduction to 130% for 2020-2023.
Net operating losses can be offset against taxable income up to 9,135,000 for 2023 (8,872,500 for 2022). Losses exceeding this amount can be deducted up to 60% of the taxable income. The carryback of losses is not permitted.
Fines and penalties, bribes and taxes are non-deductible (except for employer’s tax, non-recoverable VAT, land tax, and coverage charge).

Other Corporate Taxes

Owners of non-residential property are subject to a land tax, whose rate is set by the municipalities between 1.6% and 3.4% of the value of the land. Certain non-residential properties are also subject to a special coverage charge at a maximum of 1% of the value of the property minus the value of the land and minus a property value threshold of DKK 50,000.
There is no stamp duty on the transfer of shares. However, a duty of DKK 1,660 plus 0.6% of the transfer sum applies to a deed of transfer of real estate.

Danish companies must pay environmental taxes to the companies that provide the energy, who then pay the taxes to the Danish tax authorities. Most of the environmental tax rates are regulated every year and can be partially reimbursed.

The employer’s liability for social security contributions amounts to approx. DKK 14,000-17,000 per year per employee, depending on the industry. Click here for further info.

Shipping companies may elect to pay tonnage tax for a period of 10 years instead of the normal corporate income tax.
Danish oil and gas upstream activities are subject to two "ring-fenced" taxes. The first tax is similar to the standard CIT, with a tax rate of 25% instead of 22%. The income earned from Danish oil and gas upstream activities is also ring-fenced, meaning that no tax losses from other income can be deducted from this income. The second tax, known as the "hydrocarbon tax," is levied on profits from oil and gas exploration and extraction on the Danish continental shelf at a rate of 52%. The 25% tax is deductible when computing the hydrocarbon tax, resulting in an effective tax rate of 64%.

The country does not impose any capital duty, transfer tax, or wealth tax.

Other Domestic Resources

SKAT (Danish Tax and Customs Administration)

Tax Rate

Allowable Deductions and Tax Credits

There are several types of deductions that are available to taxpayers, including a personal allowance of DKK 48,000 (in 2023, DKK 38,400 for individuals under the age of 18) and an employment allowance (10.6% of the employment income capped at DKK 45,600 in 2023). Other possible deductions include interest expenses, child support payments (varying according to the age of the children and the family status), pension contributions (up to DKK 60,900), trade union fees, unemployment fund fees, and work commuting expenses. Interest expenses are deductible from capital income and are generally deducted in the year in which they fall due.
Contributions to charitable organizations are deductible up to a limit of DKK 17,700 per year. Certain approved expenses related to household services may be deducted up to a maximum of DKK 6,600 per person. Travel expenses can be deducted up to a maximum of DKK 30,500 annually (2023). Employees who do not receive a company car and are not reimbursed by their employer for transportation expenses are eligible for a deduction for daily travel to and from work. To qualify, the distance between home and work must be more than 24 kilometers. In 2023, the deduction amount is DKK 2.19 for distances between 25 and 120 kilometres and DKK 1.10 for each kilometre exceeding 120. For individuals living in certain outlying areas, the deduction is DKK 2.19 per kilometre exceeding 120.
A yearly tax-free child benefit is payable to the custodial parent, as follows: DKK 18,984 for children aged 0-2; DKK 15,024 for those aged 3-6; and DKK 11,820 from 7 to 17 years old.
A detailed list of possible deductions is available on the SKAT website.

Special Expatriate Tax Regime

According to the special expatriate tax regime, expatriates who are employed in Denmark and scientists assigned to Denmark may be able to apply for a tax of only 27% for seven years on their gross salary. A number of conditions must be met, however (for example, the minimum guaranteed salary must be at least DKK 72,500 for the year 2023). The 27% tax rate is calculated on cash salary, employer-provided and paid telephones, the taxable value of company-paid cars, and employer-paid health insurance. All other income is taxed in accordance with normal rules. No deductions are allowed. The employee’s stay in Denmark may be longer; however, after the 84-month period, the employee’s income is taxed at ordinary rates. As the labour market tax also applies, the combined tax rate is 32.84% each year during the seven-year period.

An individual with limited tax liability to Denmark will, as a main rule, be taxed by up to 52.07% (55.90%, including AM tax) on income from sources in Denmark in 2023.