Sweden is infamous for having some of the highest taxes in the world, and yet the country’s tax agency is still one of Sweden’s most trusted institutions.
The Swedish attitude towards tax contrasts sharply with many countries where taxes can be a deeply divisive issue. We investigate what this says about Swedish society and how the popularity of the welfare state might survive growing challenges in the future.
Isn’t it like that in a lot of Europe nowadays?
In Belgium it is even easier.
Taxes are on the internet, they are already filled in, but you can check them if you want to.
If they are correct (as usual), you don’t have to do anything.
I would hope so but I have no idea, I’ve only done my taxes in Sweden.
In Germany we don’t “need” to do taxes as an employee, but you won’t get anything back if you don’t do them. You can usually just do them in some app, send them to the tax office, get some money back and pay the app a tiny fee for the help.
Then again if you own a house or a company or have any income that isn’t taxed as receiving a salary, you better get a tax consultant and those can be pricey.
It’s pretty much the same in France. People will grumble a lot, obviously (because France, and taxes), but it’s a very simple process for the majority.
Unless you’re one of the happy few that has a lot of varied investments. In which case you’ll have to fill in extra forms. Although your banks will typically send you a precise list of what goes where.