Your Tax Return
Skattemeldingen din
Why this matters
Norway's skattemelding (tax return) is pre-filled and usually correct — but immigrants often miss deductions they are entitled to. Filed each spring via altinn.no, with a deadline in late April. Getting this right can mean several thousand kroner back.
Key Vocabulary
skattemelding
SKAT-te-mel-ding
tax return (annual declaration)
altinn
AL-tin
the government portal for filing taxes and other official matters
skatteetaten
SKAT-te-e-ta-ten
the Norwegian tax administration
skattekort
SKAT-te-kort
tax deduction card (determines how much tax your employer withholds)
fradrag
FRAH-drag
tax deduction
pendlerfradrag
PEN-dler-frah-drag
commuter deduction (if you travel far to work)
fagforeningsfradrag
FAG-for-e-nings-frah-drag
union membership deduction
foreldrefradrag
for-EL-dre-frah-drag
childcare deduction (for barnehage costs)
renteutgifter
REN-te-ut-gif-ter
mortgage interest expenses (deductible)
restskatt
REST-skat
underpaid tax (you owe more)
tilgodebeløp
til-GO-de-be-løp
tax refund (you overpaid)
skatteoppgjør
SKAT-te-op-yør
final tax settlement (issued in June)
lønnsinntekt
LØNNS-in-tekt
employment income
trekkfri beløp
TREK-free be-løp
personal allowance (portion not taxed)
Cultural Tips
The pre-filled return is a starting point, not the final word
Skatteetaten pre-fills your return using data from employers, banks, and the municipality. This covers most things — but fradrag you are entitled to (commuting costs, union fees, home office, childcare) must be added manually. Accepting without checking is the most common immigrant mistake.
Filing by 30 April is the normal deadline
Most residents must submit or confirm their skattemelding by 30 April. If you need more time, you can apply for a deadline extension (utsettelse) via altinn.no before the deadline. Late filing without extension triggers a fine.
Your skattekort controls withholding all year
Before the year starts, Skatteetaten calculates how much tax you should pay and issues a skattekort to your employer. If you earn more or less than expected, or gain new deductions, update your skattekort during the year at skatteetaten.no to avoid restskatt in June.
Immigrants often qualify for the standard deduction (standardfradrag for utenlandske arbeidstakere)
If you moved to Norway for work and your first year here, you may be entitled to a 10% standard deduction for foreign workers (up to ~40,000 kr) instead of itemising individual deductions. This is sometimes better than the normal fradrag system — compare both before submitting.
Key Phrases
Jeg ønsker å levere skattemeldingen min.
I want to submit my tax return.
Starting the process on altinn.no
Har jeg krav på pendlerfradrag?
Am I entitled to the commuter deduction?
Checking with Skatteetaten by phone
Kan jeg søke om utsettelse?
Can I apply for a deadline extension?
If you need more time
Jeg har ikke mottatt skattemeldingen min.
I have not received my tax return.
Contacting Skatteetaten
Jeg vil klage på skatteoppgjøret.
I want to appeal the tax settlement.
If you disagree with the result
Hva er fristen for å levere?
What is the deadline for filing?
Checking the deadline
Kan du hjelpe meg med å forstå dette?
Can you help me understand this?
Asking a Skatteetaten adviser (by phone or at a tax office)
Practical Steps
Log in to altinn.no with BankID in March
The skattemelding is typically made available in mid-March. Log in at altinn.no using BankID. Navigate to "Skattemelding for lønnstakere og pensjonister" for the relevant year.
Check all pre-filled numbers against your payslips
Cross-check your lønnsinntekt against your annual payslip summary (årsoppgave) from your employer. Also verify bank interest (from your bank's årsoppgave) and any property values listed.
Add missing fradrag manually
Common ones immigrants miss: foreldrefradrag for barnehage (keep all receipts), fagforeningsfradrag if you are in a union, reisefradrag if you commute more than 37km each way, renteutgifter from your mortgage. Each has a specific input field.
Consider the foreign worker standard deduction
If this is your first or second year in Norway, compare 10% standardfradrag vs itemising your actual expenses. Skatteetaten's own calculator at skatteetaten.no can help you determine which is better.
Submit before 30 April
Click "Send inn" to submit. You will receive a confirmation number. If you discover an error after submitting, you can correct it until the deadline — later corrections are possible but require a formal endringsmelding.
Wait for the skatteoppgjør in June
In June you receive your final settlement. If it shows tilgodebeløp (refund), it is paid directly to your bank account within days. If it shows restskatt (you owe), you have until mid-August to pay without interest charges.