European Holding Companies

Sweden Holding Company Information

» Swedish Holding Company Overview
» Sweden Key Elements

» Information Downloads

Swedish Holding Company Overview


Definition

The Swedish Holding Company is a regular company which falls within the scope of general tax law and therefore benefits from the double taxation treaties and the European tax directives.

Legal Form

A Swedish company can be constituted as an “aktiebolag” (public limited company- AB).

Formation

The minimum share capital for incorporation of a Swedish company is SEK100.000 which must be fully paid up.
A company incorporated as an “AB” may have bearer shares.

Taxation

A Swedish company is fully subject to tax on its worldwide income at a normal rate of 28%.

Income

Corporate income tax is charged on the taxable business income computed according to the accrual method of accounting. Generally such includes the worldwide income from the company.

» Dividends Exemption

Dividends from shares held as business assets are exempt from tax in Sweden.
Shares are deemed to be held as business assets if they are not held as current assets and if the recipient owns at least 25% of the voting power or the shares are held for organizational purposes. The foreign company must be subject to tax at a rate comparable to the Swedish tax.
Listed shares are deemed to be held as business assets if the Swedish holding company owns more than 10% of the voting rights or share capital for a minimum period of 1 year.

» Capital Gains Exemption

Capital gains from the sale of shares are exempt from tax if the same conditions that apply to dividends are met.

» Interest and Royalties

See income above.

Besides the common advantages of a holding company, the Swedish Holding Company may also enjoy from the following:

» Exemption from Withholding Tax on Payment of Dividends

Dividends distributed by a Swedish holding company are exempt from withholding tax if all the following conditions are met:
- the shares are held as business assets;
- the recipient is subject to income tax at a tax rate of at least 15,4%;
- the recipient owns at least 25% of the share capital of the Swedish company.

If the recipient is resident in a country listed in the “White List”, the previous conditions are deemed to be met.

» Exemption from Withholding Tax on Payment of Interest

Interest paid by a Swedish company is exempt from withholding tax.

» Exemption from Withholding Tax on Payment of Royalties

No withholding tax is levied on payments of royalties made by a Swedish company to foreign companies.

Sweden Key Elements

	Formation
	Legal Form:		Public limited company (AB)
	Minimum Subscribed Capital:		SEK100.000
	Minimum Paid-Up Capital:		SEK100.000
	Number of Shareholders:		1
	Type of Shares:		Registered or bearer
	Substance Requirements:		Nil
	Taxation
	Capital Duty:		0%
	Net Worth Tax:		0%
	Corporate Income Tax:		28%
	Double Tax Treaties:		78
	Dividends Exemption:		100%
	Holding Requirements:		25%
	Capital Gains Exemption:		Yes
	Holding Requirements:		25%
	Tax Credit:		Yes
	Relief of Losses:		Carry forward indefinitely
	CFC Rules:		Yes
	Debt-to-Equity Ratio:		No
	Withholding Taxes
	Dividends:		EU Parent Co- Treaty Countries- 0%-30% Others- 30%
	Interest:		0%
	Royalties:		0%
	Liquidation:		Nil

	Web
Double Taxation Treaties	39KB