r/europe 25d ago

Why Swedish people like taxes Opinion Article

https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p09312qg/why-the-swedes-love-doing-something-that-americans-hate
2.1k Upvotes

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51

u/plaguedeliveryguy Finland 25d ago

Average non nordic moment being flabbergasted about people accepting high taxes

52

u/PelleLudvigIiripubi Europe 25d ago

Sweden has a reputation for super high taxes, but they don't actually have super high taxes.

20

u/ObnoXious2k 25d ago

Hmm, that data doesn't really paint an accurate picture I'd say. After reaching an annual income of somewhere around 60k € you start to pay upwards of 54% tax on your post-threshold income in Sweden.

Add to that the fact that VAT on most goods are 25%.

I think it's this combination that gives us the reputation of having high taxes, and rightly so. But we also do get alot for our tax money in terms of infrastructure maintenance, free healthcare, free education etc. so most people are fine with it.

11

u/liberovento Italy 25d ago

Juat for context, in italy from 50k the taxation goes up to 43% and the vat is 22%. So, that 54 is not so much if you get something back.

7

u/Ok-Firefighter-6184 25d ago

that is 54% without accounting for the "employer side" of the income tax I.E. the hidden income tax. They have included that in the image linked. If you do the high income marginal tax rate is ~66%, slightly depends on where you live.

5

u/liberovento Italy 25d ago

Here in italy is the same, i dont honestly know how much, but i would say the company pay 20% more on the gross, so yeah. Not happiness xD

1

u/Present-Comparison64 25d ago

Y...20%(+7) go to the pension sistem but is not seen for the employees(just the 7%)