Saving in Sweden: What an ISK Is and How It's Taxed

Many people in Sweden save in an ISK (investeringssparkonto, investment savings account). It isn't taxed on gains: it is taxed on a standard income worked out from the account's value.

How the tax works

1. Capital base: the account's value at the start of each quarter plus the year's deposits, divided by four.
2. Standard income: the capital base times the government borrowing rate of 30 November the year before plus one percentage point, never below 1.25%. For income year 2026 that is 3.55%.
3. Tax: 30% of the standard income.

The tax-free level

From 1 January 2026, the tax-free basic level is 300,000 SEK (150,000 SEK for 2025).

No sales to declare

Gains and losses inside the account aren't declared, and losses can't be deducted. Skatteverket: ISK

Tip: Before you move money. How savings and investments from home are taxed once you live here is a question for a tax adviser; see questions for your tax adviser.

Moving for work? How Settio helps

Settio helps employers and immigration and relocation agencies run the whole move in one place, so the person moving can focus on settling in:

• Before the move: one plan for the permit and the move, with every step and deadline. A partner and children get their own steps in the same household.
• After arrival: the employee portal shows the newcomer their next steps on their phone, in their language, from registering after arrival to help for settling in.
• When the permit runs out: permit monitoring flags the extension in good time.

HR teams and agencies can start for free. Moving yourself? Try our free tools for life in Sweden.

Sources

1 official source

• Skatteverket: investment savings account (ISK) (in Swedish)