Beginner’s Guide to Payroll in Sweden

Mikael Magnusson
Oct 31
3 min read

Starting payroll for the first time can feel overwhelming, especially in a country like Sweden, where payroll is highly regulated. But with proper guidance and structure, it becomes a manageable, repeatable process.

This guide walks you through the essential steps for setting up and running payroll in Sweden — even if you’re just getting started.

Step 1: Register as an Employer

Before paying any salaries, you must:

Register your business with Skatteverket (Swedish Tax Agency)
Obtain a Swedish organization number (if not already registered)
Sign up for PAYE tax declarations (arbetsgivardeklaration)

This step ensures you're recognized as a legal employer and can properly report and pay taxes.

Step 2: Collect Payroll Data

For each payroll period, you’ll need:

Gross salary from the employment contract
Time reports (if hourly) or absence reports
Any bonuses, allowances, or benefits
Sick leave, vacation, or parental leave days

Accuracy here is key — it forms the foundation of every payslip and tax report.

Step 3: Calculate Salary and Deductions

Swedish payroll includes:

Income tax withheld from the employee
Employer contributions (around 31.42%)
Vacation pay (typically 12%)
Other deductions like pension or lunch benefits

You can use payroll software or a payroll partner to automate this process.

Step 4: Generate and Distribute Payslips

Payslips must be delivered every month and show:

Gross and net salary
All tax and other deductions
The period covered
Employer and employee details

We recommend using digital distribution, such as Kivra or a secure payroll portal.

Step 5: Report to Skatteverket

By the 12th of the month following salary payment, you must:

Submit a monthly PAYE return (arbetsgivardeklaration)
Pay withheld taxes and employer contributions to the Skattekonto

We provide clients with the correct OCR and account details to ensure payments are processed correctly.

Step 6: Archive and Stay Compliant

You must keep records of:

Payslips and tax reports
Employment contracts
Time and leave reports

All records must be stored securely and handled in accordance with GDPR and accounting laws.

Bonus: Use a Portal That Works for You

Our Stay-in-touch-Portal is designed for both structure and simplicity — letting you share documents via drag-and-drop, view all payroll history, and manage tasks without clutter.

Conclusion: Start Simple, Stay Accurate

Payroll may sound complex at first — but it’s simply a process. By following the proper steps and seeking expert help when needed, even a beginner can run a compliant, professional payroll in Sweden.

Want help getting started with payroll?

We’ll guide you through setup, reporting, and monthly routines — no experience needed.

Before you dive into the rest of the articles, let me briefly tell you about the photo featured here.

This is Skara, one of Sweden’s oldest towns, and a place where the foundations of the Swedish kingdom were forged.

Nearby, the Battle of Lena (1208) and the Battle of Gestilren (1210) were fought — two crucial victories where Swedish forces, led by Erik Knutsson, defeated Danish-backed rivals and ended foreign influence over the crown. These battles marked the beginning of Sweden’s path toward independence and national governance — the same system that eventually gave rise to structured taxation, rule of law, and yes, payroll.

💡 Curious to see this period brought to life? Check out the “Arn” novels by Jan Guillou, or the film adaptations Arn – The Knight Templar and Arn – The Kingdom at Road’s End. Set in this very region and time, they dramatize the struggle between Swedish and Danish powers — with castles, battles, and all the tensions of a country finding its identity.