Skattestyrelsen (Skat) letter explained in English
Tax office. The Danish tax office. It sends your yearly tax statement and handles tax on your income, car and home.
Letters you may get
- Årsopgørelse — your yearly tax statement: money back or tax to pay (restskat)
- Forskudsopgørelse — your expected income and tax for next year
- Brev om restskat — tax you still owe and how to pay
What to do
- Check your årsopgørelse in TastSelv on skat.dk. If something is wrong, you can usually change it yourself online.
- A small restskat paid before 1 July costs less interest than paying it later.
- Find the deadline. Look for “senest”, “inden”, “frist”.
- Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
- If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“klage”, “indsigelse”, “anke”). See the template.
Words you may see
- Skattestyrelsen
- The Danish tax office.
- årsopgørelse
- Your yearly tax statement: money back or tax to pay.
- forskudsopgørelse
- Your expected income and tax for the coming year. Keep it up to date to avoid restskat.
- restskat
- Tax you still have to pay for the year.
- TastSelv
- The self-service part of skat.dk where you see and change your tax.
Questions
What is the Skattestyrelsen (Skat)?
Tax office. The Danish tax office. It sends your yearly tax statement and handles tax on your income, car and home.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the Skattestyrelsen (Skat)?
It depends on the letter. Look for words like “senest”, “inden”, “frist” — they mark the deadline. In Denmark, a letter in Digital Post usually counts as received when it arrives in your mailbox. Paper letters take a few days. Briefly adds about 2 days — check the date in Digital Post or on the envelope. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“klage”, “indsigelse”, “anke”).
Can I read a Skattestyrelsen (Skat) letter in English?
Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in Danish. Your letter never leaves your device.
Other offices in Denmark
Gældsstyrelsen · Udbetaling Danmark · Kommunen (Borgerservice) · Jobcenter · A-kasse · SIRI / Udlændingestyrelsen · Politiet · Byret / Fogedretten