Site Title: Naptime Capital

ISK & Tax: Skatteverket, Schablonintäkt, and Other Words That Don’t Deserve a Panic Attack

3–5 minutes

You don’t need to wait until your Swedish tax return drops into Kivra and your heart rate triples. Here’s what the investment-related stuff on the tax return actually means, and exactly where you’ll find it, so when you see it, you can nod sagely and say, “Yes. I know her.”

Because the only surprise I want in April is an early refund. Or a chocolate egg I forgot I hid.


What You’ll See And Where

Investeringssparkonto (ISK)

This is your beautiful, tax-efficient bestie. If you’re using an ISK:

  • Skatteverket doesn’t care what you bought or sold.
  • Instead, they apply a flat tax on the average value of your account.

Where to find it:
📍 Section 7.1 – Inkomst av kapital (Income from capital)
Look for a line labeled “Schablonintäkt Investeringssparkonto” (or just “schablonintäkt”).

No action required. It’s pre-filled. Just smile and nod.


Schablonintäkt

Sounds like a spell. Means “standard income.” It’s Skatteverket’s estimate of what you “earned” just by holding investments in ISK or KF.

📍 Also in Section 7.1, often pre-filled and labeled something like: Schablonintäkt ISK or Kapitalförsäkring schablonintäkt

Sweden taxes this at 30%. Don’t worry, it’s usually a small number.


Kapitalförsäkring (KF)

If you invest through a Kapitalförsäkring account (often used for kids’ accounts or dividend-heavy portfolios), it works similarly to ISK. The schablonintäkt appears just like above.

📍 Again, Section 7.1

If you see multiple “schablonintäkt” lines and think “Did I open an account in my sleep?” Check Avanza/Nordnet. You probably did.

Wait… What is Schablonintäkt?

When you invest through an ISK (Investeringssparkonto) or a KF (Kapitalförsäkring), the Swedish government doesn’t care what you bought or sold. Instead, they calculate a fictional profit (schablonintäkt) and then tax that at 30%. It’s like pretend income… with very real taxes.

Here’s the (simplified) math: Your ISK average value × government rate × 30%

Let’s say your ISK held 100 000 kr all year, and the government rate is 1.25% (this rate changes every year). Then,

  • Schablonintäkt = 100 000 kr × 1.25% = 1 250 kr
  • Tax owed = 1 250 kr × 30% = 375 kr

✅ You don’t need to calculate this.
✅ Skatteverket does it for you.
✅ It shows up pre-filled in your return.

If you see more than one line, you probably opened multiple ISK/KF accounts, maybe one for your kid, maybe during a late-night Avanza scroll. No big deal.

Where Do These Numbers Come From?

If you’re investing through Avanza, Nordnet, or a Swedish bank, they send your account info to Skatteverket automatically.

You’ll see your schablonintäkt appear in:

  • Section 7.1 (if you have ISK or KF)
  • Section 8.1 (if you sold individual stocks/funds in a regular depot account)

And unless you’re doing something complicated (like owning foreign assets or crypto), this is usually where the story ends.

2025 Update: The first 150,000 SEK of your combined ISK/KF savings goes untaxed in 2025. It’ll be 300,000 SEK in 2026. Above that, schablonintäkt will keep doing its thing.


K4-blankett (K4 form)

If you sold stocks, crypto, or other securities in a regular brokerage account (depå), you’ll need to fill in a K4 form.

Where to find it:
📍 You won’t see this in your main tax summary unless you’ve already submitted one.
You’ll need to manually add the K4 in the Skatteverket online portal if relevant.
(Or upload the one Avanza/Nordnet generates for you.)


Förlust (Loss)

If you sold something for less than you paid, that’s a förlust. Don’t cry, you can deduct it.

📍 In your Skatteverket summary:

  • Section 7.4, or listed under your capital income summary
  • If you see a minus sign there, that’s your friendly, deductible tax wound

What You Don’t Need to Worry About

  • ISK or KF trades — all taxed automatically. You don’t need to declare individual fund purchases or sales in an ISK or KF.
  • Dividends in ISK/KF — also handled for you
  • Foreign withholding taxes inside ISK/KF — handled by the bank (eventually)
  • You don’t need to upload statements.

Final Tips from One Clueless‑to‑Curious Investor

  • ISK tax is so low because Sweden rewards simplicity. Use it.
  • If you start investing more seriously, it’s worth checking these numbers once a year just so you understand where they come from.
  • You can view your schablonintäkt from last year inside your broker account (Avanza shows it clearly).
  • If you’re using a regular depot (värdepappersdepå), that’s when capital gains tax (real tax on actual profits) kicks in, and that’s a whole other post.

TL;DR:

TermWhere it livesDo you need to touch it?
Schablonintäkt (ISK/KF)Section 7.1Nope
KapitalförsäkringSection 7.1Nope
K4 Form (non-ISK sales)Upload manuallyYes, if applicable
Förlust (losses)Section 7.4 or capital summaryLet it live. It helps.

Open the return. Scroll with confidence. Approve with flair.

And maybe reward yourself with a cinnamon bun afterwards, because nothing makes you feel like a high-functioning adult quite like recognizing a line of Swedish tax code.

For more scary words, this glossary will help.

Got thoughts? Questions? Drop them below — I read everything and reply when the kids are asleep and I’m not halfway through a pension crisis.