When you have a CPR number, you create a preliminary income assessment in TastSelv on skat.dk. The Danish Tax Agency then issues your tax card, and your employer collects it electronically.
Tax
Tax card in Denmark for foreigners: how it works
How to get a Danish tax card, create your preliminary income assessment in TastSelv and check your annual statement. Plus the researcher tax scheme.
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Step-by-step guide
- 1
Get your CPR number first
You need a CPR number before the Danish Tax Agency can issue a tax card. See the guide to CPR and MitID.
- 2
Create a preliminary income assessment
Log in to TastSelv on skat.dk with MitID and estimate your income and deductions for the year (forskudsopgørelse). Without MitID, the Danish Tax Agency has a form for foreigners, and International Citizen Service can help.
- 3
Let your employer collect the tax card
Your employer collects the tax card electronically. Until it is in place, a high tax is deducted from your salary.
- 4
Check your first payslips
Check that the tax deducted matches your situation. If your income or deductions change, update your preliminary income assessment in TastSelv.
- 5
Check your annual statement
After the year ends, the Danish Tax Agency makes an annual statement showing whether you paid too much or too little tax. You must check yourself that the information is correct.
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Frequently asked questions
Your employer deducts a high tax from your salary until your tax card is in place. Create your preliminary income assessment as soon as you have a CPR number.
A special scheme under which highly paid employees and researchers recruited from abroad can be taxed at a lower rate for a limited period. There are requirements, for example for salary and previous tax liability in Denmark. The conditions and the rate are on skat.dk, and your employer and the Danish Tax Agency clarify whether you are covered.
Tax rates and thresholds change every year. Lena explains how the system works and refers you to skat.dk for the current figures, so you never get an outdated number.
Official sources
Rules, lists and amounts change. Always check the current rules on the official pages.