Response to interpellation 2024/25:183 on considerations regarding the Swedish tonnage tax
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerned trade-offs in the Swedish tonnage tax rules to strengthen the competitiveness of shipping. M argued that the rules are well-balanced and that the government is actively working for the industry by abolishing the stamp duty on mortgage registration in ships from July 2025. M emphasized that shipping is crucial for foreign trade and that the tonnage tax is now being reviewed ahead of 2026 1 2. S argued that the current rules are not sufficiently favorable, which, for example, affected the procurement of Gotlandstrafiken 3. S called for clearer information on when and how the tonnage tax will be updated to increase the number of Swedish-flagged vessels 4 5.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Finansministern Elisabeth Svantesson (M)
Madam Speaker! Hanna Westerén has asked me how I view the Swedish tonnage tax rules, whether I consider the rules to be well-balanced, and if I intend to update the rules to promote the attractiveness of Swedish shipping on the international arena.
The rules on tonnage taxation were introduced on 1 January 2017 in order to strengthen the competitiveness of the Swedish shipping industry and increase the proportion of Swedish-flagged vessels in the Swedish merchant fleet. Since the rules were introduced, the number of companies entering the Swedish system has increased steadily.
The Government is actively working to increase Swedish shipping's competitiveness and facilitate the operations of shipping companies. The Government has, for example, in the autumn budget bill, announced that the stamp duty on mortgage in ships will be abolished from July 1, 2025, and that a ship's tonnage shall be introduced in the ship register.
When it comes to the rules on tonnage taxation, there are several aspects that must be considered as these are now being further prepared. It is important that the regulatory framework as a whole is well-balanced, based on both the conditions for the shipping industry and public financial effects. To this is added that the system of tonnage taxation is a state aid according to EU law and that any changes to the system must be approved by the EU Commission in advance.
Hanna Westerén (S)
Madam Speaker! I would first like to thank Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson for taking this debate herself and not delegating it further by referring to the fact that it concerns infrastructure. I mean that the development of Swedish shipping is a pressing issue from several aspects. I am very pleased that the Finance Minister is participating in this debate.
My question emanates, as is known, from what occurred during the procurement of Gotlandstrafiken, which concerns my constituency. There, the winning shipping company was completely honest in stating that they chose to submit bids via a Danish subsidiary, because the Danish tonnage tax rules are more generous and, according to our own authority Trafikverket, also more flexible and permissive.
I hope that the stated goal for the government that Elisabeth Svantesson is part of is that we are to achieve more Swedish-flagged vessels. The Finance Minister may, in that case, be welcome to confirm this.
That more ships sail under the Swedish flag is important for several reasons. In a shipping industry that is completely globalized, it is still quite lovely when some tax revenues stay in the country. But it is impossible to participate in this type of debate without mentioning the heightened security situation. In the current situation, doing what we can so that more ships sail under the Swedish flag should be some kind of baseline.
Furthermore, I receive clear signals from both employer and employee organizations regarding the need to increase the attractiveness and competitiveness of Swedish shipping. I am convinced that those signals are also being sent to the Minister for Finance.
I have taken note of the reasons the Minister for Finance gives for not changing the rules for tonnage tax at this time. But I would like the Minister for Finance to elaborate on how the attractiveness of Swedish shipping will increase, besides the removal of the stamp duty, so that Swedish shipping grows and the number of Swedish-flagged vessels increases.
I have great respect for the fact that the tonnage tax system is relatively new – it dates back to 2017 – and that it needs time to settle. The Swedish system has also been mentioned as one of the better systems in the world. But the Finance Minister knows just as well as I do that things move quickly in a globalized world.
I am not alone in wondering whether it is not time for us to update the tonnage tax rules and perhaps also include all shipping that takes place in Swedish waters. It is in any case not an area that can be left neglected now that the stamp duty has been abolished.
Swedish shipping needs to be strengthened for the sake of jobs, for the sake of the climate, and not least for the sake of preparedness. I ask again: Should we have more or fewer ships with a Swedish flag?
Finansministern Elisabeth Svantesson (M)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Hanna Westerén, for the questions! It is not every day that we talk about tonnage taxation. It is good that we do so today, because it is very important. Sometimes it is forgotten how important the entire industry is.
I completely share the view that Swedish shipping is incredibly important for Sweden. We are an export-dependent country, and we also import very much in our economy. In that case, shipping really plays a decisive role both for foreign trade and for the supply of goods in general.
There is statistics from 2021 showing that 65 percent of foreign trade uses maritime transport in some stage. We often talk about road, rail and air. But of course, maritime transport is very crucial for the Swedish economy.
I completely agree with Hanna Westéren that Swedish shipping should continue to be supported to remain competitive. It is an important building block for making Sweden wealthier, as we have spoken about before in other debates here. That is also why we have great support for shipping, and I think it should continue to be so.
For example, there is the maritime support which so far this year has amounted to 1.3 billion kronor. That is on average approximately 40 million per shipping company that has received the support. We have also allocated almost 200 million kronor for the shift of cargo to rail and maritime transport. During last year, Sjöfartsverket received 300 million in climate compensation to reduce the fairway fee.
But that is not enough. I can inform Hanna Westerén that more needs to be done. That is why we are moving forward with the abolition of the stamp duty. The stamp duty for mortgaging and lending ships in Sweden is completely removed. It will be good for the industry. Then we will also present proposals that make it easier for shipping companies to charter in and charter out unmanned ships.
When it comes to the main issue, this is what we do and what we intend to do. But when it comes to specifically the tonnage tax, which the interpellation perhaps primarily concerns, it means, for those who do not know, that Swedish shipping companies simply get lower tax under certain conditions. Here, there is a tough competition between countries, just as the interpellator said.
The government appointed a so-called letter-by-letter review last year to review the rules and see if they need to be changed. In 2026, one must apply again and extend. If one wants to make changes, that is when the time is.
We have had a single investigator, or as it is called, a letter-of-the-law investigator, who has reviewed it generally. Then the Ministry of Finance works together with others to see what the best proposal can be both for the industry and for Sweden as a whole, and that one can also get approved for. If one wants to change something, it is the time to do it then. But it is also important to know that the EU Commission approves it.
Hanna Westerén (S)
Madam Speaker! Thank you to the Minister for Finance. I hear what the Minister for Finance says, and I also hear what she does not say. I hear that, just like me, she highlights the need for the so-called blue growth. It is extremely important for Sweden. I hear how export-dependent we are. I hear an account of the obstacles, but I hear quite little about the opportunities.
It is absolutely excellent, just as the Minister for Finance explains at the end, that one has decided to be a cautious general. It is important to be cautious when handling state aid. It is important for the care of Sweden, for Swedish companies and for Swedish taxpayers. This is complicated and advanced matter.
One might wish that this caution were repeated in other areas and that it also animated the Minister for Finance when talking about vehicle testing or about rot and rut. But here, it is apparently very important to be extra cautious. It makes me a bit puzzled, and I would wish for some kind of intentionality.
I have listened to and participated in many debates with the Minister for Finance, and we have met at times when Sweden has had it incredibly difficult. We have lived in a dark time for quite a few months now, and that is why I think some kind of indication would have been needed. The Minister for Finance highlighted the stamp duty and some other reforms. But the tonnage tax is, if not a building block, at least a puck that pops up in discussions regarding Swedish shipping all the time. I believe it would be very beneficial with an indication of what the government that Elisabeth Svantesson is a part of is going to do with it. I have not yet quite grasped what the direction is.
Are you prepared to move forward with some form of update, upgrade, revision, or review? It is unclear to me. That type of clarity is what I believe we need here in the chamber today, not least in terms of preparedness. As Elisabeth Svantesson herself said, it is not enough like this. More is needed.
Finansministern Elisabeth Svantesson (M)
Madam Speaker! It is almost as if I wonder if Hanna Westerén is reading speech points that she wrote before I made my contribution. I was very clear: shipping is an incredibly important industry, and the government is doing a lot. I told in my previous contribution what we are doing. We are, for example, removing the stamp duty, which is a very active and non-cautious part. My point is that this is not cautious, although I perhaps should think it is nice that one uses the epithet cautious about me.
Everything we do must, however, be well-balanced. In this case, as I mentioned, there is a literal investigation that has been submitted to Andreas Carlson. Work is now being continued on this in the Government Offices, and we are very clear that we want to support the industry. Just as I said, we now have the opportunity to update and change, and that work is in full swing. The rules are to be updated by 2026.
I do not think I can be much clearer. We are doing good things for the industry now, and we will continue to do so. The stamp duty is the next step, and in addition, there will be a reworked and updated tonnage tax. When doing this, one must take into account both the existing rules and the fact that Sweden must continue to be competitive. Just as the interpellor says, things change quickly in this industry and also in many other industries.
Hanna Westerén (S)
Madam Speaker! Prepared speaking points or not – this is an issue that many, not least if one comes from an island in the middle of the Baltic Sea like I do, live with practically every day. It is about the conditions for shipping and that shipping and our sea lanes function.
The Minister for Finance thinks she was very clear. And yes, when it comes to the stamp duty and where it should go, there was absolutely a clarity. But now at the end, there also came a few more announcements regarding updating, review, and revision. I hear the Minister for Finance talking about supporting, and I hear her mention 2026.
I therefore have a concluding question. The tonnage tax is the issue that I raised right from the very beginning. It was that issue that caused, for example, the Gotland traffic to be outsourced to a Danish shipping company because the Swedish tonnage tax rules were not sufficiently favorable. That is what prompts me to be here today and ask, not just for the sake of Gotland, but for Swedish shipping as a whole: Is a change to be expected, and when in time will it come?
It is the type of announcement that I was looking for when I arrived here today, and it is what the Minister for Finance has, to some extent, answered now. But I still think the answers are a bit vague. I believe the investigation was called something along the lines of "vågade skatter" (bold taxes), and it feels like the answers are still a bit vague when it comes to everything that does not concern the stamp duty. I suspect that we will see each other here again.
Finansministern Elisabeth Svantesson (M)
Madam Speaker! During 2026, the temporary decision will expire, and Sweden will of course continue to have a good and competitive tonnage tax. Work is also being done on this now. How and if it will be changed is a bit early to say since we are now in November 2024. But one can feel secure that the government will support the industry.
It is a strength that we on our side know what we want. I do not know what the other four parties want, and I shall not take that up here now either. As I also said in the previous debate: For the government and for me, well-functioning transport and infrastructure are of crucial importance if Swedish competitiveness is to be strengthened and the economy is to grow. Rail and road traffic are prioritized by the government, and that is also why we are making historical investments and addressing, among other things, the maintenance debt. Aviation is also prioritized by the government. Sweden is an elongated country with large distances. That is why we are removing the aviation tax, because it is necessary to secure air traffic.
Finally, Madam Speaker, shipping is prioritized - for many reasons, as we have mentioned earlier. Without a well-functioning shipping industry, we also do not have a functioning foreign trade. As a first step in doing something, we are now removing the stamp duty. It is no small matter. We are also now reviewing the tonnage rules. In short: The Government prioritizes Swedish infrastructure, and I can guarantee that we will continue to do so.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.