Last Week in Denmark (03.03-10.03) Episode 8 Year 4
Taxes in English; Statues for women; Tax deductions
Editor HQ
State of Denmark
The first week of March has been about equality. Being able to read your taxes in English, having the opportunity to be publicly honored with a statue for outstanding actions (even if you are a woman), and actually enjoying reading a book written by a Danish author that portrays minorities fairly. And the most fun development: calls from various Danish public figures for more political involvement of the international community in Denmark.
Five public debates have caught our attention this week. First, statistics show that young women are moving more to the left, while young men are moving more to the right. While in SF (Socialists), women dominate the party, the opposite can be said about Liberal Alliance (Libertarians). Second, there is a worrying development with our groundwater. 90% of the groundwater from the capital and the surrounding municipalities contains one or more harmful substances. However, you shouldn’t be afraid to drink the tap water; it just means it requires a more thorough cleaning process.
Third, crisis preparedness courses are selling like hot cakes. The number of participants has increased 10 times since the war in Ukraine. People in Denmark feel uncertainty is in the air and want to be prepared for the worst, or at least for the three days after the worst has happened. Fourth, the medical fraud case with Alles Laegehus continues. The chain of private clinics has been reported to the police and the Patient Safety Authority. At the same time, the South Denmark region decided to check every private clinic in their area. Lastly, the Nordic Waste scandal also continues, with revelations from former employees who claim that soil cleaning wasn’t being done properly. The soil was, in fact, a storage space for toxic substances.
As usual, we end this column with a few calls to action. The LinkedIn team writes about “making Danish friends” and invites others who want to share their story to leave a comment in that article. The Instagram team posted a few reels about being a woman in Denmark and invites you to share your story with them. The Facebook team is looking for more creative volunteers who want to play in our sandbox and create a magical space.
Thank you for reading Last Week in Denmark!
Word of the Week
Samråd = Council / Consultation. The word is used in three specific situations: (a) to discuss a specific issue with someone and find a solution together; (b) a meeting between a minister and a parliamentary committee, where the members of the parliament can ask about the ministry activity; (c) gathering of people who decide together on different issues, for example, the local samråd, a kind of neighborhood association where issues are discussed.
Quiz
Danish Politics HQ
Weekly political overview
The leader of SF (Socialists), Pia Olsen Dyhr, would like a center-left government after the 2026 parliamentary elections, which includes Moderaterne (Social-Liberals), Radikale Venstre (Social-Liberals) and Socialdemokratiet (Social Democrats). However, she is concerned about Radikale Venstre and their newfound friendship with Konservative and Liberal Alliance.
The leader of Liberal Alliance (Libertarians), Alex Vanopslagh, is touring Denmark together with other leaders from the former blue block parties in an unofficial prime minister campaign called “Alex and Responsibility.” One of his promises is a plan to close 5-7 ministries, including the Taxation and Gender Equality ministries.
A new abortion legislation is on the way, and among the proposals, the Ministry of Health wants to abolish regional abortion councils (regionale abortsamråd) in favor of a national council. The abortion limit is 12 weeks. If you want an abortion after that limit, you need approval from a regional abortion council, and it seems there are big differences between regions.
Airlines that primarily fly domestic flights will be exempt from paying VAT. So far, only airlines that had more than 55% of their traffic abroad could be VAT exempt. However, none of the 27 airlines that fly between Danish cities will benefit from the new rule, as they are already exempt thanks to the other rule. Then why? To encourage smaller companies to enter the market.
Focus
The leader of Konservative has died: During a national board meeting in Vejen, Søren Pape Poulsen (52 years old) suffered a brain hemorrhage and despite efforts made by the doctors at Odense University Hospital, he died the next day. He was known as a gentle and conciliatory politician (a rare breed among those at the national level), who was well-liked and respected by people from both sides of the political spectrum. You can read his obituary here.
Almost 2,000 people in Denmark are affected by brain hemorrhages each year. The biggest risk factor is high blood pressure. One million people in Denmark suffer from high blood pressure, with a third of them unaware. If you are over 50 years old, you should be especially aware of your blood pressure.
Most likely, the new Konservative Party leader will be Mona Juul, member of Parliament since 2019 and spokesperson for the party on business and climate. An extraordinary general assembly will be organized in the next couple of weeks to secure leadership.
If the party wants to preserve the one seat they usually get at the European Parliament elections, they need to move fast to select a new leader who is ready to meet voters on the streets in the next three months.
The Ministry of Culture wants more statues of women in the public space: They are ready to spend up to 50 million DKK to commission new statues of women who made an impact on Danish society. The ministry will establish a committee to decide which women will be honored.
There are 321 human statues in public space, of which only 31 honor a woman.
In a poll made by DR, the most mentioned names of women that should be honored with a statue were: seismologist Inge Lehmann (discovered the Earth’s inner core); author Karen Blixen (writer of the “African Farm” book); sculptor Anne Marie Carl Nilsen (initiator of the Society of Women Artists); former Prime Minister Helle Thorning Schmidt (Denmark’s first female Prime Minister); former lord mayor of Copenhagen Ritt Bjerregaard; former Minister Nina Bang (Denmark’s first female Minister); Queen Margrethe II; Countess Danner (her house is today Dannerhuset - a women’s crisis centre); former Minister Bodil Koch (created the movement Folkevirke, which aimed to educate and mobilize Danish women to participate in political life); and zoologist Marie Hammer (discovered 1,000 new species and 150 new genera).
Danish Economics HQ
Record low number of people on social support: 91,300 people in Denmark receive social support (kontanthjælp), the lowest number since statistics have been recorded (2007). The number of people on social support halved since 2015. In the last quarter of 2023, there has been a decline of 1.7% and the general trend seems to be going in that direction. We should expect even lower numbers in the next quarters of 2024.
The biggest salary increase for SOSUs in 30 years: Social and healthcare workers (SOSUs) can expect a 17% salary increase over the next two years. A general wage increase of 6.5% plus a 20% increase in evening, night, and weekend supplements, and extra for SOSUs with at least seven years of seniority.
The value of one bitcoin has reached 467,000 DKK: After a crazy increase in value of over 50% in the last month, bitcoin broke its own record of a 470,000 DKK valuation for one bitcoin. The total value of money invested in the cryptocurrency is over 9.2 trillion DKK, which is three times Denmark’s GDP.
Tax return season is here: At least for 80% of the people in Denmark, it is, in fact, tax return season. For the rest, it is extra tax season, as they have to pay more. If you are among the 80%, you should be happy to hear that there is a small interest rate on the amount you stand to get back (meaning extra money). The interest rate is just 0.8%, but it still counts towards the total.
You can already check your tax assessment notice (Årsopgørelsen) on skat.dk. However, if you have patience, you should wait a week or two until people calm down, as the queues are really long at the moment.
If you have to pay extra taxes, you should do it as soon as possible, as it will accrue an interest rate of 5.5% from January 2024 until you pay.
The system is designed so that most people pay a little too much in taxes during the year, because the withdrawal percentage is rounded up. That’s why most people stand to get money back.
Excess tax is due on April 12. You have until May 1 to make changes.
For the first time, the tax assessment notice will be available in English: Large parts of the TastSelv Borger (E-tax for individuals) on skat.dk have been translated to English and for the first time, the tax assessment notice will be available in English. Huge progress for the international community in Denmark.
The website has also been made more user-friendly for people with visual impairments or other physical disabilities.
Entrepreneur’s corner
Free course in English from Iværksætterdanmark on influencer marketing: Sign up here for the “How to improve your marketing strategy by using influencers” provided by the Copenhagen School of Entrepreneurship. The course takes place in Copenhagen in April.
Free webinar in English from European Training Center Copenhagen on gamification: Sign up here for the webinar that will provide you with insights into how gamification can make education more effective and enjoyable. Online course on March 19.
Opportunity for companies in Aalborg and surroundings: Through an EU program, you can get a temporary qualified trainee with 2+ years of experience (1 to 6 months) from another EU state. There is no cost for you, as the trainee is paid by the EU. If interested, contact info@aalborgid.com
AID is looking to sub-rent rooms and apartments (especially from students) in Aalborg for July 2024. If interested, send a mail to aalborg.institute@gmail.com
Daily Life in Denmark HQ
Insights into the Danish way of life
Wednesday March 13 will be the first day of CPH:DOX, the annual documentary festival held in the Danish capital. With 12 days of screenings and activities, the event brings people together in one of Denmark’s favorite artistic formats: film. But how much do you know about it?
In June 1896, the first Danish film was screened in Copenhagen’s Rådhuspladsen – this was only half a year after the Lumière brothers had screened their first production. Some years later, Ole Olsen was the mastermind behind the creation of Nordisk Film, standing today as the oldest production studio in the world to still be in operation.
During the ‘60s, the country took the headlines by legalizing pornography and getting rid of adult censorship. With fans and opponents, this measure was overall regarded as a symbol of Danish attitudes around freedom, encouraging rawer and riskier forms of film. Three decades later, four Danish directors created the “Dogme 95 Manifesto” (1995), a set of production rules that intended to bring back the traditional values of filmmaking which they felt technology was erasing. The movement resonated with many and became popular all around the world.
Although other countries lead the current scene, Denmark’s values of honesty and bluntness have made its film unique in its own way. The straight-to-the-point tone of normal Danish interactions can be seen in production, where directors often prioritize building characters and addressing “difficult” subjects rather than developing big plots. With four academy awards for Best International Film and one very iconic Mads Mikkelsen, Denmark remains relevant in worldwide screens. 3.1% of its GDP is spent on “leisure, culture and religion”, so a good amount of public spending goes into making art accessible to all. To break the language barrier, many cinemas in the country have started to offer English subtitling. You can also find a large amount of Danish content for free on DRTV’s website.
Explainer
Tax deductions: The famous “fradrag” is the amount from your salary that is tax-free. We recommend that every time you change your employment situation, you go to skat.dk and correct your preliminary income assessment to ensure you get the most out of your salary. What to consider?
Transport deduction (if you live more than 12 kilometers from work). All means of transport, including car, train, bus or bike, are covered. This can be found on field 417 on your preliminary income assessment. You don’t get it if your employer pays for your transport.
Work-related travel expense deduction. If your employer does not cover your work-related travel expenses, you are entitled to deduct expenses for food, accommodation and petty acquisitions while traveling. This is on field 429 on your preliminary income assessment. Remember! The duration of the journey must be at least 24 hours in which you spend the night away from home.
Trade union membership deduction. You can deduct 7,000 DKK / yearly from the fees you pay to your trade union (field 458).
Unemployment insurance (A-kasse) and early retirement/flex allowance scheme. You can deduct all the fees paid (field 439).
Employment-related expenses deduction. You must be able to document your expenses. Eligible categories include courses, home office costs, using your personal telephone, IT equipment, professional journals or scientific works, and special clothing for your work. You can change it only in the tax assessment notice (field 58).
Private home services deduction. You can get 26% (up to 11,900 DKK per person) from the costs of gardening, babysitting and cleaning services for your home (field 461).
Installment pension (Ratepension) deduction up to 60,900 DKK per year. (field 347)
Deduction on losses on investment shares.
Donations to charities deduction, up to 17,700 DKK per year. If you donate for research purposes, there is no upper limit.
Weekly overview
Parents will be allowed to view and correct the tax assessment notice for their children (under 18 years old): At 15, young people get their first annual tax assessment notice. From 2024, parents will also be allowed to access it.
Up to the age of 16, if you work for a private home (doing various chores), you don’t pay tax on your income. However, if you work for a company, then you pay tax on income, regardless of age. Your yearly tax deduction (fradrag) is 36,900 DKK if you are under 18.
The practice of using a sensitivity reader by authors has started to become commonplace, also in Denmark: A sensitivity reader is someone who reads a literary work, looking for perceived offensive content, stereotypes and bias, creating a report for an author or publisher with suggested changes. Basically, if you are an author that writes, for example, about a minority, it would be a great idea to get someone from that minority to check the text for “blind spots,” to get a greater level of authenticity.
Many perceive this to be a good development for the international community, considering the staggering amount of Danish books from the past that portray different minorities, either wrongly or intentionally bad.
The number of book clubs for young people has sharply increased in the past year: A TikTok trend called #Booktok has sparked an international phenomenon where young people start book clubs. The number of printed books sold has increased by 50% since 2021 as a consequence of the trend.
A side-trend is the “silent book clubs,” where people meet in bars, cafes, bookshops, libraries, etc. simply to read together in silence.
In Aalborg, there are 80 book clubs that are part of Aalborg Bibliotek.
Electric car charging stations on lampposts: An experiment in Bornholm (Rønne) will show if in the future we can place electric car charging stations on lampposts. The project is possible because Bornholm lampposts have more power capacity than is used to light the streets. However, charging will be slower than usual, with an estimated duration of approximately one night to fully charge a car.
Four-day work week at Copenhagen Municipality: Another experiment, this time with working duration. 14 workplaces within the municipality of Copenhagen have been selected to participate in an experiment where employees can choose to work four days instead of five. However, this does not mean less working hours; it just means that the four working days will be two hours longer. The experiment is not new for Denmark, as Esbjerg, Vejen and Odsherred municipalities have tried it.
European Union HQ
Europe This Week
Right to abortion. France has become the first country in the world to secure the right to abortion as part of the country's constitution. While the message was generally accepted positively around the globe, persistent gender inequalities remain, with ongoing concerns around issues like pay disparities and gender-segregated labor markets.
Europe gets serious on its defense industry. The European Commission and High Representative unveiled the inaugural European Defence Industrial Strategy, aiming to bolster the continent's defense industry readiness. Proposing the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), the strategy focuses on collaborative procurement, intra-EU defense trade, and budget allocation. With a €1.5 billion budget, EDIP supports competitiveness, research and development (R&D), and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) while fostering ties with NATO, like-minded partners, and Ukraine, enhancing Europe's security and cooperation.
Elections in Portugal. Portuguese voters face an unpredictable election after Prime Minister António Costa's abrupt resignation, prompted by a probe into influence-peddling, leaving the country in political uncertainty. The leading candidates, Luís Montenegro and Pedro Nuno Santos, are in a close race, with corruption concerns, affordable housing, and public services playing key roles. Meanwhile, the far-right Chega party could emerge as a significant influence in a potentially evenly split parliament.
Rights
Income taxes abroad: The country where you reside (exception for USA and Eritrea) for tax purposes can tax your total worldwide income, earned or unearned. This includes wages, pensions, benefits, income from property or from any other sources, or capital gains from sales of property, from all countries worldwide. EU states regularly exchange income tax information to ensure taxpayers meet their obligations and to combat tax fraud and tax evasion.
You will be considered tax-resident in the country where you spend more than 6 months a year.
Regardless of which EU state you are considered a tax-resident, EU rules state that you should be taxed in the same way as nationals of that country under the same conditions.
Opportunities
Win a prize from the European Space Agency: They invite children up to 12 years old to share their space artwork and explore topics like orbits, planets, astronauts, asteroids, and more. Read more here. Deadline! March 31.
Win 140,000 DKK and attend high-level UN meetings: Young people (18-30 years old) that have worked at least six months on a big idea to protect or restore the environment. Read more here. Deadline! April 5.
Win a trip to Montreal, Canada: Young people (18-30 years old) that have a track record of generating impactful and innovative solutions to address either climate and environmental challenges, or education and skills-based challenges. Read more here. Deadline! March 17.
Announcement Board
Odense, March 13 (18:00) & 24 (13:00): Repair Café – This non-profit organization helps to reduce waste and teach repair skills by offering advice and tools to repair items. You can see their events on their page.
Copenhagen, March 14, 17:00: Food for Thought with Oda-Kange Midtvåge Diallo at Crossing Borders. Her research focuses on black and African diaspora knowledge production and community building in the Nordics.
Esbjerg, March 16, 14:00: Newcomers Walk in Ribe – Tour the oldest city in Denmark and learn about its history. Sign up ahead.
Aarhus, March 16, 10:00-11:30: Fun Day: Drawing Workshop – Looking for somewhere your little ones can let their creativity run free while you socialize with other parents? Then pop by at this event.
International media about Denmark HQ
A painting by Denmark’s artistic Queen Margrethe exceeds expectations at auction (AP)
Denmark’s tough laws on begging hit Roma women with few other options (Al Jazeera)
Indigenous women in Greenland sue Denmark over involuntary contraception in the 1960s and 1970s (AP)
Last Week in Denmark’s Universe
Read long-form articles on our website: How to learn Danish; Danish Business Culture; How to invest in Denmark; Guides for non-Europeans - I and II; How to negotiate your salary; Giving birth in Denmark - I and II; Pension in Denmark - I and II; Translator in Denmark and many other untold stories from the community.
Read the newsletter in another language: Romanian, Polish, Spanish, Italian and Turkish.
Check out our cool merchandise (top quality): Moving forward; Searching for home; Vasil; Irina; Kifaax; Monika
Join us on social media for exclusive content: Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram
News from the volunteer team: We are looking for volunteers for the Audience Development Team. If you have a couple of hours weekly to support us in reaching more people with this content, then please write to us at lastweekdk@gmail.com