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The Daily Insight

How does inheritance work in Sweden?

Author

Andrew Ramirez

Published Apr 06, 2026

In the absence of a valid will, the property of a deceased person will be distributed in accordance with Swedish inheritance law. Thus, the direct heirs of the deceased (ie, children and grandchildren) inherit first. Only if there are no direct heirs can other relatives inherit.

Does Sweden have an inheritance tax?

The Scandinavian country first introduced an inheritance tax in 1885, and by the 1970s it levied a 65% tax on inherited money, one of the highest rates in modern history. But in 2004, in a unanimous vote, Sweden’s parliament abolished its inheritance tax, which by then had fallen to 30%.

What is the estate in Sweden?

Riksdag of the Estates (formally Swedish: Riksens ständer; informally Swedish: Ståndsriksdagen) was the name used for the Estates of Sweden when they were assembled. Until its dissolution in 1866, the institution was the highest authority in Sweden next to the King.

What is the name of Sweden Parliament?

riksdag
Name. The Swedish word riksdag, in definite form riksdagen, is a general term for “parliament” or “assembly”, but it is typically only used for Sweden’s legislature and certain related institutions.

Can you inherit debt in Sweden?

In Sweden, debts are not inherited. Who inherits depends on whether or not the deceased was married or had children. There may be a prenuptial agreement and/or a will stating that specific things should go to a specific person or organisation. Unless a will has been made, cohabitees do not inherit from one another.

In which countries do you inherit debt?

Bonded labour is most widespread in South Asian countries such as India and Pakistan. Often entire families have to work to pay off the debt taken by one of its members. Sometimes, the debt can be passed down the generations and children can be held in debt bondage because of a loan their parents had taken decades ago.

How is the inheritance tax calculated in Sweden?

The Swedish inheritance tax has existed in various permutations since the 17th century. The tax was assessed against property acquired through inheritance, bequest and, in some cases, life insurance. The tax was calculated on the value of the heir’s share of the estate,…

How is the estate determination done in Sweden?

The determination of assets, as well as the distribution of the estate (arvskifte), is performed under the provisions of Swedish law, if the deceased was a Swedish citizen, resided in Sweden whilst the occurrence of death (hemvist) or if he bequeathed property in Sweden.

What kind of tax do you pay on real estate in Sweden?

The Swedish tax authorities levy the annual tax on Swedish real estate. The tax is added to the real estate company’s income tax return. The owner of the real estate at the beginning of the year is liable to property tax. The tax rate is 1% for commercial office space and 0.5% for industrial property.

Which is the property of the surviving spouse in Sweden?

Except the estate in severalty (enskild egendom) any assets of the spouses belong to the so-called „ giftorättsgod”. To perform the „ giftorättsgod” the joint property of the spouses is summarized and subsequently, the surviving spouse is granted half of the joint property.