Denmark Decoded #3 — Your tax card and why it matters
Issue #3
Your tax card and why it matters
Your tax card (skattekort) determines how much tax is withheld from your salary. Get it wrong, and you'll either overpay all year or face a surprise bill in March.
Why this matters
Your tax card (skattekort) determines how much tax is withheld from your salary. Get it wrong, and you'll either overpay all year or face a surprise bill in March.
What you need to know
- Primary tax card (hovedkort): Used by your main employer, includes personal allowance (personfradrag ~48,000 DKK/year)
- Secondary tax card (bikort): For side jobs, no personal allowance — flat 37% withholding
- You can split your personal allowance between employers if needed
- Tax cards are automatically generated when you register with SKAT
Key takeaway: Always give your employer your primary tax card first. Only use secondary for side income.
Common mistakes
- Using secondary card for main job — results in over-taxation
- Not updating tax card when changing jobs
- Ignoring the annual tax statement (årsopgørelse) in March
Where to go next
Check skat.dk → 'Skattekort' to see which employer has your primary card.
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