Sweden VAT rate 2026: 25% standard rate

By Remco from Avatcado

Sweden's standard VAT rate is 25 percent, tied with Denmark and Croatia among the EU's highest. Groceries moved from the 12 percent reduced rate to the 6 percent rate on 1 April 2026, but only for takeaway and off-premises sales: dine-in restaurant and catering food explicitly stays at 12 percent, and the whole change is temporary, sunsetting 31 December 2027 absent further legislation.

Sweden VAT rates

RateTypeApplies to
25%StandardDefault rate for goods and services not listed under a reduced category.
12%ReducedHotel and guesthouse room rentals, camping pitch rentals, and dine-in restaurant and catering services, which stay here even though takeaway groceries moved to 6 percent.
6%ReducedBooks, newspapers, and e-books, passenger transport, and, since 1 April 2026, groceries and takeaway food moved down from 12 percent as a temporary measure through 31 December 2027.

Rates served live from the Avatcado API, last updated March 19, 2026.

Check a Sweden VAT number

Businesses charging Sweden VAT must hold an active Sweden VAT registration. Check any Sweden VAT number for free below.

Enter a VAT number to see the live API response

Get Sweden VAT rates via API

The same rates as an API call:

curl "https://api.avatcado.com/v1/rates/SE" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer avat_live_your_api_key"
{
  "data": {
    "country_code": "SE",
    "country_name": "Sweden",
    "currency": "SEK",
    "standard_rate": 25,
    "other_rates": [
      {
        "rate": 12,
        "type": "reduced"
      },
      {
        "rate": 6,
        "type": "reduced"
      }
    ],
    "updated_at": "2026-08-13T00:00:00.000Z"
  },
  "meta": {
    "request_id": "req_..."
  }
}

Frequently asked questions

Why do Swedish groceries and restaurant meals have different VAT rates now?

Since 1 April 2026, takeaway groceries moved from 12 to 6 percent as a temporary measure sunsetting 31 December 2027, but dine-in restaurant and catering food service explicitly stays at 12 percent, creating a split-rate rule for any business selling both.

What is the VAT registration threshold in Sweden?

SEK 120,000 per year for Sweden-established businesses, raised from SEK 80,000, applying to the current year and each of the two preceding calendar years. Non-resident businesses have no threshold and must register from their first taxable supply.

VAT number formats

Related guides

Free tier includes 500 validations per month, and VAT rates lookups are always free and unlimited. Get an API key or read the API documentation.

Sources