Årsoppgave from borettslag – what it is and why it matters

Årsoppgave from borettslag – annual summary

What is an årsoppgave from a borettslag?

This document is a yearly financial statement received by residents of housing cooperatives (borettslag) in Norway. It contains a summary of the costs and charges related to using the apartment and shows the amounts reported to the tax office (Skatteetaten).

Why do I receive an årsoppgave?

Every apartment owner in a borettslag is required to pay monthly operating charges (felleskostnader). Housing cooperatives, in turn, must account for these with institutions such as Skatteetaten. All data relating to, for example, fellesgjeld (shared debt) is therefore reported to the Norwegian tax office.

This document therefore allows you to check whether all payments and any interest on the loan have been correctly included in your tax assessment.

What information does an årsoppgave from a borettslag contain?

Usually, this document includes:

• Personal details – first name, surname, identification number (fødselsnummer).
• Apartment number and address – identification of the unit in the borettslag.
• Amounts of charges paid to the borettslag – monthly operating charges.
• Interest on fellesgjeld – your share of the interest on the shared debt (can be deducted from tax).
• Payments to the renovation fund – funds allocated for repairs and modernisation.
• Property tax (eiendomsskatt) – if charged by the municipality.

We would like to present an example årsoppgave, but as this document varies depending on the cooperative, it is difficult to prepare even a template. Nevertheless, the document should always contain the information listed above.

The list can of course be longer – if the borettslag organised work for which you were paid, this may be summarised separately or on this årsoppgave.

How do I check whether the årsoppgave is correct?

1. Compare the document with your bank statements – check whether the amounts you paid match the data in the årsoppgave.
2. Verify the interest on fellesgjeld – if you have a loan, check whether the interest amount matches the data from the årsoppgave.
3. Make sure Skatteetaten has received the correct information – log in to Skatteetaten.no and compare the amounts in your skattemelding.

What should I do if there is an error on the årsoppgave?

If you find errors in your årsoppgave:

• Contact the borettslag administration – they may be able to correct the incorrect data quickly.
• Correct the skattemelding/skatteoppgjør – if the data in your skattemelding is incorrect, you can correct it yourself or with the help of an accountant in your annual tax return.
• Keep documents confirming payments – if necessary, Skatteetaten may ask for proof of your payments.

Where can I find the årsoppgave from a borettslag?

The document can be found:

• In your letterbox – if the borettslag sends documents in paper form.
• On the property manager’s platform – for example, OBOS provides documents online.
• After logging in to the borettslag website – if your cooperative has a separate, individual digital system.

Do I need to do anything with the årsoppgave from a borettslag?

Yes – it is worth reviewing the document to make sure the details are correct. If you have fellesgjeld, check whether the interest has been correctly included in your annual tax return.

It is worth remembering that with a loan, every 100 kroner of interest means 22 kroner back in tax. So, assuming 10.000 NOK in interest, you will ultimately get back as much as 2200 NOK in tax! You can read more in our article about årsoppgave from a bank.

What if I did not receive this årsoppgave?

At the beginning of each year, you should receive all annual statements for the previous year – from your employer, bank, insurance company, etc. If February has passed and the annual tax return is just around the corner, but you still have not received all your årsoppgave, including the one from the borettslag – contact the manager of the cooperative you belong to and ask them to send this document. The cooperative should provide it to you as soon as possible.

Summary

• Årsoppgave from a borettslag contains information about operating charges, interest on fellesgjeld and other costs related to the housing cooperative.
• Interest on fellesgjeld, as well as on any other loan, can be deducted from tax, which reduces the tax payable and increases the chance of a refund.
• If you notice errors, contact the cooperative manager and correct the data in your tax return.

If you have questions about taxes, benefits or other official matters – contact us: +47 21 38 38 21. We answer Mon-Fri from 9:00 – 21:00 and will be happy to help!

Author of the article: Marcin – marcin@efirma.no