Tax on moving out of Norway, or Exit-Skatt

Utflyttingsskatt when leaving Norway

What is Exit Skatt in Norway?

Exit Skatt (utflyttingsskatt) is a tax paid by some people when leaving Norway, which is intended to reduce the tax loophole that allows Norwegian tax residents to move out of the Fjord Country without paying the taxes due.

You pay this tax when you cease to be Norwegian tax residents and own capital assets, such as shares, investment funds or other financial instruments. This tax covers capital gains that would have been taxed if you had sold them before leaving Norway. The purpose of this tax is to prevent tax avoidance by people leaving Norway.

When does the Exit Tax apply?

Exit Skatt applies when the conditions for ending tax residence in Norway are met – i.e. when our unlimited tax liability “transfers” to another NOKaj – based on Norwegian regulations or tax treaties with other countries. This means that if we move our residence abroad and thereby lose our tax residence status in Norway, we may be required to pay this tax on the gain from our capital assets.

Tax Exit Check applies only to specific financial instruments and does not cover all assets. Tax is capital gain z:

1. Shares, shares and ownership certificates in Norwegian companies
2. Share Savings Account (Aksjesparekonto)
3. Shares in Norwegian personal companies
4. Shares and stocks in foreign companies, which are equivalent to Norwegian capital structures
5. Rights to purchase shares, options and other financial instruments related to the assets listed above
6. Some capital insurance (kapitalforsikring)

Do I have to pay tax when I move out of Norway?

To answer this question, first answer a few questions:

• Do you own stocks, mutual funds or other financial instruments?
• Are you planning to move out of Norway for longer than 6 months, which usually means that you will cease to be a tax resident in Norway?
• Would your capital assets be worth more when you move than when you purchased them (i.e. have they appreciated in value)?
• If they have increased in value, does the value of your total potential capital gain (shares etc.) exceed NOK 500?
• Are you transferring your assets to someone who lives outside Norway?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, there is a high chance that you will be required to pay Exit Skatt.

On the other hand, if:

• You don't have any taxable financial assets - you didn't buy shares etc.,
• Your assets did not increase in value – there was no profit,
• The value of your capital gain does not exceed NOK 500,

then Exit Skatt does not apply to you and you will not have to pay this tax when you move out of Norway.

How much tax will I pay?

Tax Exit Check is calculated based on the value of your capital assets on the day before you lose your tax residency in Norway. For example: in the case of moving to Poland, if you move out of Norway permanently on 10 June, you automatically lose your Norwegian tax residency, so the value of the assets on 9 June is taken into account.

The tax rate for capital gains (e.g. sale of shares, dividends) in 2025 is 37,84% after taking into account tax multiplier of 1,72.

Examples:

1. You have stocks that have increased in value
   • Let's assume you bought shares a few years ago for NOK 4, and their value at the time of moving out is NOK 8.
   • TWOJ capital gain totals NOK 4 (market value minus purchase price).
   • This value is multiplied by 1,72what gives NOK 6.
   • The tax is charged at the rate of 22% from this amount:
     NOK 6,880,000 x 22% = NOK 1,513,600.
2. You have shares in an investment fund (stocks and bonds)
   • Let's assume you own shares in an investment fund worth NOK 3 when you move out. Depending on the fund structure, Exit Skatt will be charged at different rates:
     • Equity fund (over 80% shares)
       • The entire gain is treated as a capital gain on shares and is therefore subject to taxation. 37,84%.
       • If the value of your share in the fund has increased from NOK 2 do NOK 6, the profit is NOK 4.
       • Conversion by coefficient 1,72: 4,000,000 NOK x 1,72 = 6,880,000 NOK.
       • Tax: NOK 6,880,000 x 22% = NOK 1,513,600.
     • Bond fund (over 80% bonds)
       • All profit is treated as interest income and is subject to 22% tax.
       • With the increase in the value of the fund from NOK 2 do NOK 3, tax is:
         1,000,000 NOK x 22% = 220,000 NOK.
     • Mixed fund (20-80% equities)
       • The profit is divided proportionally into equity and bond parts.
       • If your fund has 60% stocks and 40% bonds, and the profit is NOK 1, this:
         • 600 000 NOK is treated as income from shares (37,84%)
         • 400 000 NOK is treated as interest income (22%)
       • Tax on share part: NOK 600,000 x 1,72 x 22% = NOK 226,460
       • Tax on bond part: NOK 400,000 x 22% = NOK 88,000
       • Total tax: 226 NOK + 460 NOK = 88 NOK

WARNING! In the case of Exit Tax no loss deduction applies, which means, that you won't get a tax refund even if you have a loss on your stocks!The loss will only be taken into account for any future settlement if you decide to sell the assets after moving.

How can I avoid this tax?

If you already know from the previous points that you are subject to exit skatt, one way to avoid it is to return to Norway before selling the assets. Then the tax liability is canceled.

It is also possible to use the mechanism of deferring tax payments until the actual sale of assets if certain conditions are met, for example moving to an EU/EEA NOK that has an agreement on the exchange of tax information with Norway.

Another option that allows you to temporary avoiding paying tax is to defer payment or spread it out in installments over a period of 7 years. However, the tax must be paid initially in the amount of at least one seventh of the originally assessed tax. Deferred payment applies to payments of all types of assets and liabilities.

Will I pay this tax if I never return to Norway?

The answer to this question depends on the date you move from Norway.

1. If you moved out after November 29, 2022:

• The tax liability is indefinite.
• This means that even if you never return to Norway, when you sell assets subject to Exit Skatt you will still have to pay tax on their value on the day before you moved out.
• This tax remains in force regardless of where you live or how long you stay outside Norway.

2. If you moved out before November 29, 2022:

• Tax liability expires after five years.
• This means that if you have not sold your assets within five years of moving out, Exit Skatt will no longer apply, and any tax on profits will be charged according to the rules of the NOKaj in which you currently reside.
• However, if the sale occurs within five years, you still have to pay Exit Skatt in Norway.

Speaking NO Briefly:

• Moving Out after November 29, 2022 = the tax is valid indefinitely
• Moving Out before November 29, 2022 = the tax is valid for 5 years and then expires.

Does the tax apply to Polish citizens?

Yes, the moving tax applies all persons who lose their tax residence status in Norway, regardless of citizenship. Poles working and investing in Norway who decide to return to Poland or move to another NOK may be subject to this tax obligation if they have assets subject to Exit Skatt.

This is due to the fact that even with Polish citizenship we can have tax residence in Norway. This is due to the regulations in force in both countries. If you want to check where your tax residence is, you can do it for free in Polish here (click).

What changes to Exit Skatt have been introduced in 2025?

Under State Budget for 2025, the Norwegian government changed some rules of Exit Skatt tax:

1. Increase in exemption threshold
   • Since 2025 the new exemption threshold is NOK 3 million.
   • This means that if net profits upon moving out will amount to e.g. NOK 3,5 million, tax will only be charged on NOK 500If our profit is less than NOK 3 million, we pay nothing.
2. Increase in installment period
   • Currently, you can spread your tax payment for 12 yearsThese are more favorable conditions for the taxpayer, who has more time to repay the tax compared to the previous rules.
3. Changes to the rules on inheritance
   • If a person is covered by Exit Skatt he will die, tax will not be downloaded, if the heirs are residents of Norway.
   • If the heirs live abroad, they can use the option deferment of payment.
   • If within 12 years return to Norway, the tax will be completely canceled.
4. Possibility of using shares as tax protection
   • Taxpayers will be able to pledge shares as collateral for tax liabilities.
   • If the value of the shares falls, the security will still be sufficient and the taxpayer does not have to pay the tax immediately.
5. Changes to dividend rules
   • So far, some people they moved abroad, paid dividends, and then returned to Norway, avoiding the tax on the increase in the value of shares. New regulationsthey closed this gap – from 2025 Exit Skatt must be paid when the dividend is paidThe new rule would apply all new cases of departure and transfer of assets.

Can the tax be paid in installments?

Yes, in certain cases it is possible deferment of payment of Exit Skatt tax. People who are subject to Exit Skatt can apply for deferment of payment until they actually realize a profit (e.g. sell the shares). To use this option, one of the following conditions must be met:

• Tax protection - the taxpayer must present financial guarantee (e.g. in the form of a lien on assets) that will ensure that tax will be paid in the future.
• Moving to NOKaj EU/EEA – if the target NOKaj has a contract for exchange of tax information and assistance in debt collection with Norway (e.g. Poland), you can get deferment without the need to provide security.
• Moving to Svalbard – if a person moves to Svalbard, they can also benefit deferment without the need for collateral.

If I do not meet the NOK criteria, are there any other taxes I need to worry about when leaving?

Yes, even if you move out of Norway in a given year and cease to be a tax resident there, you must remember that You are obliged to account for any Norwegian income here. In most cases, settlement is automatic, but it is often necessary to correct the data entered by the office or you have the option to add tax deductions to which you are entitled.

Efremtid.no can help you submit, correct or add information to your annual tax return, regardless of whether it is settlement in Poland settlement in Norway.

Does Exit Tax in Norway apply to the sale of real estate?

Not, Exit Skatt does not apply to real estate. This tax applies capital gains from shares, investment funds and other financial instruments, Of does not apply to the sale of real estate in Norway.

However, moving from Norway may affect how income from the sale of real estate is taxed:

1. Selling your property before moving out
   • If you sell the property before moving out, standard Norwegian tax rules apply.
   • You can avoid tax if you have owned the property for at least 12 months before sale and you lived there for at least 12 months in the last 24 months. In the case of holiday homes, the exemption applies if you have used the property for at least 5 years in the last 8 years and you have owned it for minimum 5 years before sale.
2. Selling a property after moving out
   • If you sell the property after leaving, you may still be subject to Norwegian tax if Norway still considers you a tax resident (which can be appealed) or is subject to tax zawsze (apart from exemptions from tax in general, pursuant to the previous point) if the property is situated in Norway.
   • Some double taxation treaties between Norway and other NOKs may affect where sales tax is paid - in most cases, however, you pay tax in the country where the property is located and, if the tax is higher, you pay the difference in your country of tax residence.
3. Renting a property after moving out
   • If you move out of Norway but keep your property and rent it out, the rental income may still be subject to tax in Norway

Does the Exit Tax in Norway apply to NOKyptocene currencies?

Cryptocurrencies are treated as digital assets in Norway, not securities. This means that holding them does not trigger the obligation to pay Exit Skatt upon losing tax residency.

However, selling NOKyptocurrencies after moving out may still be subject to taxation in the NOK you move to and may also affect your tax liability in Norway, depending on the tax laws of that country.

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