The key law changes in Norway in 2023 that you need to know about
There are a number of changes to Norway’s laws next year that will affect everything from taxes, pets, savings and mortgages. Here are the fundamental changes you need to know about.
2023 will see a shakeup to several laws in Norway affecting everything from everyday life to some of the most significant decisions you’ll need to make.
We’ve broken down some of the key legislative and policy changes you need to know about and what they mean for you.
Stricter laws for dog owners
There will be changes to Norway’s Dog Act that will emphasise owners being more responsible.
Under the act, owners will be required to have the necessary skills and competence to handle the dog in day-to-day life and any specific situations it has been trained for.
This means that if your dog is not correctly trained and you haven’t taken the necessary steps to brush up on your skills as a pet owner, you may violate the law.
Additionally, people will no longer be able to tie dogs right to the entrances to playgrounds and buildings open to the public.
Changes to the Financial Agreement Act
While this change may sound dry, it should make it easier for you to obtain a mortgage. Firstly, banks will test prospective homeowners to see whether they can tolerate increase rate increases of three percentage points when applying for a mortgage.
The current limit is five percent. This change should make mortgages more accessible for many.
Other key changes mean the bank should take responsibility if a customer’s BankId is misused.
Changes to house saving schemes for young people
Those under 34 have the opportunity to set up a BSU account and can put 27,500 kroner a year into the BSU account. This savings account comes with a tax saving that has been slashed to 10 percent.
Therefore if you invest 27,500, you can claim a deductible of 2,750 kroner.
Tax changes
VAT will be introduced on electric cars over 500,000 kroner. The VAT will apply to the portion of the sticker price that rises above 500,000 kroner. Furthermore, the wealth tax will increase by 0.05 percent for those with a net worth of between 17 and 20 million.
Residents of Norway will also see the amount of tobacco they can bring duty-free into Norway will be reduced to 100 cigarettes or 125 grams of tobacco.
However, this change won’t apply to tourists and foreign visitors.
Legal aid to become more accessible
The income limits to access free legal aid will be changed in the New Year. In 2023, the limit for people to be able to receive free legal assistance will increase to 350,000 for singles and 540,000 kroner for couples.
New recycling rules
From January 1st, new regulations will require food and plastic waste nationwide to be sorted into separate bins. Under current rules, there have been significant differences in how trash is sorted in different municipalities.
The government hopes that this will lead to 50 percent of plastic waste being recycled by 2035. In addition, the proportion of recycled bio-waste will hopefully increase to 70 percent by 2035.
Changes to the Working Environment Act
Employers will need to document the need for part-time employment over full-time staff, and the rights for part-time employees to become eligible for full-time positions over time will also be strengthened by the government.
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2023 will see a shakeup to several laws in Norway affecting everything from everyday life to some of the most significant decisions you’ll need to make.
We’ve broken down some of the key legislative and policy changes you need to know about and what they mean for you.
Stricter laws for dog owners
There will be changes to Norway’s Dog Act that will emphasise owners being more responsible.
Under the act, owners will be required to have the necessary skills and competence to handle the dog in day-to-day life and any specific situations it has been trained for.
This means that if your dog is not correctly trained and you haven’t taken the necessary steps to brush up on your skills as a pet owner, you may violate the law.
Additionally, people will no longer be able to tie dogs right to the entrances to playgrounds and buildings open to the public.
Changes to the Financial Agreement Act
While this change may sound dry, it should make it easier for you to obtain a mortgage. Firstly, banks will test prospective homeowners to see whether they can tolerate increase rate increases of three percentage points when applying for a mortgage.
The current limit is five percent. This change should make mortgages more accessible for many.
Other key changes mean the bank should take responsibility if a customer’s BankId is misused.
Changes to house saving schemes for young people
Those under 34 have the opportunity to set up a BSU account and can put 27,500 kroner a year into the BSU account. This savings account comes with a tax saving that has been slashed to 10 percent.
Therefore if you invest 27,500, you can claim a deductible of 2,750 kroner.
Tax changes
VAT will be introduced on electric cars over 500,000 kroner. The VAT will apply to the portion of the sticker price that rises above 500,000 kroner. Furthermore, the wealth tax will increase by 0.05 percent for those with a net worth of between 17 and 20 million.
Residents of Norway will also see the amount of tobacco they can bring duty-free into Norway will be reduced to 100 cigarettes or 125 grams of tobacco.
However, this change won’t apply to tourists and foreign visitors.
Legal aid to become more accessible
The income limits to access free legal aid will be changed in the New Year. In 2023, the limit for people to be able to receive free legal assistance will increase to 350,000 for singles and 540,000 kroner for couples.
New recycling rules
From January 1st, new regulations will require food and plastic waste nationwide to be sorted into separate bins. Under current rules, there have been significant differences in how trash is sorted in different municipalities.
The government hopes that this will lead to 50 percent of plastic waste being recycled by 2035. In addition, the proportion of recycled bio-waste will hopefully increase to 70 percent by 2035.
Changes to the Working Environment Act
Employers will need to document the need for part-time employment over full-time staff, and the rights for part-time employees to become eligible for full-time positions over time will also be strengthened by the government.
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