Taxes for homeowners: interest deduction, ROT and tax on gains
What you get back on interest, how the ROT deduction works, what you pay when selling and when deferral is possible.
Applies to: Sweden. Reviewed 2026-09-25.
Key takeaways
- You get a tax reduction of 30 per cent on interest up to SEK 100,000 a year and 21 per cent on the rest.
- The ROT deduction is 30 per cent of labour cost in 2026, at most SEK 50,000 per person and year.
- A gain when selling your home is taxed at 22 per cent. Deferral of up to SEK 3 million is possible if you buy a new permanent home.
Interest deduction
Interest expenses give a tax reduction for a capital deficit: 30 per cent on a deficit up to SEK 100,000 and 21 per cent on the part above. With two borrowers the interest is divided according to who paid.
ROT deduction
The ROT deduction is 30 per cent of labour costs for repairs, maintenance, conversion and extension of your home, at most SEK 50,000 per person and year. Materials, travel and machinery are not covered. ROT and RUT together may be at most SEK 75,000 a year.
Tax when you sell, and deferral
A gain on selling a private home is taxed at 22 per cent. The gain is the sale price minus the purchase price, improvement costs and selling costs.
- The sold home must have been your permanent home.
- You must buy a replacement home no earlier than the year before and no later than the year after the sale, and move in on time.
- Both homes must be in Sweden or the EEA.
- Deferral is available up to SEK 3 million per person, and it carries no annual charge.
Questions to ask
- Have I kept receipts for improvements that can be deducted on a sale?
Red flags
- You count on ROT for materials or travel, which are not covered.
Sources
- Interest expenses (Skatteverket)
- ROT and RUT work (Skatteverket)
- Selling a home – gain, loss and deferral (Skatteverket)
- Conditions for deferral when you have sold a home (Skatteverket)