Established Icelandic asset management company whose role is to manage clients’ assets with their best interests as the guiding principle.
This summary is prepared with the aim of explaining the tax treatment of assets upon the redemption of units in funds managed by Stefnir hf.
When a fund unit is redeemed, a gain may have arisen which is taxable pursuant to Article 8 (Taxable interest, discounts and exchange gains) of Act No. 90/2003 on Income Tax (hereinafter “the Income Tax Act” or “ITA”). Such gain will hereinafter be referred to as interest income. The tax treatment of interest income depends on various factors, including the tax residency of the individual or entity, whether the taxpayer is a legal entity or an individual, and whether the person is engaged in business operations.
Withholding tax is deducted from interest income and remitted to the Treasury on behalf of clients in accordance with Article 3 of Act No. 94/1996.
Upon redemption of fund units, a 22% tax is withheld on the interest income. The transaction receipt shows the amount withheld each time. When submitting the annual tax return, the final assessment will reflect the individual’s annual tax‑free allowance for interest income, which is currently ISK 300,000 per year pursuant to Article 66(3) ITA. This means that if excess withholding has taken place, the taxpayer may be entitled to a refund upon assessment.
The above‑mentioned allowance does not apply to individuals conducting business activities under their personal ID number. Their taxation is governed by Article 61(1)(3) ITA. In these cases, the 22% withholding tax collected at redemption is credited against next year’s tax assessment after the current income year has concluded.
If a legal entity invests in fund units, the annual change in the value of the units affects its taxable base, regardless of whether the gain has been realized. The tax base is determined by recognizing the accrued exchange difference of the units as income or expense in the income statement. The applicable tax rate depends on the type of legal entity.
The tax rate for legal entities is set out in Article 71 ITA and is 20% for private limited companies and partnerships limited by shares, provided the latter is considered a separate taxable entity, and 37.6% for other legal entities such as general partnerships and joint ownership entities.
Foreign individuals and legal entities subject to limited tax liability in Iceland under Article 3 ITA must pay a 12% withholding tax on their interest income pursuant to points (a) and (b) of Article 70(8) ITA. The tax‑free allowance for foreign persons on capital income is currently ISK 300,000 per year.
It should be noted that a double taxation treaty may result in no withholding tax being due on Iceland‑sourced interest income, provided an exemption is applied for and granted by the Director of Internal Revenue. More information is available here.
It should be noted that tax legislation may change, which may affect the contents of this information sheet. Legal references and rules on tax‑free allowances and tax rates are presented based on the legislation in force at the time this document was prepared and are therefore subject to change. This document should always be read in conjunction with the applicable laws in force at any given time.
The information above is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered tax advice. Stefnir does not guarantee the accuracy of the information, and clients are encouraged to familiarise themselves thoroughly with tax law and practice and obtain independent tax advice.