LIMITED TAX LIABILITY
Tax liability to Norway
If you do not stay long enough in Norway to become a tax resident here, you may nevertheless be liable to taxation in Norway for certain types of income and assets, such as income earned in Norway, real property in Norway and dividends from Norwegian companies.
If you have an earned income or own real property in Norway, you must submit a tax return in Norway.
If you have shares in a Norwegian company and receive dividends from Norway, you do not need to submit a tax return. The company will withhold tax when paying out the dividend and transfer it to the tax authorities.
In 2005, personal shareholders living in another Nordic country did not have to pay tax on dividends. However, if tax was withheld, you may apply for a refund. The claim must be adressed to Central office - Foreign tax affairs, P.O. Box 8031, N-4068 Stavanger, Norway.
From 2006 there are new rules on the taxation of dividends paid to individuals. Only the part of the dividend exceeding a risk-free return of the investment is taxable. These rules also apply to persons resident in another Nordic country.
The company will withhold tax when paying out the dividend. If the tax calculated according to internal Norwegian tax regulations is less than the withholding tax, you may apply for a refund. The claim can be sent in 2007, at the earliest. More information will be available on www.skatteetaten.no.