Sweden Wins EU Backing for Lower Taxes on Startup Stock Options
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Sweden will from the start of next year eliminate income taxes on stock options at smaller startup companies, meeting its vibrant tech community halfway to ward off a brain-drain to other cities such as London and Berlin.
The government received backing from the European Commission to stop taxing stock options as income at companies that are younger than 10 years, have fewer than 50 employees and revenue and a balance sheet of below 80 million kronor. Companies will be exempt from payroll levies on the options, which will be taxed as capital when they are sold.