Business · dividends 2026
Dividend tax in Finland 2026 — unlisted limited company
A dividend from an unlisted limited company (Oy) is split for tax into a capital-income and an earned-income part based on your shares’ mathematical value (net assets). Of a dividend up to 8% of the shares’ mathematical value, 25% is taxable capital income and 75% is tax-free — up to €150,000. A dividend above that is earned income and taxed progressively.
In effect a dividend is partly taxed twice: the company has already paid 20% corporate tax on its profit before distributing the dividend. The calculator shows the dividend tax, the net amount and the effective rate, plus a comparison of whether the same money is better taken as salary or dividend.
Calculate the dividend tax
The company’s net assets (assets − debts) for your share, per the latest balance sheet.
The gross dividend paid to you.
Affects the €30,000 bracket (30% / 34%).
Salary, pension, etc. — affects the earned-income dividend’s progression.
You keep from the dividend
€14,800
Effective tax rate: 7.5 %
| 8% ceiling (relieved dividend) | €16,000 |
| Capital-income dividend (≤ 8%) | €16,000 |
| Taxable capital income | €4,000 |
| Capital-income tax | €1,200 |
| Total tax | €1,200 |
| Net | €14,800 |
Salary or dividend?
Net as dividend
€14,800
Net as salary
€15,295
In this situation, salary is cheaper.
Comparison at equal total company cost. Paying this dividend consumed €20,000 of company profit (incl. corporate tax €4,000). The same amount as salary would buy a gross salary of €16,681.
An unlisted company’s dividend is split into a capital-income and an earned-income part at the 8% ceiling. The earned-income dividend and salary taxes are calculated with the national-average municipal tax rate and are indicative. The €150,000 limit is personal. Net assets are treated as the mathematical value of the shareholder’s shares. The comparison does not account for all personal deductions. This is not tax advice.
How is an unlisted Oy’s dividend taxed in 2026?
A dividend from an unlisted limited company is split into two parts depending on whether it exceeds 8% of the shares’ mathematical value (net assets). A dividend up to 8% is a capital-income dividend: 25% is taxable capital income and 75% is tax-free, as long as the personal €150,000 limit is not exceeded. Taxable capital income is taxed at 30% up to €30,000 and 34% above. In practice the effective rate of a pure relieved dividend is about 7.5%. For example, with net assets of €200,000 and a dividend of €16,000 (exactly 8%), the tax is €1,200, i.e. 7.5%. A dividend above 8% is an earned-income dividend, 75% of which is taxed progressively together with other earned income. The dividend is paid from profit that has already borne 20% corporate tax, so when assessing the total tax burden it is worth comparing dividend and salary from the company’s total-cost perspective.
How an unlisted Oy dividend is taxed
The decisive limit is 8% of the shares’ mathematical value. Of a dividend below this limit, 25% is taxable capital income (75% tax-free) up to €150,000; of the capital-income part above that, 85% is taxable. Capital-income tax is 30% up to €30,000 and 34% above. The part of the dividend exceeding 8% of the mathematical value is earned income: 75% of it is taxable and it is taxed progressively together with your other earned income.
When comparing salary and dividend, remember that salary is a deductible expense for the company, whereas a dividend is paid from already-taxed profit. At smaller amounts and low net assets salary is often cheaper, and a dividend wins when net assets are high and the 8% relieved dividend is available. In practice a salary-and-dividend mix is often the most effective solution.
Frequently asked questions
How is a dividend from an unlisted company taxed in 2026?
Of a dividend up to 8% of the shares’ mathematical value, 25% is taxable capital income (75% tax-free) up to €150,000. The part over 8% is an earned-income dividend (75% taxable) and taxed progressively.
What is the 8% rule and net assets?
The shares’ mathematical value (net assets divided by shares) sets the limit for the relieved dividend: 8% of it gets the relieved treatment. The higher the net assets, the more dividend you can take at a lighter tax.
What is the capital-income tax rate?
Capital income is taxed at 30% up to €30,000 and at 34% on the part above that.
Is it better to take salary or dividend?
It depends on net assets and the amount. Salary is a deductible expense for the company; a dividend is paid from profit already taxed at 20% corporate tax. A salary-and-dividend mix is often best — the calculator compares both at the same total company cost.
Is a dividend taxed twice?
Partly, yes. The company first pays 20% corporate tax on its profit, and the shareholder then pays their own tax on the dividend received. The dividend reliefs (75% / 25%) ease this double taxation.