Norway introduced SAF-T legislation in 2017. SAF-T reporting in Norway is mandatory from January 2020. Companies with less than NOK 5 million in turnover are generally exempt where they are not required to keep accounting information electronically, subject to the applicable bookkeeping rules.
Only when the Norwegian Tax Administration, Skatteetaten, requests it, the taxpayer must submit a Norwegian SAF-T Financial file.
What is the Format of SAF-T Reporting in Norway?
The SAF-T Financial file is a machine-readable XML format. It mainly contains transactional accounting data.
The schema of Norwegian SAF-T Financial consists mainly of:
- Header
- MasterFiles
- GeneralLedgerEntries
SAF-T Norway Requirements
Header, Mandatory
Holds general information about the file including the name of the software which produced it; the company on whose behalf the SAF-T is being submitted; and the selection criteria used. An extension point is provided to allow individual Revenue Bodies to specify further relevant information to be supplied.
MasterFiles, Mandatory
Holds standing data about general ledger account, suppliers, customers, products, etc. An extension point is provided to allow Revenue Bodies to specify additional elements or structures such as tax rate tables.
Data under MasterFiles
Sometimes it might not be necessary to include all the accounts, codes, etc. available in the accounting system, but this depends upon the purpose of the file. If not all the accounts, codes, etc. are needed, then only the accounts in use in the data included, i.e. accounts with transactions or opening or closing balance, are required. If the purpose of the file is to transfer the data between systems, then the entirety of the accounts, codes, etc. might be required. We recommend a choice for this during the export of the SAF-T file.
When transferring data to the Norwegian Tax Authority, Skatteetaten, as a general rule all the accounts, codes, etc. must be included.
Submission and Applicability
Norway SAF-T Financial is not a periodic monthly or annual tax return. It is an on-request audit file that bookkeeping entities must provide when requested by Skatteetaten.
The requirement applies to businesses with bookkeeping obligations that keep accounting records electronically. Businesses with turnover below NOK 5 million are generally exempt from the electronic availability requirement unless they keep electronic accounting information or otherwise fall within the applicable bookkeeping rules.
The SAF-T file is submitted electronically in XML format and must follow the official Norwegian SAF-T Financial schema, code lists, and technical documentation.
How SNI Sap solution is helpful?
The SNI SAF-T Norway solution is designed to help businesses meet Norway’s SAF-T financial reporting requirements. The solution includes customizable tables that capture the necessary accounting data required by the Norwegian tax authority when SAF-T files are requested. These tables can be mapped and configured according to your ERP system and business needs, ensuring smooth integration with local accounting and reporting standards. Through this configuration, the solution enables the generation of SAF-T reports in the prescribed XML format, helping businesses respond efficiently to tax authority requests. All generated reports are collected and displayed in a user-friendly cockpit, making it simple to manage, review, and track compliance activities. With the SNI SAF-T Norway solution, your business can remain prepared for Norwegian SAF-T reporting requirements.