On 1 January, changes are made to several laws and regulations. Here is a small overview of some of the most important changes: VAT on all online shopping from abroad From 1 January you must pay value added tax and any duty on purchases under NOK 350 from foreign online shops. This also applies if you have purchased an item in 2023, but will not have it delivered until 2024. Today you can order VAT- and duty-free from abroad if the price is under NOK 350. This limit was introduced in 2014. To avoid the VAT and any duty, you should check whether the online store you shop at is VOEC registered. If you shop from a VOEC-registered online store, you can see the total price and pay all taxes when you shop. Stricter rules for foreign tour buses in Norway The Norwegian tour bus industry has for a long time felt threatened by foreign tour bus companies that have been able to offer cheap tours in Norway. From New Year, foreign buses will only be allowed to drive with passengers on Norwegian roads for a maximum of 20 consecutive days, and a maximum of 30 days a year. The aim of the change is to overcome social dumping in the transport sector. More for the disadvantaged Today, the child allowance for employment verification money, disability benefit and qualification support is waived if the child has income that exceeds the basic amount of just under NOK 120,000. These rules are repealed from 1 January, so that you as a dependent receive child allowance regardless of your child’s income. The rates for child allowance for employment verification allowance and qualification support are increased to NOK 36 per child per day. Buy a ticket on the train at no extra cost Today, if you travel from a train station with a ticket machine and buy a ticket on the train, you must pay NOK 40 in addition to the ticket. From New Year, you have the right to buy a ticket on board the railway at no extra cost. It will now be cheaper to buy a ticket on the train. Photo: Go-Ahead Have to pay more before getting electricity support Since December 2021, the government has had an electricity support scheme to help people deal with the extraordinary electricity prices. This autumn, the electricity subsidy has been based on an average market price hour by hour, in the local price range to which your household belongs. From 1 January, the threshold value for calculating electricity support increases from 70 to 73 øre per kWh, excluding VAT. That means you have to pay more before you get electricity support. This means that it is when the price in individual hours exceeds 73 per kWh excluding VAT, and not 70 kWh excluding VAT, that the electricity subsidy will cover 90 per cent of the price above this level. More workplaces must have safety representatives and working environment committees After the New Year, around 35,000 companies must introduce safety representatives, who are responsible for, among other things, looking after the interests of employees in environmental matters. Changes to the Working Environment Act mean that all businesses with five or more employees must have a safety representative. The main rule is that all workplaces must have a safety representative. In addition, businesses with more than 30 or more employees must have a working environment committee. Today, this threshold is 50 employees. The committee shall work for a better working environment in the company. Reduced fees on traffic insurance and fuel From 1 January, the traffic insurance fee will be reduced by NOK 1.10 per day for all vehicles except electric cars. The road use tax on petrol and mineral oil will be reduced by NOK 0.26 and NOK 0.32 per liter respectively after price adjustments after the New Year. At the same time, the fuel taxes linked to CO2 will increase, as you can read in the case below: It will be cheaper to own, but more expensive to drive a lot. Conversion therapy is banned Changes to the Criminal Code mean that from 1 January it is a criminal offense to carry out and market conversion therapy. The prohibition also applies when the act is carried out outside Norway by a Norwegian citizen, by a person resident in Norway, or on behalf of a company registered in Norway. The ban will particularly provide protection to LGBT+ people. The child must participate more in child protection A new regulation, which comes into force over the New Year, contains detailed rules, among other things, with the intention of strengthening the child’s participation in child protection matters. This clarifies the child’s right to participate in all phases of a child welfare case, and the child welfare agency’s responsibility to arrange for the child to participate. The child also has the opportunity to bring a trusted person with him to meetings with the child welfare services, which the child generally chooses himself. Parents do not have to consent to the choice of trustee. Mandatory fixed price for new books On 1 January, a new book act comes into effect. The purpose of the new Book Act is to facilitate the creation of a broad and diverse literature of good quality, and that the literature is accessible to everyone in Norway. The law includes, among other things, a mandatory fixed price for books. This means that the publisher of the book must set a fixed price for sale to you as a consumer. The fixed price applies to publishers and retailers for twelve months. Increased child benefit The rate for ordinary child benefit for children between the ages of 6 up to and including the month before they turn 18 will increase from New Year’s. If you have children in this age group, you will be paid more in child benefit each month. The new rate is NOK 1,510. Seat belts in tractors From 1 January, most tractors must have seat belts for the driver. Because at New Year, the deadline for retrofitting expires for tractors with approved belt attachments, writes the Norwegian Public Roads Administration in a press release. In August, the demand for the use of seat belts in tractors also came outside of work. Then there was also an order to retrofit seat belts in tractors that are equipped with belt fasteners or attachment points before the New Year. Now you must have seat belts in tractors. The image is an illustrative image. Photo: Sunniva Tønsberg Gaski / TFFK
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These changes come into effect from the new year – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
