The Social Democratic party leader has often characterized tax planning as something immoral that increases inequality. At the same time, Andersson’s own household has done precisely that, namely made several deliberate choices to lower their own taxes.

Tax planning is when business owners and individuals organize their finances in ways that reduce taxes—without breaking the law. This can entail choosing the right company structure, using permitted deductions, timing income, or structuring ownership through holding companies to enable tax-free sales. But this is exactly what Magdalena Andersson campaigns against.

For example, she criticized this practice in a parliamentary debate when she was Minister of Finance, subsequently blaming the Moderates for “increasing inequality” and for wanting those who earn a lot to pay lower taxes.

But according to a review by Smedjan, her own household has engaged in exactly this kind of tax planning.

Tax planned away 800,000

The background is Andersson’s husband, Professor of Economics Richard Friberg, who runs the company Friberg Economics AB. This company is used for consulting, lectures, book production, and music and performing arts. Despite the company selling consulting services, its annual reports show it has not paid any salaries over the past five years.

Instead, money has been taken out as dividends—a much lower-taxed form than salary. For self-employed people, this is a common and legal way to withdraw money when the company has enough liquidity. The tax on dividends can be as low as 20 percent, while salary is subject to employer fees, income tax, and state tax at higher income levels.

According to Smedjan’s calculations, Magdalena Andersson’s household could have received up to 1.3 million SEK after tax in dividends from the husband’s company over the past four years. Had the money instead been taken out as salary, the household would have had just over 500,000 SEK left, according to the same calculations. This means Andersson’s household, presumably with her knowledge, has tax planned away 800,000 SEK, which instead ended up in their pockets.

Nor did Andersson, during her time as Minister of Finance or during her brief tenure as Prime Minister, act to eliminate these possibilities for tax planning.

Criticized for hypocrisy

Online, Magdalena Andersson and the Social Democrats are now being criticized for hypocrisy. One person points out she and her entire government took out full severance packages after the 2022 election, which they didn’t have to do. Elisabet asks whether there are “any Social Democrats who actually practice what they preach at all?”

Sven-Erik writes that “Magdalena’s hypocrisy is revolting. Social Democrats make a living deceiving and misleading voters. They only serve their own elite!”

Magdalena Andersson’s monthly salary is 157,000 SEK in her role as party leader.