# Acontoskat (Advance Corporate Tax)

Country: Denmark
When: First instalment: 20 March of the income year. Second instalment (voluntary additional): 20 November of the income year. A voluntary third payment can be made by 1 February of the following year to avoid the procenttillæg on underpayment.
Tax year: 2025

Advance corporate tax instalments paid by Danish companies during the income year, before the final return is filed. Two instalments: 20 March and 20 November. Based on estimated annual profit at the 22% corporate tax rate. Underpayment after November triggers interest charges.

## Who this applies to

- All Danish ApS and A/S companies subject to selskabsskat
- Danish branches of foreign companies
- Companies newly formed during the year (pro-rated)

## What to file

No formal return for acontoskat: payment is made directly to SKAT via TastSelv Erhverv using the company's CVR number. The system calculates the expected balance based on prior-year tax. Companies can increase or decrease instalments based on their own profit forecast.

## How to file

Pay via TastSelv Erhverv or bank transfer to SKAT using the correct payment reference. The system pre-populates an expected instalment based on prior-year final tax liability. Companies can increase the payment (recommended if profits are higher than last year) or accept the SKAT default.

## Payment due

20 March and 20 November of the income year. A voluntary top-up by 1 February of the following year avoids procenttillæg on any remaining underpayment (though this top-up is voluntary, not a deadline).

## What happens if you miss it

Missing the March instalment: SKAT charges a procenttillæg (interest supplement) on the full year's underpayment from 1 January. Missing November: interest runs from the November date. The procenttillæg rate is set annually by the Ministry of Finance, typically 2-4%. Overpayments earn a godtgørelse (modest interest allowance) on the refund.

## Submission checklist

- Prepare a profit forecast for the income year as early as possible
- Calculate the expected acontoskat liability (22% of expected taxable profit)
- Decide on March instalment: pay 50% of the full year expected liability, or SKAT's suggested amount, whichever is more accurate
- Review the profit forecast before November and adjust the second instalment accordingly
- Consider making a voluntary third payment by 1 February if the November instalment still leaves a shortfall

## Documents you need

- Management accounts or profit forecast for the current year
- Prior year final tax assessment for reference to SKAT's suggested instalment amounts
- Reconciliation of accounting profit to taxable profit if adjustments are significant

## Common mistakes to avoid

- Ignoring acontoskat planning until year-end: the March instalment should be based on a proper profit forecast made in February/March
- Assuming SKAT's suggested instalment (based on prior year) is correct when the current year is significantly more profitable
- Missing the November deadline for the second instalment: this is the most consequential missed deadline as it triggers procenttillæg on the full balance
- Not making a voluntary top-up payment by 1 February when a significant underpayment is known

Source: https://skat.dk/erhverv/selskabsskat/acontoskat