RUT Tax Deduction for Pensioners – What Applies in 2026?
Pensioners have the same right to the RUT tax deduction as everyone else — 50 % of the labour cost, up to SEK 50,000 per person per year. Read what applies, what services you can hire help for, and how to check your allowance.
RUT Tax Deduction for Pensioners — What Applies in 2026?
Yes, pensioners are entitled to the RUT tax deduction. Since 2021 the same rules and the same cap apply to all adults regardless of age — 50 % of the labour cost, up to SEK 50,000 per person per year. The old system with a lower cap for younger people and a higher one for older people no longer exists.
The only requirement is that you pay enough tax in Sweden for the deduction to be used. How much that is depends on your pension and any other income.
Same rules as for everyone — but one important difference
The rules for the RUT deduction are the same whether you are 35 or 75. What separates pensioners from working people is not the rules — it is the tax.
A pensioner with a low pension may pay only SEK 15,000–25,000 in tax per year. That is also the maximum you can use in deductions. The deduction is a tax reduction, not a grant — you can never get back more than you have paid in.
A pensioner with a good pension — or who combines pension with capital income or employment — can on the other hand use the full SEK 50,000 allowance.
How do you know how much you can use? Log in to the Swedish Tax Agency's Mina Sidor. Under "Husarbete" (Household work) you can see your current allowance and how much has already been used during the year. You can also try our RUT calculator to work out your savings.
What can you hire help with via RUT as a pensioner?
Most services that are practically relevant for pensioners are RUT-eligible. The main ones are:
Moving and carrying help
Moving to a smaller home, moving into senior housing or selling the house are situations many pensioners find themselves in. Moving and carrying help are fully RUT-eligible — whether it is a full apartment move or just help carrying heavy furniture down to the skip. Read more about RUT deduction on moving.
Junk removal
Clearing out after a long life in the same home often means there are furniture, appliances and items that need to go. Junk removal of furniture and waste is RUT-eligible — you pay half the price. Read more about RUT deduction on junk removal.
Estate clearance
If you lose a spouse or parent, it is often you as a pensioner who handles the practicalities. Clearance and removal of an estate is RUT-eligible, and estate beneficiaries can use the deduction. Read more in our guide on RUT deduction for estate clearance.
Furniture assembly
Bought a new bookcase or bed that needs assembling? Furniture assembly is RUT-eligible. Read about RUT deduction on furniture assembly.
Garden work
Trimming hedges, raking leaves, clearing brush and maintaining the garden are all covered by the RUT deduction.
Cleaning
Home cleaning is RUT-eligible. Ungdomskraft does not offer cleaning services, but it is worth knowing about.
How much do you save?
The RUT deduction covers 50 % of the labour cost — not materials, not transport, not VAT. Only the work itself.
Example calculations for common pensioner jobs:
| Service | Labour cost | You pay | State pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moving a 2-room apartment | SEK 8,000 | SEK 4,000 | SEK 4,000 |
| Furniture removal | SEK 3,000 | SEK 1,500 | SEK 1,500 |
| House clearance | SEK 12,000 | SEK 6,000 | SEK 6,000 |
| Garden help (season) | SEK 4,000 | SEK 2,000 | SEK 2,000 |
| Furniture assembly | SEK 1,500 | SEK 750 | SEK 750 |
If there are two pensioners in the household — a couple — each of you can use up to SEK 50,000, provided you both pay enough tax. That means a household can have up to SEK 100,000 in combined RUT allowance per year.
How does it work in practice?
The process is simple and requires no effort on your part:
- Hire an approved company with an F-tax certificate. This is a requirement — private individuals via apps never qualify for RUT.
- Provide your personal ID number when booking or on the invoice.
- Pay only your half — 50 % of the labour cost directly to the company.
- The company applies for the rest from the Swedish Tax Agency within 30 days.
- Nothing to do in your tax return — the deduction appears automatically.
At Ungdomskraft, you see the price with RUT included when you book. You never pay more than what is shown.
What if my pension is too low?
If your tax during the year is less than the deduction you want to use, the deduction only covers up to the actual tax. The rest is forfeited.
Example: Your tax for 2026 is SEK 20,000. You book a move that costs SEK 15,000 in labour. The RUT deduction is SEK 7,500 — it fits within your tax. Done.
But if you also book junk removal for SEK 20,000 in labour (SEK 10,000 in RUT) the same year, the total deduction rises to SEK 17,500. Still below your tax of SEK 20,000 — it works fine.
However: if you try to use a total of SEK 25,000 in RUT but only pay SEK 20,000 in tax, only SEK 20,000 is covered. The remaining SEK 5,000 is not granted and you may become liable for repayment if the company has already received the payout.
Tip: Check your allowance on the Swedish Tax Agency's Mina Sidor before booking large jobs.
Can you combine RUT and ROT?
Yes. The combined cap for RUT and ROT is SEK 75,000 per person per year — of which a maximum of SEK 50,000 may be ROT. For most pensioners with a normal pension level it is rarely a problem to reach the cap, but it is good to know if you are for example renovating the bathroom (ROT) and also hiring help with moving (RUT) in the same year.
Ungdomskraft helps pensioners in Stockholm and Gothenburg
We regularly help pensioners with moving, junk removal, transport help and carrying help. Whether it is clearing out an old house, moving to a new home or removing furniture for donation — we handle it practically and respectfully. We are based in Stockholm and Gothenburg with extra fast service, but operate across all of Sweden. Need junk removal? We have local service in Stockholm and Gothenburg.
The RUT deduction is always factored into the price automatically. You see your net cost when you book — no confusing invoice to figure out afterwards.
- Fixed price — no surprises
- RUT included — you only pay your half
- Employed staff — background-checked and insured
- Trygg Hansa insurance — in the unlikely event something goes wrong
- Easy booking — on your phone or call us
Book help
Fixed price in 2 min — no hidden costs.
Our own vans, fair working conditions and up to 50 % RUT tax deduction.
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