Municipalities (local governments) increased their tax income by NOK 3.2 billion to NOK 54.7 billion, a 6.3 per cent increase.
More than NOK 244 billion in taxes were paid in Norway in 1996, up NOK 23 billion or 10.5 per cent from 1995. If oil taxes are excluded, tax revenues totalled NOK 221 billion, a 9.9 per cent increase.
Counties saw their tax revenues grow by 5.5 per cent or NOK 1.1 billion, to NOK 22.3 billion. The tax equalization fund posted the largest growth in monetary terms, with an increase of nearly NOK 8.5 billion or 21.5 per cent. Its substantial growth is the result of changed tax rates for municipalities and counties. For municipalities the maximum rate for individual taxpayers was reduced by 0.5 percentage points to 11.75 per cent in 1996. Beginning in 1995, the counties' maximum tax rate for non-personal taxpayers was reduced by 1.25 percentage points to 2.75 per cent. The maximum tax rate for the tax equalization fund for 1995 and 1996 has increased correspondingly.
Weekly Bulletin issue no. 4, 1997