Payroll and HR in Finland

The International HR & Payroll Company
That Speaks Your Language

IRIS FMP will simplify payroll and HR in Finland. As a recognized, trusted global payroll and HR specialist, we have 88 in-country teams to help ensure your international employees are paid on time, every time.

Navigating the complications associated with global payroll and HR in Finland is not always easy without specialist support. As compliance is always a top priority for businesses, we can support you during a global expansion. With the differing laws, cultures and regulations, it can feel demanding to stay on top of everything. Fortunately, we are here to help. We offer:  

Location Data

Name

Finland

Region

Europe (Northern Europe)

Population

5530719

Calling Code

358

Capital

Helsinki

Timezone(s)

UTC+02:00

Timezone in Capital

(europe/helsinki) 2:05 PM

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Main Language

Finnish(suomi)

Other Business Languages

English

Tax Year Start

1st January

Tax Year Start

31st December

Details correct at time of publication. You should not rely on these details without first seeking professional international advice.

Of Finland’s 5.5 million inhabitants, around 900,000 are employed by small and medium businesses. The country’s main exports are paper, machinery, oil, and vehicles. While Finnish is the country’s official language, in business English is the primary language – in fact it is the first language of some.

Located in Scandinavia, around one third of the country is actually within the Arctic Circle. Finland borders Sweden, Norway, and Russia, and in fact it’s possible to journey from Helsinki to St Petersburg in around 4½ hours. The country’s main international airport is Helsinki (airport code: HEL), which has direct connections to more than 150 worldwide destinations.

In addition to taking into account the Finnish lifestyle and working culture, any business owners looking to expand there must also navigate local employment law. HR and payroll in Finland has its own unique challenges relating to personal and corporate tax, administrative responsibilities, and employee benefits. The team at IRIS FMP are well-versed in international employment, and can offer guidance in this area to help your business expansion run seamlessly.

Payroll in Finland

What tax considerations are there?

Finland’s residents are taxed on their worldwide income, according to how much they earn. Those earning less than €17,600 annually are exempt from tax; then it sits at a flat rate plus a percentage of additional earnings. The maximum amount is €10,413 + 31.25% on all income after the first €76,100.

In addition to the national tax, each municipality (there are 311 municipalities in Finland) also has its own local tax, between 16.5 and 22.5%.  There are also Church taxes of between 1 and 2.2% for residents who are members of the Orthodox, Evangelic Lutheran, or Finnish German Church in Finland. There is also a Public broadcasting tax of 2.5% which applies to anyone over 18, earning more than €14,000.

Another tax to be aware of is that which applies to foreign experts; that is foreign workers earning an income from a Finnish source, whose work requires specific expert knowledge. These foreign workers are taxed at a rate of 35%, whereas other foreign workers are taxed at the same rate as Finnish residents.

Corporate Income Tax (CIT)

Corporate Income Tax in Finland is 20%. This applies to both Finnish resident companies and permanent establishments (PEs) of non-resident companies. The latter of these is taxed on any worldwide income that derives from the work of the PE.

Businesses are also required to pay a public service broadcasting tax. This is based on the company’s taxable income, which must be more than €50,000 for the tax to apply. The annual charge is either €140 or €140 + 0.35% of all income over €50,000. The maximum amount a company would pay is €3,000.

HR in Finland

What are the regular working hours in Finland?

Normal working hours in Finland are between 8am and 5pm, with either one or two hours for lunch. According to Finland’s Working Hours Act, regular hours must not go over 40 per week and 8 per day. Most people work a 7.5 hour day and a 37.5 hour week, like many European countries. Overtime must be paid at a higher rate. The first two hours (per day) will be paid at rate of an additional 50%, and anything over this is paid at an additional 100%. Sunday work should be paid as double time.

Vacation, maternity and sickness

Finland, and much of Scandinavia, is known for leading the way when it comes to work/life balance. As such, it will come as no surprise to learn that holiday allowance for employees in Finland is generous. It’s accrued at a rate of two days per month during the first year of employment, and 2½ days per month after that. The holiday year runs from 1^st April to 31^st March, and holiday season is from 2^nd May to 30^th September. Throughout most of Finland employees must take their holiday within this timeframe, however the final decision is up to the employer. In addition to this, there are 13 public holidays throughout the year.

Maternity leave in Finland is a maximum of 105 days, and it can begin between 30 and 50 days before the due date of the child. Maternity and paternity allowance is paid at a minimum of €27.86 per day for those with a gross annual salary of less than €11,943, and a maximum of €116.99 per day for those with a gross annual salary of more than €60,000.

Anyone who has worked for a company for more than one month in Finland will be paid their full salary while off sick, for up to nine days. Those who have worked for less than a month are entitled to 50% of their salary for this time. In the event that an employee has over nine days off sick, as long as they are a resident who has paid into the Finnish social security scheme, they can apply for sickness allowance.

Termination

In the event that either party wants to terminate their employment contract, a minimum notice period of 14 days must be adhered to. Employees who have worked for over twelve years at a company must be given six months notice of termination. There is no legal obligation to pay a severance.

• Multi-currency payroll
• Hard and soft-copy payslips
• Payroll processing
• Sickness processes
• Parental leave administration
• Holiday pay
• Pension payments

• Payroll audits
• Payroll reconciliation
• HR process audits
• HR consultation
• Translation services
• Tax reporting