White snuff – the government raises the tax

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White snuff the government raises the tax

Updated 10.30 | Published 10.29

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The government increases the tax on cigarettes and lowers the tax on snuff.

But the tax on white snus is also being raised and prices will therefore go up.

– It will be a little more expensive, but not by much, says Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson (M).

  • The government has decided to raise the tax on cigarettes and white snus, but lowers the tax on tobacco snus from 1 November.
  • The tax increase is estimated to bring in an extra SEK 20 million next year and SEK 30 million per year from 2026.
  • The change is motivated by health differences between snuff and cigarettes; white snus is also becoming more expensive to reflect its increasing popularity.

    • ⓘ The summary is made with the support of AI tools from OpenAI and quality assured by Aftonbladet. Read our AI policy here.

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    In February, the government announced that it would lower the tax on snus containing tobacco by 20 percent and raise the tax on cigarettes by nine percent.

    The reason was the health effects and the Sweden Democrats’ economic policy spokesperson Oscar Sjöstedt had to face the outcome.

    – The health effects vary widely between snus and, for example, cigarettes. In light of this, it is perfectly reasonable to reflect that difference in tax policy as well, so that the healthier alternative is about three kroner cheaper, he said at the time.

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    full screen Photo: Janerik Henriksson/TT / TT News Agency

    White snuff is getting more expensive

    But what the government did not focus on was the fact that they also raise the tax on white snuff.

    The use of white snus has increased in recent years and the product is also popular with young people.

    For the first time, the tax on white snus will be indexed, which means that it will automatically rise in line with inflation.

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    full screen Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson. Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/TT

    “Not exactly on the crown”

    The tax changes take effect from November 1 this year.

    According to the government’s calculations, this is a tax increase of a total of SEK 20 million next year. In 2026, the tax will increase by SEK 30 million per year. The sums also include liquids for e-cigarettes.

    – White snus in particular is not indexed. So now we are introducing indexing on white snus as well. We think it is reasonable to have all parts, says Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson.

    How much more expensive will it be for a snuff box?

    – Yes, now I don’t have exactly the crown, but it will be a little more expensive. But not so much.

    In 2022, the European Commission worked with a proposal to raise the tax substantially on all snus. Then Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson went out and raged against the proposal with assurances that it would not be accepted by Sweden.

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