Succession of generations of limited company
Here you will find information on what to do when qualifying shares in a limited company are transferred to a new owner.
This information applies to, e.g., donors or parties to an estate when qualifying shares in a limited company are transferred to a new owner by gift, inheritance or will. This is called a transfer of beneficial ownership.
Qualifying share
A share is qualifying if you or a related party has been significantly involved in the company during the year you sell the shares or any of the previous five years.
The company is a close company if at least half of the votes are held by no more than four persons. Several persons who are related are counted as one person.
Report changes of the board
If the limited company's board changes, log on to our e-services to notify the Swedish Companies Registration Office.
Change the board and other information
If you are unable to use the e-services, you can register the change via a paper form instead.
Download the Swedish Companies Registration Office's form for notification of change (no. 817)
Regarding gifts
A transfer is a gift if:
- you give away your shares without receiving anything in return
- it is voluntary
- the shares have been handed over.
Regarding inheritance and wills
When a shareholder dies, the shares pass to the estate. As a party to an estate, you are responsible for assets and debts and for accounting for taxes and fees until the estate is distributed. The estate is distributed when the parties have divided the assets among themselves. If you are the sole party, the estate will have been registered when the Tax Agency has registered the inventory of estate.
If, in the year after death, the deceased receives an income statement or has information in the real property register, the Swedish Tax Agency will automatically assign a registration number to the estate. In other cases where the estate is not distributed after the year of death, you will need to contact the Tax Agency to register the estate. The Tax Agency will then assign a registration number to the estate. You should then use this number when you declare your taxes and charges.
Change of partners
If shares in a limited company are transferred by inheritance, gift or will, this is a private matter for the old and new owners to decide. However, the company must provide the Swedish Tax Agency with information regarding the partners. You can do this in our e-services.
Change information about part-owner in close limited company
If you are unable to use the e-services, you can use a paper form to notify the change of partner.
Download the Swedish Tax Agency's form SKV 4639
Change address
If the company had a specific tax address or business address that becomes obsolete due to the transfer of shares, you need to change the address. You can do this in our e-services. The Swedish Tax Agency is reviewing the design of mailings to special tax addresses. While the review is ongoing, you will still receive tax statements to your address, but you will need to contact the Tax Agency if you also want your VAT returns. Employer declarations are no longer sent out at all.
Change address and contact information
If you are unable to use the e-services, you can use a paper form to report a change of address.
Download the Swedish Tax Agency's form SKV 4639
Income tax return
In the case of a transfer of beneficial ownership of shares, the transfer is not subject to taxation. The new owner takes over the cost amount for the shares. This also applies to the saved dividend scope, which was calculated on the Tax Agency's form K10 in previous years.
A succession of generations presents many challenges
- Involve the whole family in the change of ownership so that everyone has a say.
- The person who will take over management needs appropriate training. Working in another company for a while can provide valuable experience.
- Let the next generation get to know the different parts of the family business before taking over, for example through a trainee programme. A mentor, who is not a member of the family, can also be very helpful.
- Distinguish between ownership and operational management. Interested children may well take over part of the ownership, without taking operational positions in the management of the business.
- If you remain in the business after the change of ownership, it is important that you can interact constructively with your children in their new roles as owners and/or managers.