RUT deduction for cleaning 2026 — how it works

What is the RUT deduction?

The RUT deduction (Swedish for cleaning, maintenance and laundry) gives you the right to deduct 50 percent of the labour cost for household services directly on the invoice. This means the cleaning company invoices you for only half and then claims the rest from the Swedish Tax Agency.

How much can you deduct?

The combined maximum for the ROT and RUT deductions is SEK 75,000 per person per year as of 2026. ROT and RUT share this cap. If you have, for example, used SEK 30,000 in ROT deductions, SEK 45,000 remains for RUT.

Note that the deduction only applies to the labour cost — material purchases, consumables and travel costs are not deductible.

Who is entitled to the RUT deduction?

You must meet these requirements:

• You are 18 years or older
• You are subject to unlimited tax liability in Sweden (live and pay tax here)
• The service is performed in your home in Sweden (or in your parent's home in some cases)
• You have enough income tax to offset against

Pensioners with a low pension may get limited benefit from the deduction if their tax is lower than the deduction amount. Contact the Swedish Tax Agency for your specific situation.

Which cleaning services qualify for the RUT deduction?

The following services qualify for the RUT deduction:

• Home cleaning (regular and deep cleaning)
• Window cleaning
• Gardening and lawn mowing
• Snow clearing on private property
• Childcare in the home
• Moving and move-out cleaning (the cleaning part)

How does it work in practice?

1. You hire a cleaning company that is approved for F-tax and registered for RUT.
2. The cleaning company performs the service and sends an invoice for half the labour cost.
3. The cleaning company then claims the remaining 50% directly from the Swedish Tax Agency via a digital system.
4. You pay only your half — nothing extra to do in your tax return.

If you have reached your cap of SEK 75,000, you are instead charged the full amount by the cleaning company, with no deduction.

Check that the cleaning company is approved

For the RUT deduction to apply, the provider must hold an F-tax certificate. You can easily check this on the Swedish Tax Agency's website. If you hire an unserious company without F-tax, you risk ending up without the deduction and without a guarantee.

On Avavik, every listed cleaning company is verified. Find approved cleaning companies in Stockholm or choose your city in the search function.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use the RUT deduction for my summer house?

Yes, provided it is your permanent home or holiday home in Sweden.

Can a couple share the deduction?

Yes, each person has their own cap of SEK 75,000. So you can split the costs and each use your part of the cap, but you cannot "transfer" deduction allowance between you.

What happens if I switch cleaning companies during the year?

The cap follows you as a person, not the provider. All approved providers can see how much you have used via the Swedish Tax Agency's system.

Read on: what does home cleaning cost? and how to choose the right cleaning company.