Artists need separate tax cards for different types of income: 1. wages and salaries, 2. trade income and 3. compensation of use (e.g. copyright royalties).
You can give the same tax card to multiple employers for wages and salaries, and there is just one card for all types of wages and salaries.
However, each type of income has its own tax card and a separate income ceiling during the year. Therefore, the same tax card cannot be used for wages, trade income and compensation of use.
If the pay you receive consists of non-wage compensation for work, either fully or partially, you must submit an application for a specific card for this type of income, often called “trade income”. If you only have a tax card for wages and salaries, your customer cannot use it when paying you. Amounts paid as trade income – nonwage compensation for work – are subject to special deductions that are different from those that concern wages.
If you receive compensation for the use of an immaterial right, such as royalty for a copyright, you must submit an application for a specific tax card.
If you exceed the income ceiling of a tax card, the additional withholding rate included in the tax card will apply. Therefore, it is important to monitor your income throughout the year.
If you are about to exceed the income ceiling, you should order a new tax card from the tax authority. You can also adjust your tax card online via the MyTax e-service at any time during the year.
More information on tax cards can be found on The Finnish Tax Administration’s website.