(edit title) Can everyone really know your salary? Urban legend or not? Options

[cdebarace]

I heard that salaries were public here, or at least the tax declarations.

I even found this site that proposes to sell the profiles of some random citizens.
http://www.ratsit.se/

Is it really true? And if yes, where are the information published?

/Cyrille

[Johno]

I even found this site that proposes to sell the profiles of some random citizens.

It doesnt propose, it does give information for a small fee, and for all citizens who submit a tax return, not random ones. Ratsit and Upplysning.se allow this, but tax offices have public terminals available where providing you have a persons details you can do your own looking up. Its part of Swedens open information ethos.

Newspapers regularly do analyses and comparisons of what people in various walks of life declare in their tax returns. They use the above sources of information.

[mångk]

Do not worry only Johnno has access to this information and he will not tell... unless you piss him off!

[Johno]

You have been warned

[cdebarace]

So, I can know the salary of my colleagues, boss, neighbour and basically every working person once I have their names.

Just need to pay a visit to Skatteverket to go and spy on everyone I know. Is that right?

Hmm.. For a country that has such a taboo on money, I find that shocking !

[Abe L]

Hmm.. For a country that has such a taboo on money, I find that shocking !

For a country that says it values privacy this specific topic and the personal number are kind of contradicting items.

Hopefully this is something the EU can do something about. At least the Germans have strong views on privacy. There is flat out not a single good reason why anyone other then yourself should be able to view such private information.

It disgust me that some people try to capitalise on selling that information.

[mångk]

You have been warned

Sorry, the automatic transfer to your overseas account is a little late this month. Please don't say I earn jack shit...

[Westport]

I don't think Sweden claims to value privacy in the same way we might imagine it in many other countries - they seem be much more into openness. Without having to use too much imagination, you can see some public benefits to the Swedish system (no doubt cuts down on tax evasion to some extent) and is it really that big a deal if your friends and neighbours can see how much you earn? Maybe it saves you from having to buy such a big car or fancy house if your income is a matter of public record anyway?

By the way, I think it's on the ratsit site that you can get income details immediately on your cell phone by text message instantaneously - a very useful tool if you are in wage negotiations and you know the names of a few people currently in the position you are offered.

On the topic of openness, take a look at some of the laws on access to government documents and protection of whistleblowers and press freedom - it's pretty impressive and stems from similar beliefs about the publics right to know information.

[Johno]

For a country that says it values privacy this specific topic and the personal number are kind of contradicting items.

Hopefully this is something the EU can do something about. At least the Germans have strong views on privacy. There is flat out not a single good reason why anyone other then yourself should be able to view such private information.

It disgust me that some people try to capitalise on selling that information.

Its only part of the system for getting your credit worthiness.

And the sites mentioned are searchable for all resident adults in Sweden. And if you do family history research like I do, you can buy CDs with the full 1990, 1980 and 1970 census information, and look up everyones spouses, children etc. If you dont like, you will have to go and live somewhere else.

There is certain information that is protected and to learn more go and read up on PuL Personuppgiftslagen.

[mångk]

Does that mean I don't have to pay thin month Johnno?

Of course I am joking with Johno.. Long time poster who can do wonders with Google, will not agree unless he agrees!

[Johno]

I'll put it on the bill. The heavies will visit next month. On second thoughts, after the flattery you are let off

[polartwist]

Yes but... guys. I'm really not worried if someone watch my salary, feel free to do it (search for polartwist).
But I see that website, ratsit, as a real danger: with one click you can pick all the information about anyone, home address, status, age. Good database for stalkers.
Privacy is important sometimes.

[Migga]

Information should be free. If someone uses it to hurt someone else then the blame is one that person and not on the one who provided the information. Sure there are dangers, there is with everything, but it shouldn`t interfer with once freedom of information or transparacy.

[polartwist]

It's like the guns in the USA... right? Eller hur?

[PDX]

Erm.. could someone prove me wrong? As far as I understand it, the information Skatteverket provides is the total taxable income, so salary details are not available (as taxable income would include other sources of income than salary, such as bonuses, dividends, capital gains and whatever else there is available).

~~~PDX~~~