Your Danish payslip, line by line
The key lines
A Danish payslip (lønseddel) looks dense, but the important lines are few:
| Danish term | What it is |
|---|---|
| Bruttoløn | Gross salary before any deductions |
| AM-bidrag | 8% labour-market contribution, taken first |
| A-skat | Withholding income tax, after your monthly allowance |
| ATP | Small mandatory pension contribution |
| Pension | Your workplace pension contribution, if any |
| Nettoløn / til udbetaling | Net pay - what actually lands in your account |
The order of deductions
It always runs the same way: AM-bidrag comes off the gross first, then your tax card's monthly allowance is subtracted, then A-skat is withheld on the rest at your combined bottom + municipal rate (plus higher brackets if you earn enough). Your tax card tells the employer exactly how much to withhold.
Check these every payslip
- Is your tax card applied? No tax card means withholding at a punishing default rate (up to 55%).
- Does the allowance look right? Your monthly personal allowance should be reducing the taxable base.
- Pension contributions - these reduce your taxable income, so they're working for you.
Why your take-home varies
Two people on the same gross can take home different amounts because of municipality, church-tax membership, pension setup and deductions. The net salary calculator shows your figure; deductions you're missing shows how to keep more of it.
Common questions
What's the difference between AM-bidrag and A-skat?
Why is my first payslip so heavily taxed?
What is ATP?
Verified July 2026 against official sources: skat.dk (Skattestyrelsen), skm.dk (Ministry of Taxation) and borger.dk. Figures are 2026 levels and reset each January - always check skat.dk for your personal numbers. General information, not tax advice - see our editorial policy.