For six weeks, the Farmen kendis participants have fought hard to get to the top. Out of twelve known faces, only one of these will eventually run away with the given first place.
It is Sofie Karlstad (25), Trond Moi (53) and Ørnulf Høyer (66) who are now in the semi-finals. Two of these go on to the final and have the opportunity to fight for the winner’s prize.
This consists of a car worth NOK 616,000. What not everyone knows, however, is that the prize comes with a aftertaste.
Have to pay yourself
The winner of the Farm celebrity does not get a brand new Skoda without further ado – this must be taxed off.
On The Swedish Tax Agency’s website namely, it is stated that winnings and prizes won by celebrities in reality shows, competitions or the like will, as a general rule, be taxable as salary or business income.
In practice, this means that the winner of “regular” Farmen not has to tax the prize, but so must the winner of Farmen kendis.
Head of section at the Swedish Tax Agency, Lene Marie Ringså, explains why there is such a difference:
– This applies to a tax exemption for winnings/prizes in connection with “publicly accessible measures organized by the mass media”, e.g. won by participating in radio and television programmes, newspapers and magazines. Prizes to participants who have been selected in their capacity as famous persons are not, however, covered by this tax exemption and the prize will normally be taxable as salary. If the recipient of the prize runs a business, the prize may also be taxable as business income.
With that said, not all Farmen celebrity contestants are interested in prizes. Christopher Mørch Husby (33) says he was more interested in Pepsi Max than the car prize. See why in the video below:
Must pay tax even if the car is given away
Ringså explains that salary, fees or compensation for lost income paid for the actual participation in a program will also be taxable in the usual way.
– How is the tax calculated on a car premium worth NOK 616,000?
– The value of a prize you receive that is taxable will either be taxed as wage income or business income. The actual tax rate will depend on a person’s other income and deductions, Ringså answers.
If the Farmen winner chooses to sell the prize immediately after receiving it, it does little for taxation.
– Persons who receive a taxable prize become liable for tax on it at the time they receive it. This is regardless of whether they keep the prize themselves, give it away or sell it, Ringså explains.
DON’T KEEP THE PRIZE: Norway’s toughest celebrity was named in 2022, and it was Vegard Ylvisåker who went all the way to the top of the competition. He did not use the car prize. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen
– Can’t afford to pay
As a result of this tax rule, there have been cases where winners have not been able to afford to keep the prize.
This autumn, the reality program 71 degrees north – Norway’s toughest celebrity went on air, where Vegard Ylvisåker (43) ran away with first place.
With that he won a car worth NOK 450,000. However, he did not get the opportunity to enjoy this.
– It’s a bit boring, because the truth is that I can’t afford to accept a car, because I have to pay taxes on it. There must be a solution to that, Ylvisåker said to Good Evening Norway this autumn.
On Sunday, it will be decided who will be the winner Farm celebrity. Watch the final on TV 2 Direkte and TV 2 Play.
