Unemployment allowance – ask for a revised tax card if necessary

You may need a new tax card when you start receiving unemployment allowance.

Although the social benefits you receive are smaller than your previous pay, your withholding percentage rate will not necessarily be lower. This is due to the fact that benefits are not subject to the same tax-deductions as earned income.

Order a new tax card online

Estimate your total income for the current year and order a new tax card online. Wages received so far during this calendar year, and benefits, will affect the percentage rate. If, while unemployed, you receive occasional income from various sources, do part-time work or receive benefits in addition to unemployment allowance, you can estimate your withholding with this calculator.

Order a tax card online

If necessary, ask for a revised tax card.

Instruction: How to make a tax card in MyTax if you become unemployed or are laid off

You can also order a tax card in other ways

• Call number 029 497 000 (local network charge/mobile phone charge).
• Fill in the paper form (5010e).
• Visit the Tax Office.

Tax assessment of earnings-related unemployment allowance and basic unemployment allowance

If you do not request a new tax card, the unemployment funds and Kela will use the standard tax rates:

• Kela withholds 20% from your labour-market subsidy and basic unemployment allowances.
• The unemployment funds apply your usual withholding percentage as the rate for the payments of daily allowance based on your previous earnings. However, the percentage is always at least 25%.

Are you an entrepreneur or an agricultural operator starting to receive unemployment support?

For the unemployment support, request a tax card for benefit income.

If you do not have a tax card for wages, Kela and the unemployment funds will use standard tax rates. The same procedure also applies to taxpayers receiving seafarer's income and trade income.