The Swedish Tax Agency paid out millions in ROT deductions without control - Task review reveals fraud

The ROT deduction was one of the government's biggest financial investments last year. During 2025, almost SEK 22 billion was paid out in ROT deductions - and the Swedish Tax Agency received over 2.4 million cases.

But Mission review can reveal that the controls that are supposed to detect fraud, in several cases do not work.

In one case, a grocery store in Halland has suddenly been registered as a construction company. The Tax Agency pays out a total of SEK 2.8 million - for work that the company has not done, the review shows.

Responsible publisher: "That's why we show how to cheat with ROOT"

Assignment review applies for ROT

In order to investigate which checks are made when a company requests ROT deductions, Uppdrag gränskning's reporter makes his own application. In the application, it is stated that the reporter worked 60 hours renovating a roof at the home of a customer, who is in fact a colleague.

30 percent of the labor cost is requested as ROT: SEK 10,080.

The same day the application is submitted, it is approved by the Tax Agency - and a few days later the money is paid out. No proof, neither an invoice nor a receipt, needs to be attached.

- I call it a gap in the basic system. It is valuable for us to take in and see how we can develop further. It's too damn easy that it's so simple, says Patrik Lillqvist, head of the Swedish Tax Agency's intelligence unit.

See the program "Det stora ROT-fuset" on SVT Play

"Trust-based system"

The notice comes quickly because the Tax Agency's checks are completely mechanical and are done automatically, by computers. If the computers don't alert, the agents won't be connected.

How well do you think the system works?

- It is a trust-based system. There are large amounts and it is impossible to do it completely without gaps. Our work is to close as many gaps as possible, says Patrik Lillqvist.

The day after the Swedish Tax Agency pays out the ROT deduction, Assignment Review makes a self-correction and pays back the money. The Tax Agency demanded an interest of four kroner.

The Minister: Quite surprised

Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M) takes a serious view of how easily unscrupulous actors can make a lot of money from the ROT fraud.

- If I were to guess, we will have to do a lot more.

Was this new to you?

- If it is as simple as you describe it, I still have to say that I am quite surprised.