Learn more about Iceland, including its history. The Evangelical Lutheran Church had no one available to comment. It’s collected in two brackets, 11% and 24%, depending on the goods and services. “But the real question is, what is a true religious organisation and how do you measure belief?” said Thorhallsson, who describes himself as agnostic. Corporate, consumption, and labor taxes are less complex than they are on average in the OECD. To calculate it, 20% (19,35%, to be precise) of the total retail price for the higher bracket is taken and 10% (9,91%) of the lower bracket. This number is a unique number issued to both individuals and entities. Thousands of residents, opposed to the state-funded system of religion, have recently joined in, amid promises to receive a refund for religion taxes. Here you find general information on rules and regulations regarding importation of goods to Iceland. Ancient Zuist movement enjoys revival as thousands join as part of protest against requirement that citizens pay taxes to state church, Last modified on Wed 29 Nov 2017 06.12 GMT. Zuists fully support freedom of religion, and from religion, for everyone. All Icelanders are charged a Church Tax (regardless of their faith), which is paid to the official State Church. If the person is not religious, the payment goes to the state, becoming part of the income tax budget. Unemployment rate: 2,9% (2018). The TIN has a special structure depending on the type of taxpayer. Non-Lutherans can choose to have their tax paid to a charity or the University of Iceland. The organisation’s primary objective is that the government repeal any law that grants religious organisations privilege, financial or otherwise, above other organisations. More than 3,100 people – almost 1% of Iceland’s population – have joined the Zuist movement in the past two weeks in protest at paying part of their taxes to the state church and other religious bodies. Foreign specialists employed by an Icelandic entity are only subject to an income tax of 75 percent of their income for services performed in Iceland for the first 3 years as 25 percent of the foreign specialist’s income for services rendered in Iceland is exempt from income and withholding tax… Icelands total population was 307,672 and about 80% of the population is registered in the Lutheran Church of Iceland. Followers of Zuism will be refunded the tax element earmarked for religion. The church tax is payable by people above the age of 16 and amounts to an average of ISK 7,800 (£40) annually. Iceland has a territorial tax system that fully exempts foreign dividends and capital gains with no country limitations. Iceland is obliged to transpose into Icelandic law the European rules which are annexed to the EEA Agreement. "There is no opt-out. Our website in Icelandic has more detailed information on this subject. According to article 62 of the constitution, the Evangelical Lutheran Church “shall be the State Church in Iceland and, as such, it shall be supported and protected by the State”. However, the ties to old traditions and superstitions are strong. But last year, thousands of Icelanders suddenly joined the ancient Zuist movement -- a religion centered on worshiping Sumerian gods. A significant sliver of Iceland’s population has suddenly found a new religion -- and the promise of a tax rebate. They also worshiped their ancestors as devotion to deceased relatives was of great importance to them. “No one has registered in the organisation to practice Zuism itself,” he wrote, according to a report in the Reykjavik Grapevine. 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