How Much Tax Will You Pay When You Sell Your Business?

How much tax you pay when selling a business depends first and foremost on whether you own the business personally (a sole proprietorship or partnership), or whether you're selling shares in an ApS (private limited) or A/S (public limited) company. The two situations are taxed under completely different rules.

Are you selling shares (ApS/A/S)?

If you sell your shares yourself as a private individual, the gain is taxed as share income. In 2026, the following rates apply in Denmark:

• 27% tax on share income up to DKK 79,400 (DKK 158,800 combined for a married couple).
• 42% tax on share income above that.

If you've owned the business through a holding company, the sale of the operating company can often happen tax-free for the holding company, and you're only taxed once the money is later paid out to you personally as a dividend. This is one of the main advantages of a holding structure ahead of a sale — but the rules for when it applies are technical, and should always be checked with an advisor before a sale.

Are you selling a personally owned business?

If you own the business personally (a sole proprietorship or partnership), any gain is generally taxed as personal income — with a significantly higher marginal tax rate than share income. If you've used the Danish business tax scheme (virksomhedsskatteordningen), any retained profit in the business is also taxed on sale or closure. That makes it extra important to work through the consequences before listing a personally owned business for sale.

Can the tax be deferred or reduced?

• Succession: If the business is transferred to close family or a key employee, the transfer can in some cases happen with tax succession, meaning it's the buyer — not you — who takes over the deferred tax.
• Holding structure: As mentioned above, a sale through a holding company can defer taxation until the money is actually withdrawn to you personally.
• Timing: If you spread a large gain over several years (e.g. via an earn-out agreement), you can in some cases avoid the entire amount hitting the high 42% rate in the same year.

The tax rules for selling a business are technical, and the right choices depend entirely on your specific situation. See the broader overview in our guide on tax and VAT when selling a business, or book a call under Advisory & Mediation if you'd like help working through the numbers before you sell.