International PIKON Blog
Search
Norway header

SAF-T Norway in SAP ERP & S/4HANA: Compliance Guide

Content

Introduction

Navigating SAF-T Norway requirements in SAP ERP & S/4HANA doesn’t have to be daunting. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential requirements and practical steps to ensure compliance. Discover how to easily generate and submit SAF-T reports while staying aligned with Norwegian tax regulations. Simplify your financial reporting in SAP and keep your business compliant with confidence.

The Norwegian tax authority (Skatteetaten) has revised and updated the SAF-T reporting form for financial data. From 1 January 2025, Norwegian companies with a turnover of more than NOK 5,000,000 or more than 600 transactions per year must use the new form, version 1.30. Previously, Norwegian companies could use version 1.20 until 31 December 2024.

In Norway, SAF-T Regnskap is the standard format for financial data reporting, ensuring compliance with Skatteetaten (Norwegian Tax Administration) regulations. The SAF-T for Norway solution enables businesses to extract accounting data, convert it into the required SAF-T (Standard Audit File – Taxation) XML format, and prepare it for electronic submission to tax authorities via Altinn, Norway’s official tax portal.

The SAF-T process involves two key steps: generating the XML file and submitting it to the authorities. The submission requires additional authorization and integration with Altinn. The solution also includes tools for data extraction, file generation, monitoring, and deletion, providing full control over SAF-T operations.

Learn more about how to efficiently manage SAF-T compliance in SAP ERP & S/4HANA in this guide.

What is SAF-T?

Before we have a look at the Norway-specific solution, let´s have a small look at SAF-T itself.

SAF-T is an electronic exchange XML standard to report business transactional data between companies and external parties such as tax administrations, auditing systems, and others. The standard describes an electronic file format, which defines accounting data to be reported, and its data structure, so that it may be submitted to a Tax Administration or external parties for review.

How does the process for SAF-T Norway look like?

The SAF-T process for Norway consists of two main steps: the extraction of SAF-T data and the generation of SAF-T data, with the resulting XML file being submitted via external electronic means to the Altinn web portal, as required by the Norwegian tax authorities. The SAF-T solution also includes additional reporting functionality, such as deleting the extracted data or monitoring SAF-T operations.

In more detail, the whole process looks as follows:

Extracting SAF-T Data

The first step in the SAF-T process is to extract data from your financial system. Data can be extracted for a specific company and a specific time period. This data extraction enables the SAF-T solution to later generate the SAF-T-compliant XML file. The data extraction reads the company’s data and writes the selected data into so-called “extraction tables”, which stores the data for later generation of the SAF-T file.

Deleting Extracted Data

If needed, you can remove previously extracted data from the system, clearing corresponding entries in the extraction tables. This helps correct errors or re-extract data to fill any gaps in reporting periods.

Generating the SAF-T File

The system compiles extracted data into an XML file that meets SAF-T compliance standards, preparing it for submission to Skatteetaten (Norwegian Tax Administration).

Monitoring SAF-T Operations

The SAF-T monitoring report provides insights into extraction and file generation processes for a specific period, country, and company code. It includes details on ledger types, extraction modules, XML schema versions, run times, and execution logs.

Downloading the SAF-T File

Once the SAF-T file is generated, it can be downloaded to your system for validation and submission.

Validating and Submitting SAF-T Files for Norway

Before submission, the SAF-T file must be validated through Altinn, Norway’s official tax portal. This process requires prior registration and enrollment with Skatteetaten. Check the official Altinn guidelines for further instructions on SAF-T submission.

How can PIKON help?

There are 2 options available in SAP on Premise for both SAP S/4HANA and SAP ERP:

To start with the solution different steps need to be considered. 

We first need to look at the latest support package, which is available on your system, and see which OSS Notes need to be implemented. Please note that the SAP Notes must be implemented in a precise sequence for the solution to operate correctly. The solution may require extensive SAP Note installation. To avoid unnecessary effort, please consider the latest SP implementation.

After this, we can start configuring the solution with several customizing steps and the completion of relevant mapping tables. After this, we can generate the needed XML file´s directly from your system.

At PIKON, we have set up a Competence Center for Legal Requirements. Here our consultants investigate legal requirements worldwide and their impact on the SAP system. Our team consists of experts that combine in-depth knowledge and the gathered experience. 

We are a strategic partner who offers clients the best suitable solution to ensure that their SAP system and business processes meet different country-specific legal requirements in the long run. Furthermore, we follow up regularly on new and changing legal requirements relevant to our clients and inform them when action is needed. That way, clients can concentrate on their daily business without worrying about non-compliance with necessary regulations.

Schedule a web meeting

Do you have any questions about how to comply with SAF-T in Norway? Reach out! 

Simply fill out the contact form or leave us a comment at the end of the article.

Tanja Nikolaus
Tanja Nikolaus
Customer Success Manager

Tags
Share this Post
LinkedIn
XING
Facebook
Twitter
About the author
Hanna Makuch
Hanna Makuch
I am active as a SAP ERP Consultant at PIKON Benelux in Genk, Belgium. Besides my focus on the Finance and Controlling modules I also play a part in various Legal Requirement projects.

Leave a Comment

More Blog-Posts