Freelancing as a retiree: how it works

You have built up decades of experience, contacts and expertise. Perhaps you want to keep sharing what you know, but on your own terms. Many retirees in Sweden want to keep working, not because they have to, but because they enjoy contributing, staying active and earning extra. With Paidin you can take assignments and invoice clients without starting your own company. You skip all the administration and can focus entirely on what you do best.

Working after retirement: new opportunities

Retirement does not mean you have to stop working. On the contrary, new opportunities open up. You can choose exactly which assignments you want to take, set your own pace and say no when you would rather do something else. It is about freedom.

The challenge for many is the practical side. Starting a limited company (aktiebolag) or sole proprietorship (enskild firma) involves bookkeeping, VAT reporting, employer declarations and contact with the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket). That is a lot of bureaucracy for someone who may only want to take an assignment now and then. Paidin solves this by making you temporarily employed by us each time you invoice. You never need to start a company, never need to do bookkeeping and never need to file VAT returns.

How umbrella employment via Paidin works

Paidin is an umbrella employment company. This means that Paidin helps you get paid for your assignments and handles all the administrative work. In practice it works like this:

1. You register on paidin.se with BankID. It takes about two minutes.
2. You find an assignment, or a client contacts you directly.
3. You log in to Paidin and create an invoice to your client.
4. Paidin sends the invoice, receives the payment and handles VAT, tax and employer contributions.
5. Your salary is paid into your bank account the banking day after the funds arrive at our bank account. With Paidin's FastPay, your salary can arrive as early as the next banking day.

You do not need to understand bookkeeping, tax legislation or digital systems. Paidin's portal is built to be simple. Create an invoice, approve it and let Paidin handle the rest.

Does it affect my pension?

The general income-based retirement pension (inkomstpension) is not affected by you working. You can invoice an unlimited amount without your income pension decreasing, and every krona you earn continues to give you pension entitlement as long as you stay below the cap for pensionable income.

Important: if you have guaranteed pension (garantipension), income pension supplement (inkomstpensionstillägg) or housing supplement (bostadstillägg), these are income-tested. A higher work income can reduce or completely remove them. Contact Pensionsmyndigheten (the Swedish Pensions Agency) for an assessment of your specific situation before invoicing larger amounts.

Occupational pension is an active choice

Paidin does not make automatic contributions to any specific occupational pension provider. Instead you can choose to set aside a portion of each salary payment to occupational pension via Paidin's portal. You decide the percentage yourself. If you do not want to set anything aside, the full net salary is paid out directly.

Reduced employer contributions for older workers

Employers normally pay full employer contributions of 31.42 percent. For people who have turned 67 by the beginning of the year, a lower rate applies: only the old-age pension contribution of 10.21 percent. For 2026 this corresponds to people who were 67 years or older on 1 January 2026.

What does this mean for you? Since Paidin is your employer, Paidin pays lower contributions on your salary. That means a larger share of the invoiced amount becomes your net salary. You simply keep more money in your pocket compared with a younger freelancer who invoices the same amount. Paidin applies the correct rate automatically based on your age; you do not need to do anything special.

Which assignments are suitable?

Almost anything. Your life experience is valuable and there are clients who gladly pay for it. Here are some common areas among retirees who invoice via Paidin:

• Consulting and advisory work. You have years of industry experience that younger colleagues and companies are eager to draw on. Paidin makes it easy to invoice for strategic advice, project management or board work.
• Teaching and lectures. Course work, workshops, mentoring or lectures within your area of expertise. From university lectures to internal training at companies.
• Creative work. Photography, writing, music, art or crafts. Paidin has been a popular choice for creators of all ages since the start.
• Trade services. Carpentry, gardening, renovation or other practical services. Perfect for those who enjoy working with their hands and have solid experience.
• Administration and bookkeeping. Many retirees have deep expertise in finance, HR or project management that companies need part-time.

You decide for yourself how much or how little you want to work. A few hours per week, a single assignment per month or more regularly. Paidin adapts to your needs.

Get started in two minutes

Starting to invoice through Paidin requires no technical knowledge. Here is what you do:

1. Go to paidin.se and click "Create account". You identify yourself with BankID, just like at the bank. Registration takes about two minutes.
2. Create your first invoice. Fill in the client's details, describe the assignment and enter the amount. Paidin automatically calculates VAT, tax and contributions so you immediately see your estimated net salary.
3. Paidin handles the rest. The invoice is sent, the payment is received and your salary is paid out. You receive a pay slip just like with regular employment.

Paidin's service fee follows a tiered model: 4.8 percent under SEK 20,000, 3.6 percent for SEK 20,000 to 49,999 and 2.9 percent from SEK 50,000 (excluding VAT). Your first invoice is also completely free, so you can try Paidin at no cost.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an F-tax certificate?

No. Since you are employed by Paidin you do not need an F-tax certificate or your own organisation number. Paidin Finans AB holds F-tax and handles all tax matters for you.

Can I invoice private customers, not just companies?

Yes. Paidin can send invoices to both companies and private individuals. If your client is a private individual and the service qualifies, you can also offer RUT or ROT deductions, which make your services even more attractive.

How much is the employer contribution reduced?

From 31.42 percent to 10.21 percent. The reduction applies from the year in which you have turned 67 by the beginning of the year. Paidin applies the correct rate automatically based on your personal identity number.

What happens if I just want to take a single assignment?

That is completely fine. There is no minimum volume and no membership. You can invoice a single time and then be inactive for as long as you want. The first invoice is free of charge, so you only pay a service fee if you invoice more.