Sweden's Friskvård (wellness) benefit is one of the most under-used ways to take care of your body — and to make regular massage genuinely affordable. Here's how it works in practice, what counts, and how to use it at Synergy Massage in Malmö.
What is the Friskvård benefit?
Friskvård is a tax-free wellness allowance many Swedish employers offer their staff. It's meant to encourage health and preventive care — and massage qualifies as an approved activity according to Skatteverket (the tax agency), as long as the individual treatment costs at most 1,000 kr including VAT.
How much can I use?
The amount is set by your employer. Many offer between 3,000 and 5,000 kr per year — some up to the cap Skatteverket accepts (currently 5,000 kr per employee per year).
Which treatments qualify at Synergy Massage?
Per Skatteverket's rules, massage qualifies as Friskvård when the treatment costs at most 1,000 kr per session and is classic hands-on massage. For us that means:
- Back, neck & shoulders (45 min) — 695 kr
- Swedish massage (60 min) — 950 kr
Treatments above 1,000 kr (like Swedish Massage 90 min, the Synergy Reset or the Synergy Recovery Massage) don't qualify per Skatteverket's rules, and neither does pure recovery technology like Normatec compression or red light therapy — they aren't massage. You can of course still book all of these privately.
How do I pay with my Friskvård benefit?
This is how it works at Synergy:
- You pay for the treatment with Swish.
- You receive a clear receipt by email.
- You submit the receipt to your employer or upload it to the wellness system your employer uses.
What should the receipt include?
We always issue receipts with the date, treatment type, price, VAT details and our organization info — exactly what Skatteverket and your employer need. You don't need to ask for it; it's included.
Is it worth it?
If you work at a screen, sit a lot, or train regularly — yes. Regular massage (weekly or every other week) helps with neck and shoulder tension, stress, sleep issues and post-training recovery. With Friskvård covering the cost, you effectively pay a fraction of the standard price.