Tax strategy
All companies in the Group are committed to
operating responsibly and to meeting all
obligations and requirements defined by
applicable legislation in each country. Posti
Group companies pay their taxes in the countries
in which their actual business operations take
place. All taxes are to be paid on time, without
delay. The Group’s long-term target is to ensure
that the Group’s effective tax rate is at the same
level as the corporate income tax rate applicable
in Finland at any given time.
According to the Group’s tax strategy, taxation is
always a consequence of business operations,
which means that tax solutions must also be based
on business needs. Posti does not practice tax
planning that would aim to artificially decrease the
Group’s taxable income. In tax-related issues, the
Group operates within the framework of legislation
and legal practice in planning the taxable profit of
Group companies. The available methods can
include the utilization of tax losses accumulated in
a subsidiary or the granting of group contributions,
for example. In transfer pricing between Group
companies, Posti always aims to ensure that the
prices are at arm’s length. To clarify taxation
practices, some situations may involve contacting
the tax authorities for either verbal guidance or a
written decision on the taxation treatment of the
planned action.
Management of tax-related issues
The management of tax-related issues is
centralized to the Group Finance unit, which is
responsible for managing and monitoring the
Group’s tax-related issues. Decisions related to
taxation are made at the Group level. Significant
matters of principle are presented to the parent
company’s Board of Directors for decision-
making. The Group’s CFO reports on taxation-
related issues to the Audit, Risk and
Sustainability Committee of the Board of
Directors. The key task in the management of
tax-related issues is to ensure that all Group
companies comply with the regulations of tax
legislation in all countries of operation. Tax risk
management is part of the Group’s risk
management process. To meet all compliance
requirements in taxation, regular tax training is
held and written instructions have been
prepared where necessary. Tax reporting has
certain key controls to ensure that the reported
information is accurate and correct.
Principles observed in tax reporting
Posti reports its tax footprint openly and
transparently. The Group highlights potential
decisions by the tax authorities and appeals
concerning decisions by the tax authorities when
such decisions and appeals have a material
impact on the Group’s tax position.
The information representing the tax footprint is
based on data collected from the Group’s
accounting systems. Amounts denominated in
currency other than euro have been translated to
euros. Balance sheet amounts have been
translated using the exchange rate of the balance
sheet date and all other amounts have been
translated using the average rate of the financial
year. Taxes refer to taxes or tax-like fees paid to
public sector entities, whether they are paid or
remitted by the company. The nature and amount
of taxes vary significantly from country to country.
Taxes payable refers to taxes paid by the Group
companies that are, as a rule, expensed in the
Company’s financial statements. Taxes remitted
refers to taxes or fees collected by the companies
that are remitted to tax recipients, often on behalf
of parties other than the company itself. The
information is provided on a payment-specific
basis, in that it relates to payments remitted to tax
recipients during the reporting period.
Countries where Posti has no operations are
excluded from reporting, even if the Group has a
company in that country. In these countries, such
as Germany, Posti’s companies pay limited or no
income taxes. The tax footprint provides
information on an unconsolidated basis according
to the country of location of the company. In 2025,
the Group had operations in six countries. Posti
does not have any operations or companies in
countries classified as tax havens, where the
corporate income tax rate is significantly lower
than the Finnish corporate tax rate. More detailed
information about the companies included in the
report is provided in Consolidated Financial
The Group’s tax position
The Group’s effective tax rate was 34.1% (25.6%).
The effective tax rate is calculated based on
accrual-based income taxes and changes in
deferred taxes. The effective tax rate was
particularly impacted by the accumulated losses
in Sweden, for which no deferred tax assets were
recognized.
The Group’s accrual-based income taxes for the
financial year, excluding the effect of changes in
deferred taxes, amounted to EUR 8.0 (14.7) million.
Posti Group does not have any pending tax
disputes in Finland or its other countries of
operation.
The Pillar 2 minimum income tax system for
international groups of companies came into
effect in Finland at the beginning of 2024. The
regulations apply to Posti Group in all its
operational countries. Due to transitional safe
harbors, the new regulation did not have any
impacts on Posti’s income tax positions during
2025.
