Buy ticket
Back

VAT reduction for public transport will be directly reflected in train ticket prices starting 1 Jan

Parliament is supporting public transport by temporarily changing the value added tax from 10 per cent to zero between 1 January and 30 April 2023. We are passing the VAT reduction directly to the ticket prices. In January–April, train tickets can be bought tax-free as far into the future as tickets are available at any given time.

The VAT reduction applies to all VR train tickets purchased between 1 January and 30 April, regardless of the time of the journey. Tickets that are already discounted, such as those for students, children and pensioners, will also be tax-free. The VAT reduction is also taken into account in group and corporate tickets.

In addition to train tickets, the VAT reduction applies to almost all additional services, such as the seats and compartments in the upstairs of the restaurant car or in Ekstra Class. Cars, pets and bikes can also travel tax-free when the ticket has been purchased between 1 January and 30 April. The exception is journey cancellation insurance, which is subject to a different tax rate and remains at the normal price.

In January, when the tax reduction begins, night train journeys can be purchased until August, day train journeys for long-distance traffic until 19 June and commuter traffic journeys until 25 March. Other tickets for the summer season will be made available during the spring.

A train is a cheaper choice than a car for many journeys

Depending on the length of the journey and the number of passengers, a train is a cheaper option than a car for many journeys, even without tax reductions. The price of driving cars has risen significantly as fuel prices have risen. In a comparison of emissions, trains outperform cars many times over.

The tax reduction is temporary and the normal VAT rate of 10 per cent will return to train ticket prices from 1 May.

More articles

The latest articles

Impacts of the Espoo Rail Line project on train traffic

The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency’s Espoo Rail Line project will cause changes in train traffic between Helsinki and Turku, starting from May 2025. From Monday, 23 June to Sunday, 27 July 2025, there will be a traffic interruption between Helsinki and Karjaa. Trains between Karjaa and Turku will run at longer intervals.

The latest articles

Interruptions and timetable changes at Ainola station during Easter and in the summer

Due to the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency’s Helsinki–Riihimäki track renovation project, there will be changes to the use of Ainola station as well as short interruptions during Easter and the summer. The railway project will also affect the use of Järvenpää and Saunakallio stations.

The latest articles

Station name changes

From now on, Pännäinen railway station will be known as Pietarsaari-Pedersöre.