Finland's Deputy Parliamentary Ombudsman has issued a serious reprimand to the national Tax Administration for operating partially outside the law. The finding centers on the Omavero digital service, which officials say fails to meet legal requirements for secure customer communication. This marks the second time the authority has been called out for the same fundamental flaws in its digital infrastructure.
The core legal violation involves the Tax Administration's failure to provide customers with a legally required secure channel for sending messages related to their tax affairs. The Omavero service, which serves as the primary digital interface for millions of taxpayers, currently offers only a generic feedback form for inquiries. This form does not constitute a secure, confidential communication method under Finland's Act on Electronic Services and Communication in the Public Sector. The ombudsman's investigation confirmed that taxpayers cannot send questions or inquiries about their taxation through the service, despite taxation matters being predominantly confidential by nature.
Deputy Parliamentary Ombudsman Maija Sakslin stated in her decision that the Tax Administration's service channels did not meet legal requirements or the principles of good governance. The lack of a secure digital channel effectively limits citizens' ability to handle their affairs electronically, creating unnecessary barriers in a country that prides itself on digital governance. The authority must now report back by late January next year on what corrective measures it will implement.
This case highlights a significant gap between Finland's digital ambition and its practical execution within key government agencies. The Tax Administration processes sensitive financial data for every working adult and company in the country. Its digital services form the backbone of annual tax return submissions, payment management, and official correspondence. The failure to provide basic secure messaging contradicts Finland's position as a European leader in digital public services and e-governance.
The legal framework in question stems from European Union directives on digital public services that Finland has implemented into national law. These regulations require public authorities to provide services that are accessible, secure, and responsive to citizen needs. The repeated violation suggests systemic issues within the Tax Administration's digital development priorities or resource allocation. Similar criticisms have emerged periodically about other Finnish digital services, particularly those handling sensitive personal data like Kela's social security portal or the police's online reporting systems.
For international residents and businesses operating in Finland, this development raises practical concerns. Non-Finnish speakers and those unfamiliar with the bureaucracy may struggle even more with limited digital channels. The situation could complicate tax matters for foreign workers, international companies, and the growing digital nomad community that Finland actively courts. The timing is particularly awkward as Finland continues to promote itself as a digitally advanced destination for talent and investment.
What happens next will test the enforcement power of Finland's ombudsman system. The Tax Administration has a clear deadline to present concrete improvements. Parliament's Finance Committee will likely monitor the situation closely, given the agency's central role in national revenue collection. This case may prompt broader scrutiny of digital service quality across other ministries and agencies based in Helsinki's government district. The fundamental question remains whether this represents an isolated compliance failure or indicates deeper challenges in maintaining Finland's digital infrastructure amid growing cybersecurity threats and evolving citizen expectations.