Lost access in Altinn before the deadline
Start by establishing which specific service you need and which authorisation is actually missing. During 2026 Altinn is moving from its old roles to new access packages, so many businesses have to grant authorisations again. Missing access does not mean the right to represent yourself has gone.
1. Find the company's main administrator
The general manager and the chair of the board are among the roles that automatically receive the Hovedadministrator access package. A main administrator can manage authorisations and grant the relevant access packages to themselves or to others. Note that Hovedadministrator gives the right to administer authorisations – not automatic access to every service.
2. Check whether the authorisation has to be granted again
In the new Altinn, the old roles are replaced by more granular access packages. Altinn states that the main rule in the transition is that authorisations have to be granted again, although certain registered roles and professional relationships carry over automatically. A common problem in 2026 is therefore that someone who previously held a broad Altinn role has not automatically been given access to the corresponding new service. Board members and deputy chairs do not necessarily have automatic authorisations in the new Altinn either.
3. Do not wait if the deadline is today
First establish whether the service sits in the new Altinn or still uses part of the old access solution. During the transition the old solution is still used for some individual services. If the access cannot be sorted quickly, contact the agency that owns the reporting obligation – Skatteetaten or the Brønnøysund Register Centre, for example – and ask what alternative route applies. Altinn is the platform; the deadline and any exceptions are set by the agency receiving the report.
Does missing Altinn access automatically extend the deadline?
No, not as a general rule. Whether the deadline can be extended depends on which filing it is. The Register of Company Accounts cannot extend the deadline for the annual accounts, for instance, while certain other filings have their own rules on extensions. If the problem is a genuine technical fault at Altinn or at the agency, the business should document the time, the error messages, screenshots and any contact with support. That documentation can matter if questions about a fee, an enforcement fine or a missed deadline arise later.
4. Secure access before the next deadline
Once the urgent filing is dealt with, check who holds Hovedadministrator, which access packages the general manager, the chair, employees and the accountant actually have, and whether old authorisations are still needed.
This is general guidance, not advice on your specific case. Deadlines, rates and amounts change – always check the current rules, or get in touch with us.
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Is it urgent?
We can work out what actually has to be done, what documentation exists and how quickly it can be sorted. You can also reach us in the evenings and at weekends.
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