Compare Income Tax Across Countries

Net take-home, effective rate, and full breakdown for up to 3 countries — side by side.

Countries to compare

Annual gross income

Will be converted to each country's local currency using approximate rates

Non-resident

Notes

Income is entered in each country's local currency — no exchange rate conversion.
US and Canada show federal tax only. Main calculator lets you add a state or province.
Non-resident rates are flat withholding rates — vary by income type and tax treaty.

How it works

Pick up to 3 countries Any mix from 24 supported countries. The tool calculates each one independently using its own brackets, deductions, and social contribution rules.

Enter one income figure Each country's calculator treats that number as local currency. At €60,000 in Germany you're in the 42% marginal bracket. The same number as £60,000 in the UK lands in the 40% band. Tax burden is what's being compared, not purchasing power.

Toggle non-resident if needed Switches from the normal progressive scale to the flat withholding rate each country applies to non-residents. Spain: 24%. Sweden: 25% SINK. Japan: 20.42%. Germany: ~25%. Relevant if you earn income in a country without living there.

Read the results Each country card shows net take-home, effective rate (income tax + social combined), and a breakdown. The country where you keep the most is highlighted.

FAQ

Which countries have the lowest effective income tax?

At a €60,000 / £60,000 salary, Romania sits around 10% effective rate (flat income tax, low social base), Switzerland around 12–15% (federal only), and the UAE at 0%. At the other end, Denmark typically exceeds 35% effective rate even at moderate incomes, Belgium is close behind, and France adds significant social contributions on top of income tax — pushing the all-in effective rate past 40% for self-employed.

Does the US comparison include state tax?

No — the compare tool uses federal income tax only. At $80,000 federal effective rate is roughly 14%. Add a state like California (+8–9%) or New York City (+6%) and the real number is much higher. States with no income tax (Texas, Florida, Nevada) keep the total at the federal figure. For US + state together, use the main calculator and pick your state.

What does 'non-resident' actually mean for tax?

A non-resident earns income in a country they don't live in — rental income from a property, dividends from a local company, or freelance work for a local client. Most countries skip the progressive scale entirely and apply a flat withholding rate: Spain charges 24% (IRNR), Japan 20.42%, Sweden 25% (SINK), Germany roughly 25%, Finland 35% (lähdevero), Russia 30%, Denmark 27% (kildeskatte). Toggle non-resident in the tool to see these rates applied directly.

Why isn't the income converted to a common currency?

Because the tax brackets, deductions, and thresholds only make sense in local currency. A €60,000 salary in Germany sits in a completely different tax bracket position than the same number of pounds in the UK. The comparison is about tax burden at equivalent local salary levels — what percentage does each country take — not about purchasing power parity.

Are social contributions included, or just income tax?

Both are included and shown separately. This matters a lot for some countries: in France, employee social contributions add roughly 22% on top of income tax. In Germany, health + pension + unemployment contributions add around 20%. In Romania, CAS + CASS add around 35% of gross before income tax. The 'effective rate' shown is income tax + social combined.

How accurate are the numbers?

Solid estimates for most salaried employees with no special deductions — based on 2024/2025 tax tables and standard brackets. Not included: regional taxes beyond federal (state income tax in the US, Bundesland church tax in Germany, cantonal tax in Switzerland beyond federal), personal deductions you might qualify for, and tax treaty effects between countries. For self-employed, social contribution rules vary more and results should be verified.