German Tax System

Individual income taxes in Germany

Before you start working in Germany you should get at least some brief knowledge about the individual income tax, the tax classes and other taxes

Anyone who resides in Germany and is employed there is subject to individual income tax (Einkommensteuer), although there is a minimum untaxed allowance of up to €9,169.

What is income tax?

Income tax is money paid to the government from your gross earnings. Your employer will automatically deduct any tax due from your gross paycheck and pay it to the German tax office. Your employer will also deduct any social security contributions.

When did income tax start?

To go way back, income tax in some form first began in Ancient Egypt. Income tax in Europe was rolled out from around the 18th century, usually when a country needed to fund a war. The German word for tax is Steuer, which translates, in one sense, as ‘duty’ – which is logical seeing as individuals are obliged to pay it towards national public funding.

What is the tax rate in Germany 2019?

The minimum taxable income is €9,169 (no tax is charged under this amount). The tax rate starts at 14%, rising in a series of income tax brackets to 45% for the highest earners (over €265,327).

Progressive tax: a definition

Germany has a progressive taxation system. A country with a progressive tax system such as Germany charges more tax to higher earners on a sliding scale.

How much will I make after taxes?

You need to calculate your monthly (or weekly) wage and then calculate how much will be deducted for income tax and social security contributions based on the bracket you will fall into.

Use an online German income tax calculator to find out how much you should take home after tax and social security contributions.

German Tax Classes

Learn more about the German Tax System and the so called "Steuerklassen"

There are six tax classes in Germany (called Steuerklassen), and the one you fall into will affect which rate you are taxed at.

What are the tax classes in Germany?

• Class I: Single/widowed/civil partnership/divorced. Married persons not in tax classes II, III or IV
• Class II: Single but entitled to single parent allowance
• Class III: Married but spouse does not earn wages/is classified under tax category V/recently deceased
• Class IV: Married (not separated); both earning and residing in Germany
• Class V: Married but one spouse is classified under tax class III
• Class VI: Individuals on multiple wages from more than one employer

Income tax declaration

If you work in Germany full-time or during your studies, it's good to know the basics about German income tax

All those who are self-employed in Germany are expected to file an annual tax declaration. The tax year in Germany runs parallel with the calendar year, which means you should ideally be submitting your tax return in January each year, although the deadline is the 31st May.

Make sure you include all deductible costs such as insurance and maintenance. This will result in an assessment of how much you owe (or are owed) for the previous year. To get an idea of how much this will be and to help you budget, you can use a self-employment income tax calculator.

Those who are employed and taxed at source are not required to do a tax return unless they have changed jobs during the year or earned an additional self-employed income.

Although employed individuals are not required to do a tax return, it might just be in your interest to do one. If you have not been in Germany for a full tax year, for example, you may be entitled to a tax refund. However, this process can be complicated and time-consuming. To avoid those issues and make it easier for you to do your tax declaration, you can check Wundertax. The fintech helps students and expats working in Germany to submit their income tax declarations online.

Other taxes

As well as income tax and social security contributions, there are several other significant taxes in Germany that you should be aware of, including solidarity tax, church tax, and VAT.

What is church tax in Germany?

Church tax (Kirchensteuer) is paid by every registered member of a Christian or Jewish congregation. It is typically collected at source from your gross wage, along with income tax and social security contributions. Church tax is charged at 8-9% of your gross salary.

What is Solidarity Tax in Germany?

In addition to income tax, everyone who earns above €972 pays a Solidarity Tax (Solidaritätszuschlag) contribution of up to 5.5%, which again is removed at source from your wages. This tax was introduced in 1991 to rebuild and invest in Eastern Germany after reunification. It is still in place to help finance the ongoing costs associated with a unified Germany.

How much is VAT in Germany?

Value Added Tax, or VAT, (Mehrwertsteuer) is charged on all luxury or non-essential items and services in Germany. The current rate for standard VAT stands at 19%. Some items such as books and flowers have a reduced VAT rate of 7%.

Seconded employees in Germany

What should I consider when working as a seconded employee?

Many people who move to Germany do so for work because they are seconded, either at their own request or that of their employer. Anyone who is seconded continues to be employed by the same company, which means seconded employees remain on the payroll of their home country and will continue to pay tax at home.

They therefore do not need to pay tax in Germany. Those who are paid by their employer in the country where they pay tax are also not obliged to make social security contributions in Germany. This goes for all EEA countries, but many other countries have similar bilateral agreements with Germany, too. This secondment rule typically applies to secondments of up to two years, although it is possible for this to be the case for up to five years.