DoubleTaxationHow we calculate the tax burden
We use the OECD Taxing Wages methodology, which the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development applies every year to compare taxes on wages across its 38 member countries.
We include income tax (central and local, surtaxes and income-based levies) and compulsory employee social security contributions. Employer contributions and payroll taxes are shown separately, together with the tax burden including them — the share of all taxes and contributions in the employer's labour cost (the OECD calls it the “tax wedge”).
Special tax regimes, voluntary payments and non-tax compulsory payments are not included either; special regimes are listed on each country page.
Profile: single person without children, full-time employee for the whole year, only standard deductions and allowances that apply automatically. The salary is the same in every country — EUR 30,000, 60,000 or 120,000 gross per year, or your own amount.
Exchange rates: European Central Bank reference rate of 2 January 2026; for currencies the ECB does not publish, the official rate of the country's central bank. Local taxes follow the location used by the OECD; for other countries, the capital.
For OECD countries we check our calculation against the official Taxing Wages 2026 figures for the average wage.
Only some of the country's direct taxes and levies are counted: income tax on wages and compulsory contributions. Not counted: property and real-estate taxes; taxes on dividends, interest and other investment income; inheritance and gift taxes; indirect taxes such as VAT, excise and customs duties.
Comparison table
Tax burden on the employee
| Country | €30,000 | €60,000 | €1,20,000 | Take-home pay (€60,000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | 9.8 % | 13.4 % | 18.9 % | €51,947 |
| United Kingdom | 14.5 % | 21.8 % | 32.8 % | €46,909 |
| Ukraine | 23.0 % | 23.0 % | 23.0 % | €46,200 |
| United States | 19.3 % | 23.4 % | 30.1 % | €45,980 |
| Bangladesh | 17.5 % | 23.7 % | 26.9 % | €45,758 |
| Netherlands | 6.6 % | 24.3 % | 37.5 % | €45,412 |
| Czech Republic | 22.3 % | 24.5 % | 27.3 % | €45,316 |
| Canada | 19.0 % | 25.6 % | 33.9 % | €44,622 |
| India | 17.6 % | 26.8 % | 31.9 % | €43,919 |
| Japan | 21.8 % | 28.0 % | 35.8 % | €43,221 |
| Spain | 21.8 % | 29.7 % | 36.2 % | €42,184 |
| Pakistan | 24.6 % | 29.8 % | 32.4 % | €42,127 |
| China | 26.8 % | 30.3 % | 30.6 % | €41,808 |
| France | 23.5 % | 31.4 % | 37.2 % | €41,149 |
| Austria | 17.3 % | 31.6 % | 38.1 % | €41,025 |
| Hungary | 33.5 % | 33.5 % | 33.5 % | €39,900 |
| Germany | 29.3 % | 37.4 % | 42.9 % | €37,551 |
| Poland | 28.7 % | 37.8 % | 40.5 % | €37,327 |
| Türkiye | 32.2 % | 38.3 % | 38.1 % | €37,025 |
| Italy | 22.5 % | 38.9 % | 45.8 % | €36,677 |
| Romania | 41.5 % | 41.5 % | 41.5 % | €35,100 |
An indicative calculation for a typical case. Not tax advice.