Compare taxes and see how much you save moving from Germany to UK
Both have 45% top rates but different traps. UK has the '60% effective rate zone' at £100,000-£125,140. Germany has Kirchensteuer (church tax) of 8-9% that surprises many—formally leave church to stop paying. At €80,000 (~£68,000): Germany ~€24,000 tax, UK ~£18,000 tax (~€21,000)—UK is cheaper for most. BUT UK's 60% trap makes £100K-£125K brutal. Married couples: Germany's Ehegattensplitting saves €5,000-10,000/year if one spouse earns less—UK gives married couples almost nothing. Singles earning £50K-£100K: UK wins. Married with income disparity: Germany wins. Investors: UK's ISA system beats Germany's Riester. Choose Germany if: married with income disparity, want higher gross salaries, don't mind leaving church. Choose UK if: single, earning £50K-£100K (sweet spot), want ISAs, prefer English-speaking.
Top Rate
Plus church tax 8-9%
Additional Rate
60% trap at £100K-£125K
At €80,000 (varies by situation) income:
That is €167-583/month back in your pocket!
| Income | DE Tax | UK Tax | Savings | 10-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €50,000 / £43,000 (single) | ~€11,500 (no church tax) | ~£7,000 + NI (~€10,500 total) | UK saves ~€1,000 | €10,000 |
| €80,000 / £68,000 (single) | ~€24,000 (no church tax) | ~£18,000 + NI (~€21,000 total) | UK saves ~€3,000 | €30,000 |
| €117,000 / £100,000 (entering UK trap!) | ~€38,000 | ~£34,000 (60% marginal!) | Similar but UK trap starts | Complex |
| €80,000 (married, one earner) | ~€15,000 (Ehegattensplitting!) | ~€21,000 (no married benefit) | Germany saves €6,000 | €60,000 |
| €150,000 / £128,000 (single) | ~€52,000 | ~£46,000 + NI (~€55,000 total) | Germany saves ~€3,000 | €30,000 |
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Hiring Internationally? Deel Handles Compliance →UK is cheaper by about €3,000/year for singles at €80,000. German income tax is ~€24,000 vs UK ~€21,000 (including NI). This holds until you hit the UK's 60% trap zone at £100,000. Singles earning £50K-£100K have a sweet spot in the UK.
If one spouse earns €80,000 and the other €0, Germany taxes as if both earn €40,000 each—falling into much lower brackets. Tax drops from ~€24,000 to ~€15,000, saving €9,000/year. UK gives married couples almost nothing. For couples with income disparity, Germany wins decisively.
Kirchensteuer (8-9% of income tax) applies if you're registered Catholic or Protestant—often defaulted from birth/baptism records. Visit your local Standesamt to formally leave church (Kirchenaustritt), costs €30-60. This immediately stops the surcharge. Many Germans leave and still attend church casually.
UK wins decisively with ISAs. £20,000/year can grow completely tax-free forever—dividends, gains, and withdrawals all exempt. Germany's Riester/Rürup pensions have complex rules and lower limits. For long-term wealth building, UK's ISA flexibility is a major advantage.
Between £100,000-£125,140 in the UK, you lose £1 of personal allowance per £2 earned. Combined with 40% tax + 2% NI = 60% effective marginal rate. Germany has no equivalent trap—rates rise progressively without allowance phase-outs. For high earners, Germany is cleaner.