Compare taxes and see how much you save moving from Turkey to Germany
Germany has one of the world's highest employer+employee social security burdens — approximately 40% combined (health, pension, unemployment, care). Germany's income tax tops at 45% plus a 5.5% solidarity surcharge. Turkey's income tax tops at 40% but has a significantly lower social security burden (~34.5% employer + 15% employee, though caps apply). For Turkish workers in Germany, Germany's higher wages largely offset the higher tax burden. Remittances from Germany to Turkey (EUR to TRY) have been affected dramatically by Turkish lira depreciation — which is a financial planning consideration for Turkish diaspora.
Progressive GİB Tax, TRY 110,000 threshold
Turkey taxes residents on worldwide income at progressive rates 15–40% (administered by GİB — Gelir İdaresi Başkanlığı). Top rate 40% applies above TRY 4.3 million (~€130K at current rates). Employee social security: ~15% (pension 9% + health 5% + unemployment 1%). Employer contribution: ~20.5%. Social security contributions have a wage ceiling. Capital gains: 0–40% depending on asset type and holding period.
Progressive Finanzamt Tax, Basic Allowance €11,604
Germany taxes residents on worldwide income at progressive rates 14–45% (Einkommensteuer). Solidarity surcharge (Solidaritätszuschlag 5.5%) now only applies above ~€73K single income. Employee social contributions: health 7.3% + pension 9.3% + unemployment 1.3% + care insurance 1.7% = ~19.6% employee; employer matches approximately. Church tax 8–9% of income tax applies unless formally opted out. Capital gains on investments: 25% flat (Abgeltungsteuer).
At €70,000 gross income:
A software engineer earning €70,000 gross in Germany takes home approximately €42,000 net after income tax (~€8,000) and employee social contributions (~€14,000) — around 60% net. In Turkey, the same nominal income has ~71% take-home due to lower social charges — but Turkish professional salaries are significantly lower than German equivalents, making German wages compelling despite higher tax burden.
| Income | TR Tax | DE Tax | Savings | 10-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €30,000 | ~27% combined (income + social) | ~35% combined (income + social) | Germany 8% higher | German public pension builds meaningful retirement credit |
| €60,000 | ~34% combined | ~43% combined | Germany 9% higher | German healthcare included in contributions |
| €100,000 | ~40% combined | ~49% combined | Germany 9% higher | Solidarity surcharge phase-out reduces Germany gap slightly |
| €200,000 | ~43% combined | ~55% combined | Germany 12% higher | German top bracket most costly |
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Get Compliant Cross-Border Employment →Germany and Turkey have a Double Taxation Agreement (DTA). Turkish nationals who are German tax residents (domicile or habitual abode in Germany) are taxed in Germany on worldwide income. Turkey generally taxes its citizens on Turkey-source income. The DTA prevents double taxation: German-resident Turks typically do not owe Turkish income tax on German wages. However, if they have Turkey-source income (rental property, business income, investments in Turkey), Turkey taxes that income and the DTA provides relief mechanisms.
Germany and Turkey have a bilateral social security agreement. Turkish workers who return to Turkey permanently (and are not German citizens or EU citizens) may be eligible to receive a refund of German pension contributions after a waiting period (typically after 24 months of departure from Germany, if they will not reach German pension age and are not entitled to a German pension). The refund is only the employee-side contributions, not the employer side. The German pension agency (Deutsche Rentenversicherung) handles these claims.
The Turkish lira has lost substantial value against the EUR since 2018. For Turkish workers in Germany sending EUR to Turkey: the same EUR amount buys significantly more TRY than it did 5–10 years ago. This makes German wages very valuable for Turkish families receiving remittances. However, for Turkish workers saving in Turkey (holding TRY-denominated assets), the depreciation erodes purchasing power. The optimal strategy for Turkish workers in Germany: save in EUR in Germany, minimize TRY exposure unless buying Turkish real estate for near-term use.