Compare taxes and see how much you save moving from UK to Germany
Both have 45% top rates, but the traps differ. UK has the 60% effective rate zone (£100K-£125K) where your personal allowance vanishes. Germany has church tax (8-9% of income tax) that catches many by surprise. At €80,000 single: UK ~£21,000 (~€24,500), Germany ~€24,000—similar! But marriage flips it: Germany's Ehegattensplitting saves €5,000-10,000/year if one spouse earns less. UK gives married couples almost nothing. Choose UK if: single, earning £50K-£100K (sweet spot), want ISAs for tax-free investing. Choose Germany if: married with income disparity, want higher gross salaries, don't mind leaving church to avoid Kirchensteuer.
Additional Rate
60% trap at £100K-£125K
Top Rate
Plus church tax 8-9%
At €80,000 (marital status dependent) income:
That is €42-583/month back in your pocket!
| Income | UK Tax | DE Tax | Savings | 10-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £50,000 / €58,000 (single) | £9,432 tax + £3,532 NI | €14,500 | UK saves ~€2,000 | €20,000 |
| £80,000 / €93,000 (single) | £21,500 (tax + NI) | €28,000 | UK saves ~€3,000 | €30,000 |
| £100,000 / €117,000 (single) | £34,000 (entering 60% trap!) | €38,000 | Similar (UK trap starts) | ~€0 |
| €80,000 (married, one earner) | ~€24,500 | €15,000 (splitting!) | Germany saves €9,500 | €95,000 |
| £150,000 / €175,000 (single) | £53,700 (past trap zone) | €65,000 | UK saves ~€2,500 | €25,000 |
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Hiring Internationally? Deel Handles Compliance →UK wins slightly. At £80,000: UK takes ~£21,500 (income tax + NI), Germany at €93,000 takes ~€28,000. The difference is ~€3,000/year in UK's favor. This holds until you hit the UK's 60% trap zone at £100K. Sweet spot for UK is £50K-£100K.
If one spouse earns €80,000 and the other €0, Germany taxes as if both earn €40,000 each. Tax drops from ~€24,000 to ~€15,000—saving €9,000/year. UK gives married couples almost nothing (only inheritance tax benefit). For couples with income disparity, Germany wins decisively.
UK: Earn £100,000-£125,140 and your £12,570 personal allowance vanishes at £1 per £2 earned. Combined with 40% tax + 2% NI = 60% effective rate. Germany has no equivalent—their rates rise progressively without allowance phase-outs. Germany is cleaner for high earners.
Church tax (Kirchensteuer) only applies if you're registered Catholic or Protestant—often defaulted from birth records. Visit your local Standesamt to formally leave (Kirchenaustritt), costs €30-60. Saves 8-9% of your income tax immediately. Many expats don't realize they're paying it.
UK's ISA system wins decisively. £20,000/year into ISAs = tax-free growth and withdrawals forever. Germany's Riester/Rürup pensions have complex rules and lower limits. For long-term wealth building, UK's ISA flexibility is a major advantage that's hard to replicate in Germany.