Advertisement

Low income earners face high tax, social contribution burden

Author thumbnail
Low income earners face high tax, social contribution burden
Photo: DPA

Not much left of your paycheque at the end of the month? Workers in Germany have the second highest tax and social contribution burden of 30 nations, according to a new study by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Advertisement

The group said that the tax burden was highest for single households with lower incomes. In 2008, a single person earning two thirds of an average annual German wage of €44,000 ended up losing almost half his or her pay packet – some 47.3 percent – in taxes and social security contributions. The OECD average was only 33.5 percent.

But the organisation said the German tax system also put double income couples at a disadvantage.

“On the other hand, if only one partner holds a job, then the social contributions are relatively moderate in an OECD comparison. And that’s irrespective of whether the couple has to take care of children,” the group said in a statement.

People with high incomes profit the most from the country's tax and welfare regime, according to the OECD thanks to caps on social security contributions past a certain salary limit.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also