Germany Tax Cheatsheet 2026
Your free key rates & allowances, thanks for subscribing!
Germany's Finanzamt applies these figures under the Einkommensteuer system, pension, health, unemployment and long-term care insurance are deducted separately from income tax.
| Allowance / Band | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Tax-Free Allowance | €12.348 | Grundfreibetrag, 2026 (€24.696 for married couples filing jointly) |
| Entry Tax Zone | €12.349 – €69.879 | 14% rising progressively to 42% (official formula) |
| Top Tax Rate | €69.880 – €277.825 | 42% |
| Wealth Tax Rate | Over €277.825 | 45% (Reichensteuer) |
| Pension Insurance | 9.3% of gross (employee share) | Rentenversicherung, on income up to €101.400 a year |
| Health Insurance | 8.75% of gross (employee share) | Krankenversicherung, 7.3% plus half the 2.9% average add-on, up to €69.750 a year |
| Unemployment Insurance | 1.3% of gross (employee share) | Arbeitslosenversicherung, on income up to €101.400 a year |
| Long-Term Care Insurance | 1.8% (parents) / 2.4% (childless, 23+) | Pflegeversicherung, up to €69.750 a year |
Want to see what your Lohnsteuer and social contributions add up to? Try our Salary Calculator or Savings Goal Calculator
For informational purposes only, not tax advice. Figures apply to the 2026 German tax year and may change.
