Personal Taxation in Europe: How much do Europeans take home from their gross salary?


December 9, 2022

Below are some of the highlights from our recent report, click here for a downloadable PDF of the full report.

We looked at net salaries across Europe as a percentage of gross pay, i.e. after deducting personal income tax and employee social security premiums. In our calculations we used the average gross salaries in each country surveyed.

Scenario One – Single employee with average salary

In the case of a single employee receiving an average salary, we found that the European average net salary amounts to 73% of gross salary. The personal income tax burden constitutes an average of about 14%. Employee social security costs amount to approximately 13% of gross income.

Countries that enjoy an average net salary higher than 73% in this scenario are: Cyprus, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Spain, Malta, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Greece, Bulgaria, Ireland, Sweden, Slovakia, Finland, Iceland, Poland.

Scenario Two – Average single income family with two children

In the case of an average single income family with two children, the European average net salary increases to 79% of gross salary, with the personal income tax burden dropping to an average of approximately 9%. Employee social security costs are slightly lower in this scenario at roughly 12% of gross income.

Countries with an average net salary higher than 79% in this scenario are: the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Malta, Ireland, Cyprus, Estonia, Switzerland, Iceland, Latvia, Spain, Poland, Portugal, Austria, Luxembourg, Croatia, Greece, the United Kingdom.

Take-home pay for high earners and employer social security costs

In the full report we reveal the average net salaries across a number of other scenarios – including wealthy single employees and wealthy families with two children. We also present country rankings, by percentage of take-home pay, for each scenario. Moreover, we analyse tax free amounts in specific European countries and compare employer social security contributions, which impact the cost of employment.

Contact us

For a deeper discussion or to review the full findings of the Vialto Personal Taxation in Europe survey, please reach out to your Vialto contact or alternatively:

Mariusz Ignatowicz – Partner, Tax Advisor

mariusz.ignatowicz@vialto.com

Joanna Narkiewicz-Tarlowska – Director, Tax Advisor

joanna.narkiewicz-tarlowska@vialto.com

Grzegorz Ogorek – Senior Manager

grzegorz.ogorek@vialto.com

Marta Chacinska – Senior Consultant

marta.chacinska@vialto.com

Szymon Grzesiak – Consultant

szymon.grzesiak@vialto.com

 

Vialto Partners (“Vialto”) refers to wholly owned subsidiaries of CD&R Galaxy UK OpCo Limited as well as the other members of the Vialto Partners global network. The information contained in this document is for general guidance on matters of interest only. Vialto is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. All information is provided “as is”, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including, but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will Vialto, its related entities, or the agents or employees thereof be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information in this document or for any consequential, special or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

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