WorldTax Compare← All Comparisons

United States vs Germany
Tax Rate Comparison

Enter your income below for a personal tax estimate, then scroll down for full rate breakdowns.

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States
vs
πŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺ Germany
Tax Year:

πŸ’° Personal Income Tax Calculator

Enter your income to see your estimated annual tax liability in each country β€” side by side.

Enter your annual income above to see your personal tax comparison β†’
Individual Income Tax (Top Marginal Rate)
Top Income Tax Rate
10–37%
TCJA provisions extended; no sunset
No change
14–45%
Basic allowance ~€12,336; bracket creep relief
No change
VAT / GST / Sales Tax
VAT / GST / Sales Tax
0–11%
No federal sales tax; state avg ~6–9%
No change
7–19%
Standard 19% unchanged
No change
Corporate Tax Rate
Corporate Tax Rate
21%
Federal flat; proposals to raise to 28% stalled
No change
~29%
Coalition discussions on lowering to 25% ongoing
β–Ό -0.5pp vs 2025
Capital Gains Tax
Capital Gains Tax
0–20%
+ 3.8% NIIT; thresholds inflation-adjusted
No change
25%
Investment income reform proposals under review
No change
Social Security & Payroll
Social Security / Payroll
~15.3%
SS wage base ~$180,000 est. 2026
No change
~41.5%
Health insurance rising; pension base up
β–² +0.5pp vs 2025
State, Regional & Local Taxes

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States β€” State & Local Taxes

The U.S. has 50 states each setting their own income tax (0%–13.3%). California tops at 13.3%, while Texas, Florida, and Nevada levy no state income tax. NYC adds its own income tax (up to 3.876%). Sales taxes vary from 0% (Oregon) to over 11% combined. Property taxes are primarily local. Some states like Washington have introduced capital gains levies.

πŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺ Germany β€” Trade Tax (Gewerbesteuer) & Church Tax

Germany's 16 BundeslΓ€nder apply federal income tax rates uniformly β€” no state income tax variation. Municipalities levy Gewerbesteuer (trade tax) on business profits at ~7–17% effective. Church tax (Kirchensteuer) of 8–9% of income tax applies to registered members. The solidarity surcharge (Soli) now only applies to the top ~10% of earners.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Rates shown are standard top/headline rates for informational purposes. Actual tax liability depends on income level, residency, deductions, and tax treaties. 2025–2026 data reflects announced or enacted rates and may be subject to change. Not financial or legal advice.

United States vs Germany: Key Tax Differences (2026)

πŸ’° Income Tax: πŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺ Germany has a higher top income tax rate (10–37% vs 14–45%). πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States is more favourable for high earners.

πŸ›’ VAT/Sales Tax: Germany has a higher consumption tax (0–11% vs 7–19%).

🏒 Corporate Tax: πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States offers a lower corporate rate (21% vs 29%), which can influence business location decisions.

πŸ“ˆ Capital Gains: πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States taxes investment gains at a lower rate (20% vs 25%), benefiting investors.

Related Comparisons

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡¦πŸ‡· ArgentinaTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡¦πŸ‡Ί AustraliaTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡¦πŸ‡Ή AustriaTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡§πŸ‡­ BahrainTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡§πŸ‡ͺ BelgiumTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡§πŸ‡· BrazilTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡§πŸ‡¬ BulgariaTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ CanadaTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡¨πŸ‡± ChileTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡¨πŸ‡³ ChinaTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡¨πŸ‡΄ ColombiaTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡­πŸ‡· CroatiaTax comparison