Understanding your Payslip: An Expat Guide
As an expat working in Germany, understanding your payslip is crucial to manage your finances effectively. However, deciphering the payslip can be quite challenging, especially when dealing with different languages and unfamiliar terms. In this blog, we’ll break down each component of a German payslip and explain what deductions are made and what they mean, to help expats gain a better understanding of their finances and ensure they receive the correct amount of pay. Whether you’re a new expat in Germany or have been working here for a while, this guide will provide you with valuable insights into your payslip.
*The above illustration and text are all based on the average employee here in Germany. There are many exceptions to these rules and if you would like to be 100% sure about your personal situation then it is best to seek professional advice from either a qualified accountant or a lawyer specializing in social law.
Total gross salary
The gross salary includes the income, the employee’s social security contributions and the tax to be paid to the tax office.
Tax
The tax deduction is transferred by the employer to the tax office. The amount is calculated progressively: The more the employee earns, the more tax is withheld. The normal tax bracket ranges from 14% to 42%, normally the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
Church tax
Church tax in Germany is 8% or 9% depending on the federal state. It is paid by the employer for Catholic or Protestant church members via the state to the churches. The charges are calculated on your income tax.
Solidarity surcharge
Since 2021, the solidarity surcharge has been waived up to an annual income of around 73000 euros. From this income upwards, the solidarity tax is charged at 5,5% and is calculated from your tax bill. The solidarity tax was introduced to pay for the reconstruction of East Germany after Germany became unified again.
Total tax to be paid
Income tax plus solidarity surcharge and church tax.
Employee contribution to statutory health insurance
The total cost of statutory health insurance is 14.6%, with the employer and the employee (7.3%) each paying half. The employee may have to pay an additional contribution of about 1.3%, as determined by the health insurance provider.
Employee contribution to statutory pension insurance
This is paid in equal parts by the employer and the employee. It amounts to a total of 18.6% of the gross wage.
Unemployment insurance
A total of 2.4% of the salary. Employer and employee each pay half.
Compulsory long-term care insurance
A total of 3.05% is paid for this. Half from the employer and half from the employee, childless employees have to pay a further supplement of 0.25% as of the age of 23
Total deductions for social insurance (employee’s share)
Net salary
This is the amount transferred to the employee’s account.
Total tax payments
Income tax, solidarity surcharge and church tax accrued in the year
Total social security payments
Health insurance, pension insurance, unemployment insurance and compulsory long-term care insurance accrued in the year
Social security contribution payable by the employer in the month
That is a lot of money taken off your gross salary every month and the strange thing is that we find with dealing with expats every day that most of them do not have a clue as to why they are losing so much of their gross income. To be fair that German state takes a lot, but they also give a lot back if you know your way around the system.
In conclusion, understanding your payslip in Germany can be a daunting task for expats, but with this guide, you should now have a better understanding of what each deduction means and how it affects your net income. Being able to read and comprehend your payslip is important to ensure that you are being paid correctly and that you are not missing out on any benefits or allowances. However, this is just the beginning of understanding your income in Germany.
