
The purpose of this study is to compare the tax and social burdens of salaried employees in the 27 Member States of the European Union and, in doing so, determine a “tax liberation day” for individuals who are working in those countries. In addition, the study tracks year-to-year trends in the taxation of labour.
Numerous studies rank political systems by various measures of “economic freedom”. While valuable to economists, the aggregate data in these studies fails to shed light on the working individual’s role in financing their state and social security. In addition, many think tanks determine an annual “tax freedom day” for their countries. Unfortunately, conflicting approaches to this calculation make cross-border comparisons difficult. This study aims to create an “apples to apples” comparison of “real tax rates”, with data that reflect the reality experienced by real, working people in the European Union. Further, it serves as a guide to the true cost of hiring employees in each state.
Main results
Typical workers in the European Union saw their average “real tax rate” rise again this year, from 44.89% in 2012 to 45.06% in 2013. The rise of 1.07% since this study series began in 2010 is, to a large extent, a consequence of VAT increases in 16 EU member states 43.4%.
Belgium is ranked as the European country which taxes the labour in the higher rate. In fact, an employer in Brussels now spends 2.52€ (0.07€ more than a year ago) to put 1€ into a typical worker’s pocket –and that worker’s tax liberation day is August 8. In opposite to Belgium, Hungary established a flat tax system since 2011 offering considerable tax relief for workers. Its tax rate of 16% has brought that country’s tax liberation day forward by 22 days over three years. Many of the purported benefits of flat tax rates have been proven true. Their simplicity facilitates compliance.
Their low, “not-worth-the-crime” rates have prompted many underground dealers to emerge as “legitimate” businessmen. While providing tax relief to typical workers, they have also been successful in increasing overall tax revenues. The flat rate is, after all, only a flat income tax rate. Social security contributions in these countries are far higher than in progressive systems. Moreover, 5 of the EU’s 6 flat tax countries (all except Bulgaria) have raised VAT rates since 2009, with Hungary implementing two increases totalling 7%.
Methodology
An individual’s Real Tax Rate can be counted as following:
Social Security Contributions + Income Tax + VAT
Real Gross Salary
This percentage of 365 determines the Tax Liberation Day, the calendar date on which an employee (beginning work,
in theory, on January 1st) would earn enough to pay his annual tax burden.
2013 Tax Liberation Day Calendar
Country | Month | Day | Some country notes Belgium In 2013’s “tax liberation day” for Belgian workers falls three days later than in 2012. In March 2013, the Di Rupo government announced plans to reduce debt to 100% of GDP by selling state assets, cutting spending and – of course – raising taxes.
Czech Republic On 01 January 2013 the Czech Republic abandoned its flat tax regime in favour of a “twobracket” system. The 15% flat rate of income tax still applies to gross earnings below CZK 100,000 (approximately 3,885€) per month; a rate of 22% is applied to higher amounts.
Italy Italy’s VAT rate rose from 20% to 21% at the end of 2011 and will rise to 22% on 01 July 2013. Thus the typical Italian worker will pay 21% for the first half of 2013 and 22% in the second half. In this report, consequently, we show 21.5% as Italy’s VAT rate. Slovakia Slovakia also called an end to its flat tax regime and, like the Czechs, implemented a “twobracket” system. The 19% flat rate of income tax still applies to gross earnings below 39,600€ per year; a rate of 25% is applied to higher amounts. For more analytical information about Tax Freedom Day visit: http://newdirectionfoundation.org/content/out-now-tax-liberation-day-2013-calendar |
Cyprus | March | 14 |
Ireland | April | 24 |
Malta | April | 29 |
United Kingdom | May | 13 |
Bulgaria | May | 18 |
Luxembourg | May | 25 |
Portugal | June | 04 |
Denmark | June | 06 |
Slovenia | June | 07 |
Poland | June | 12 |
Spain | June | 12 |
Estonia | June | 14 |
Greece | June | 17 |
Lithuania | June | 18 |
Finland | June | 18 |
Czech Republic | June | 19 |
Slovakia | June | 20 |
Sweden | June | 22 |
Netherlands | June | 27 |
Latvia | June | 27 |
Romania | July | 01 |
Italy | July | 10 |
Germany | July | 13 |
Hungary | July | 16 |
Austria | July | 23 |
France | July | 26 |
Belgium | August | 08 |

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May 7th, 2013
The Tax Burden of Typical Workers in the EU 27
The purpose of this study is to compare the tax […]
The purpose of this study is to compare the tax and social burdens of salaried employees in the 27 Member States of the European Union and, in doing so, determine a “tax liberation day” for individuals who are working in those countries. In addition, the study tracks year-to-year trends in the taxation of labour.
Numerous studies rank political systems by various measures of “economic freedom”. While valuable to economists, the aggregate data in these studies fails to shed light on the working individual’s role in financing their state and social security. In addition, many think tanks determine an annual “tax freedom day” for their countries. Unfortunately, conflicting approaches to this calculation make cross-border comparisons difficult. This study aims to create an “apples to apples” comparison of “real tax rates”, with data that reflect the reality experienced by real, working people in the European Union. Further, it serves as a guide to the true cost of hiring employees in each state.
Main results
Typical workers in the European Union saw their average “real tax rate” rise again this year, from 44.89% in 2012 to 45.06% in 2013. The rise of 1.07% since this study series began in 2010 is, to a large extent, a consequence of VAT increases in 16 EU member states 43.4%.
Belgium is ranked as the European country which taxes the labour in the higher rate. In fact, an employer in Brussels now spends 2.52€ (0.07€ more than a year ago) to put 1€ into a typical worker’s pocket –and that worker’s tax liberation day is August 8. In opposite to Belgium, Hungary established a flat tax system since 2011 offering considerable tax relief for workers. Its tax rate of 16% has brought that country’s tax liberation day forward by 22 days over three years. Many of the purported benefits of flat tax rates have been proven true. Their simplicity facilitates compliance.
Their low, “not-worth-the-crime” rates have prompted many underground dealers to emerge as “legitimate” businessmen. While providing tax relief to typical workers, they have also been successful in increasing overall tax revenues. The flat rate is, after all, only a flat income tax rate. Social security contributions in these countries are far higher than in progressive systems. Moreover, 5 of the EU’s 6 flat tax countries (all except Bulgaria) have raised VAT rates since 2009, with Hungary implementing two increases totalling 7%.
Methodology
An individual’s Real Tax Rate can be counted as following:
Social Security Contributions + Income Tax + VAT
Real Gross Salary
This percentage of 365 determines the Tax Liberation Day, the calendar date on which an employee (beginning work,
in theory, on January 1st) would earn enough to pay his annual tax burden.
2013 Tax Liberation Day Calendar
Country
Month
Day
Some country notes
Belgium
In 2013’s “tax liberation day” for Belgian workers falls three days later than in 2012.
In March 2013, the Di Rupo government announced plans to reduce debt to 100% of GDP by selling state assets, cutting spending and – of course – raising taxes.
Czech Republic
On 01 January 2013 the Czech Republic abandoned its flat tax regime in favour of a “twobracket” system. The 15% flat rate of income tax still applies to gross earnings below CZK 100,000 (approximately 3,885€) per month; a rate of 22% is applied to higher amounts.
Italy
Italy’s VAT rate rose from 20% to 21% at the end of 2011 and will rise to 22% on 01 July 2013. Thus the typical Italian worker will pay 21% for the first half of 2013 and 22% in the second half. In this report, consequently, we show 21.5% as Italy’s VAT rate.
Slovakia
Slovakia also called an end to its flat tax regime and, like the Czechs, implemented a “twobracket” system. The 19% flat rate of income tax still applies to gross earnings below 39,600€ per year; a rate of 25% is applied to higher amounts.
For more analytical information about Tax Freedom Day visit:
http://newdirectionfoundation.org/content/out-now-tax-liberation-day-2013-calendar
Cyprus
March
14
Ireland
April
24
Malta
April
29
United Kingdom
May
13
Bulgaria
May
18
Luxembourg
May
25
Portugal
June
04
Denmark
June
06
Slovenia
June
07
Poland
June
12
Spain
June
12
Estonia
June
14
Greece
June
17
Lithuania
June
18
Finland
June
18
Czech Republic
June
19
Slovakia
June
20
Sweden
June
22
Netherlands
June
27
Latvia
June
27
Romania
July
01
Italy
July
10
Germany
July
13
Hungary
July
16
Austria
July
23
France
July
26
Belgium
August
08
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