Blog
Money guides, country by country
Plain explainers on salary, tax and benefits for each country we cover, written to go alongside the calculators and kept to the official figures.
5 August 2026 EN New Zealand Minimum Wage 2026: $23.95 an Hour From 1 April The adult minimum wage rose to NZ$23.95 an hour on 1 April 2026, up 45 cents. Weekly and annual pay by hours worked, the take-home after PAYE and ACC, and how it sits against the living wage. Read → 
4 August 2026 EN Superannuation in 2026: The 12% Guarantee, the New Caps and the Division 296 Tax Australia's super in 2026: the 12% guarantee now in full effect, the $30,000 concessional cap, the $2 million transfer balance cap and the Division 296 tax on balances over $3 million. Read → 
3 August 2026 EN TFSA Contribution Limit 2026: $7,000 New Room and $109,000 Lifetime Canada's 2026 TFSA limit is $7,000, taking lifetime room to $109,000 since 2009. How room is calculated, the withdrawal trap, the 1% penalty, and TFSA vs RRSP vs FHSA. Read → 
2 August 2026 EN 2026 HSA Limits: The Only Triple-Tax-Free Account The 2026 HSA limit rises to $4,400 single and $8,750 family. See the HDHP rules, the payroll-tax trick a 401(k) cannot match, and a worked example. Read → 
1 August 2026 EN UK ISA Allowance 2026/27: The £20,000 Limit and the 2027 Cash Change How the £20,000 ISA allowance works for 2026/27, the Cash, Stocks and Shares, Lifetime and Junior ISA limits, and the cash ISA cut landing in April 2027. Read → 
31 July 2026 EN Luxembourg VAT (TVA) in 2026: the Lowest Standard Rate in the EU and Its Three Lower Bands How Luxembourg VAT works in 2026: the 17% standard rate, the unusual 14% band, 8% on household energy and the 3% super-reduced rate, worked both ways with examples. Read → 
30 July 2026 EN Austria Family Allowance 2026: How Much Familienbeihilfe You Get Austria's 2026 Familienbeihilfe rates by child age, the sibling scale, the Kinderabsetzbetrag paid alongside it, plus school-start money and the multi-child bonus. Read → 
29 July 2026 EN Belgium VAT (btw / TVA) in 2026: Four Bands and the 21% Rate Both Ways How Belgian VAT works in 2026: the 21% standard rate plus the 12%, 6% and 0% bands, the add and remove method, worked examples, the restaurant split and the 25,000 euro exemption. Read → 
28 July 2026 EN Finland VAT (ALV) in 2026: The 25.5% Rate and Working It Both Ways How Finnish ALV works in 2026: the 25.5% standard rate, the 13.5% and 10% reduced bands, the multiply and divide method, worked examples and the 20,000 euro registration line. Read → 
27 July 2026 EN Denmark VAT (Moms) in 2026: One Flat 25% Rate and the Divide-by-Five Trick How Danish moms works in 2026: the flat 25% rate with no reduced bands, the divide-by-five trick for any receipt, and the 50,000 kr registration line. Read → 
26 July 2026 EN Norway's BSU in 2026: The 10% Tax Break on Home Savings BSU lets under-34s in Norway cut tax by 10% of what they save toward a first home, up to NOK 2,750 a year. The 2026 limits, rules and a worked example. Read → 
25 July 2026 EN Swiss Pillar 3a in 2026: Retroactive Buy-Ins and the CHF 7,258 Cap Pillar 3a cuts your Swiss tax bill. From 2026 you can also buy back missed years from 2025 on. Here are the 2026 limits, the buy-in rules and worked savings. Read → 
24 July 2026 EN Ireland Auto-Enrolment 2026: My Future Fund Rates Explained My Future Fund started on 1 January 2026. Here are the phased 1.5% contribution rates, the State top-up of €1 for every €3, the €20,000 and €80,000 limits, and worked figures. Read → 23 July 2026 EN KiwiSaver Changes 2026: New Rates and the Government Top-Up What changed for KiwiSaver in 2026: the default rate rising to 3.5% from 1 April, the halved government contribution of up to NZ$260.72, and the NZ$180,000 income cut-off. Read → 22 July 2026 EN HECS and HELP in 2026: The New Marginal Repayment System and the 20% Debt Cut How HECS-HELP repayments work in 2026: the marginal brackets from a $67,000 threshold, the 20% one-off debt reduction, worked examples, and the indexed 2026-27 thresholds. Read → 21 July 2026 EN Canada Minimum Wage 2026: Every Province and Territory The 2026 minimum wage in every Canadian province and territory, from Alberta's $15.00 to Nunavut's $19.75, plus the federal $18.15 rate and what full-time pay works out to. Read → 20 July 2026 EN No Tax on Tips and Overtime in 2026: How the Deductions Work The 2025 tax law lets workers deduct up to $25,000 of tips and $12,500 of overtime premium. See the income limits, what still gets taxed, and worked examples. Read → 19 July 2026 EN The UK 60% Tax Trap: Earning Over £100,000 in 2026/27 Between £100,000 and £125,140 the UK Personal Allowance is withdrawn, making an effective 60% rate for 2026/27. How the trap works and how to soften it. Read → 18 July 2026 EN Luxembourg Minimum Wage 2026: the Highest in the EU Luxembourg's social minimum wage in 2026: €2,771.33 gross a month for unqualified work, €3,325.59 for qualified, the hourly and youth rates, and how indexation moves them. Read → 17 July 2026 EN Austria VAT Rates 2026: 20%, 13%, 10% and a New 4.9% Rate Austria's 2026 VAT rates explained: the 20% standard rate, the 13% and 10% reduced bands, the new 4.9% food rate from July 2026, and how to add or remove VAT. Read → 13 July 2026 EN Ireland USC 2026: Universal Social Charge Rates, Bands and Exemptions Ireland's Universal Social Charge for 2026: the 0.5% to 8% bands, the €13,000 exemption, the reduced 2% rate for over-70s, and how much USC leaves your pay. Read → 12 July 2026 EN New Zealand GST Explained 2026: The 15% Rate and the 3/23 Shortcut How GST works in New Zealand for 2026: the single 15% rate, adding and removing GST with the three twenty-thirds rule, zero-rated versus exempt supplies, and the NZ$60,000 registration line. Read → 
10 July 2026 EN German VAT in 2026: Rates, Net to Gross and the New Restaurant Rule Germany's 2026 VAT rates (19%, 7% and 0%), how to go from net to gross, strip the tax out of a price, and the reduced 7 percent rate on restaurant meals from 2026. Read → 9 July 2026 EN Australia GST Explained 2026: The 10% Rate and the One-Eleventh Rule How Australia's 10% GST works in 2026: adding and removing GST with the one-eleventh rule, what counts as GST-free, the A$75,000 registration threshold, and GST on overseas orders. Read → 7 July 2026 EN Canada GST and HST Rates 2026: 5% to 15% Explained Canada's 2026 GST and HST rates by province: the 5% federal GST, HST from 13% to 15%, what is zero-rated, the $30,000 registration threshold, and how to add or remove tax. Read → 6 July 2026 EN Maxing Your 401(k) in 2026: The Real Take-Home Cost A 2026 traditional 401(k) lowers your taxable income, so it costs less than it looks. See the $24,500 IRS limit and a worked single-filer example. Read → 5 July 2026 EN UK VAT Rates 2026: 20%, 5%, 0% and How to Calculate It The UK's 2026 VAT rates set out clearly: the 20% standard rate, 5% reduced rate, zero-rated and exempt supplies, the 90,000 pound registration threshold, and how to add or remove VAT. Read → 
4 July 2026 EN Poland VAT in 2026: The 23%, 8% and 5% Rates and How to Calculate It Poland's 2026 VAT rates explained: 23% standard, 8% and 5% reduced, 0% zero rate, adding and removing VAT, the new 240,000 zł exemption limit and the KSeF start. Read → 
3 July 2026 EN Japan Take-Home Pay in 2026: Social Insurance, Two Income Taxes and the Reconstruction Surtax How a Japanese gross salary becomes net pay in 2026 (Reiwa 8): 14.69% social insurance, national income tax with the 2.1% surtax, Tokyo resident tax and a worked 5,000,000 yen example. Read → 2 July 2026 EN Luxembourg Take-Home Pay in 2026: Tax Class 1, Social Contributions and the Employment Fund Surcharge How a Luxembourg gross salary becomes net pay in 2026: the 23-band tax scale, 12.95% social contributions, the 7% employment fund surcharge and the CIS credits. Read → 1 July 2026 EN Austria Take-Home Pay in 2026: Social Insurance, the Tax Tariff and the 13th and 14th Salary How an Austrian gross salary becomes net pay in 2026: the 18.07% social insurance charge, the 0 to 55% tariff, the automatic credits and why 14 payments beat 12. Read → 30 June 2026 EN Belgium Take-Home Pay in 2026: Social Security, the Federal Scale and the Communal Surcharge How a Belgian gross salary becomes net pay in 2026: the 13.07% social security charge, the lump-sum expense deduction, the federal scale from 25% to 50%, the tax-free sum and the communal surcharge. Read → 26 June 2026 EN Finland Take-Home Pay in 2026: State Tax, Municipal Tax and the Work Income Credit How a Finnish gross salary becomes net pay in 2026: the progressive state scale, the 7.57% average municipal tax, pension and insurance contributions, the Yle tax and the work income credit. Read → 25 June 2026 EN Denmark Take-Home Pay in 2026: AM-bidrag, the New Brackets and a Worked Example How a Danish gross salary becomes net pay in 2026: the 8% AM-bidrag taken first, the personfradrag, municipal and bottom-bracket tax, and the reformed middle and top brackets. Read → 24 June 2026 EN Norway Take-Home Pay Explained (2026): Ordinary Tax, Bracket Tax and Trygdeavgift What comes out of a Norwegian salary in 2026: the flat 22% on ordinary income, the five-step bracket tax, 7.6% national insurance, and a worked NOK 650,000 example. Read → 
23 June 2026 EN Swedish Take-Home Pay Explained (2026): Tax, Credits and the Net Result What a Swedish salary leaves after tax in 2026: municipal and state tax, the basic allowance, the job and earned income credits, and a worked 420,000 kr example. Read → 22 June 2026 EN Swiss Take-Home Pay Explained (2026): Federal, Cantonal and Communal Tax What comes out of a Swiss salary in 2026: AHV and unemployment contributions, the three layers of income tax, the Zurich multiplier, and a worked CHF 100,000 example. Read → 
21 June 2026 EN Dutch VAT (BTW) in 2026: Rates, Net to Gross and the Rules The Netherlands' 2026 VAT rates (21, 9 and 0 percent), moving from net to gross and back, the rise in the accommodation rate to 21 percent, and keeping VAT apart from margin. Read → 
20 June 2026 EN Italian VAT (IVA) in 2026: Rates, Net to Gross and the Rules Italy's 2026 VAT rates (22, 10, 5 and 4 percent), moving from net to gross and back, the regime forfettario threshold, and keeping VAT apart from margin. Read → 
19 June 2026 EN Spanish VAT (IVA) in 2026: Rates, Net to Gross and the Rules Spain's 2026 VAT rates (21, 10 and 4 percent), how to go from net to gross and back, the recargo de equivalencia surcharge, and keeping VAT separate from margin. Read → 18 June 2026 EN Ireland VAT Rates 2026: 23%, 13.5%, the New 9% and How to Calculate It Ireland's 2026 VAT rates explained: the 23% standard rate, 13.5% and 9% reduced rates, the July 2026 hospitality cut to 9%, and how to add or remove VAT. Read → 17 June 2026 EN New Zealand Take-Home Pay Explained (2026/27): PAYE, ACC and KiwiSaver What comes out of a New Zealand salary in 2026/27: PAYE income tax bands, the ACC earners' levy, why KiwiSaver is optional, with a worked $60,000 example. Read → 
16 June 2026 EN French VAT in 2026: Rates, Net to Gross and the Rules France's 2026 VAT rates (20, 10, 5.5 and 2.1 percent), how to go from net to gross, strip VAT out of a price, and keep VAT separate from margin. Read → 15 June 2026 EN Minimum Wage in Germany 2026: the Rise to €13.90 Explained Germany's statutory minimum wage rose to €13.90 an hour on 1 January 2026, with €14.60 to follow in 2027. What it means per month, who is covered, the higher mini-job ceiling, and how to check your own pay. Read → 14 June 2026 EN Australia Take-Home Pay Explained (2025-26): Tax, Medicare and Super What comes out of an Australian salary in 2025-26: income tax brackets, the Low Income Tax Offset, the Medicare levy, and why super does not reduce your pay, with a worked $90,000 example. Read → 13 June 2026 EN Canada Take-Home Pay Explained (2026): Tax, CPP and EI What comes out of a Canadian paycheck in 2026: federal and provincial income tax, CPP and CPP2, and EI, with a worked $70,000 Ontario example. Read → 12 June 2026 EN How Far Your Salary Goes in Each US State (2026) The same paycheck buys very different lives across the US. See which states are cheapest and priciest using 2024 BEA price data, with a worked salary example. Read → 11 June 2026 EN The Real Cost of Buying a Home in the UK (2026/27) Beyond the deposit: stamp duty bands for 2026/27, legal and survey fees, and the total cash you really need to buy a home in England and Northern Ireland. Read → 5 June 2026 EN Germany Gross to Net 2026: Tax, Soli and Social Security In Germany 2026, income tax runs 14 to 45 percent above a 12,348 euro allowance, plus about 21 percent in social security. Here is the full breakdown. Read → 5 June 2026 EN Gross and Net Salary in Spain: How the IRPF Works in 2026 How net pay is worked out in Spain in 2026: IRPF income tax bands, Social Security contributions, the new earned income deduction, and a worked example on 30,000 euros. Read → 5 June 2026 EN France Gross to Net 2025/26: Income Tax, CSG and PASS In France, expect 22 to 25 percent off gross in contributions, then 0 to 45 percent income tax. Here is the 2025/26 brut to net calculation, step by step. Read → 5 June 2026 EN Ireland Take-Home Pay 2026: Tax Bands, USC and PRSI How gross pay becomes net pay in Ireland for the 2026 tax year: PAYE bands, the widened USC bands, PRSI, tax credits and the new minimum wage, with a worked €50,000 example. Read → 5 June 2026 EN Gross and Net Salary in Italy: How It Works in 2026 How net salary works in Italy in 2026, with the second IRPEF rate cut to 33%, INPS social contributions, deductions and a worked example on 30,000 euro. Read → 5 June 2026 EN Dutch Income Tax 2026: Gross, Net and Contributions How your gross pay becomes net in the Netherlands for 2026: box 1 tax bands, national insurance contributions, the main tax credits and a take-home pay table. Read → 5 June 2026 EN Gross vs Net Salary in Poland (2026): ZUS, the Health Levy and PIT How to work out your net salary in Poland for 2026. PIT bands, ZUS contributions, the health levy and the tax-free amount, with a take-home table and the 282,600 zl cap. Read → 5 June 2026 EN UK Take-Home Pay 2026/27: Tax Bands and NI Explained A clear guide to UK take-home pay for 2026/27, covering gross vs net wages, income tax bands, National Insurance rates, Scotland and what shapes your payslip. Read → 5 June 2026 EN How Take-Home Pay Works in 2026: US Brackets and FICA How 2026 US take-home pay works, from federal tax brackets and FICA to the standard deduction, with official IRS and SSA figures for the 2026 tax year. Read → 16 July 2026 NL Box 3 in 2026: belasting over sparen en beleggen, zo reken je het uit Box 3 in 2026: heffingsvrij vermogen van 59.357 euro, tarief 36%, de forfaits voor spaargeld en beleggingen, een uitgewerkt voorbeeld en de tegenbewijsregeling voor werkelijk rendement. Read → 15 July 2026 IT Regime forfettario 2026: come si calcola la flat tax al 15% (e al 5%) Regime forfettario 2026: soglia a 85.000 euro, imposta sostitutiva al 15% (5% i primi cinque anni), coefficienti di redditività per ATECO e un esempio completo. Read → 14 July 2026 ES Cómo tributa el ahorro en el IRPF 2026: plusvalías, dividendos e intereses La base del ahorro del IRPF en 2026: la escala del 19% al 30%, cuánto se paga en cada tramo, cómo compensar pérdidas y qué ganancias están exentas, con ejemplos. Read → 11 July 2026 FR Flat tax (PFU) 2026: 31,4 % sur dividendes et plus-values La flat tax passe à 31,4 % en 2026: 12,8 % d'impôt et 18,6 % de prélèvements sociaux sur dividendes, intérêts et plus-values. Calcul, exemples et option barème. Read → 10 July 2026 DE Mehrwertsteuer in Deutschland 2026: Sätze, netto zu brutto und die Regeln Die Umsatzsteuersätze 2026 in Deutschland (19 %, 7 % und 0 %), wie Sie von netto auf brutto rechnen, die Steuer herausrechnen und die neue 7-Prozent-Regel für Restaurantessen ab 2026. Read → 4 July 2026 PL VAT w Polsce 2026: stawki 23%, 8% i 5% oraz jak go policzyć Stawki VAT w Polsce w 2026 roku: podstawowa 23%, obniżone 8% i 5%, stawka 0%. Jak dodać i wyłączyć VAT z ceny, nowy limit zwolnienia 240 000 zł i start KSeF. Read → 23 June 2026 SV Så mycket får du kvar av lönen i Sverige 2026: skatt, avdrag och netto Vad en svensk lön ger efter skatt 2026: kommunalskatt, statlig skatt, grundavdrag, jobbskatteavdrag och ett räknat exempel på 420 000 kr. Read → 21 June 2026 NL BTW in Nederland 2026: tarieven, van excl. naar incl. en de regels De BTW-tarieven in Nederland in 2026 (21%, 9% en 0%), van prijs exclusief naar inclusief en terug, de verhoging van het logiestarief naar 21% en het verschil met marge. Read → 20 June 2026 IT IVA in Italia 2026: aliquote, calcolo dal netto al lordo e regole Le aliquote IVA in Italia nel 2026 (22%, 10%, 5% e 4%), come passare dal prezzo senza IVA a quello finale e viceversa, il regime forfettario e la differenza con il margine. Read → 19 June 2026 ES IVA en España 2026: tipos, cálculo del precio sin IVA y reglas Los tipos de IVA en España en 2026 (21%, 10% y 4%), cómo pasar del precio sin IVA al precio final y al revés, el recargo de equivalencia y la diferencia con el margen. Read → 16 June 2026 FR TVA en France 2026: taux, calcul HT vers TTC et règles Les taux de TVA en France en 2026 (20, 10, 5,5 et 2,1 %), comment passer du prix HT au TTC, retirer la TVA d'un montant et calculer votre marge. Read → 15 June 2026 DE Mindestlohn 2026 in Deutschland: 13,90 € pro Stunde im Detail Ab 1. Januar 2026 steigt der gesetzliche Mindestlohn auf 13,90 € pro Stunde. Was das brutto, netto und für Mini-Jobs bedeutet, hier konkret erklärt. Read → 5 June 2026 DE Brutto Netto 2026: Steuer, Soli und Sozialabgaben erklärt Brutto Netto 2026: Grundfreibetrag 12.348 Euro, Steuer 14 bis 45 Prozent, dazu rund 21 Prozent Sozialabgaben. Hier kommt die komplette Aufschlüsselung. Read → 5 June 2026 ES Sueldo bruto y neto en España: cómo funciona el IRPF en 2026 Cómo se calcula el sueldo neto en España en 2026: tramos del IRPF, cotizaciones a la Seguridad Social, la nueva deducción por rendimientos del trabajo y un ejemplo con 30.000 euros. Read → 5 June 2026 FR Salaire brut, net et impôt en France: le guide 2025/2026 Comprendre votre fiche de paie en France en 2025/2026: passage du brut au net, tranches de l'impôt sur le revenu et cotisations sociales expliquées. Read → 5 June 2026 IT Stipendio lordo e netto in Italia: come funziona nel 2026 Come si calcola lo stipendio netto in Italia nel 2026: aliquote IRPEF con il secondo scaglione sceso al 33%, contributi INPS, detrazioni e un esempio con 30.000 euro. Read → 5 June 2026 NL Inkomstenbelasting 2026: bruto, netto en premies uitgelegd Begrijp hoe je brutoloon in 2026 wordt omgezet naar netto. Bekijk de belastingschijven, premies volksverzekeringen en heffingskortingen in Nederland, met een nettoloontabel. Read → 5 June 2026 PL Wynagrodzenie brutto a netto w Polsce w 2026 roku Jak obliczyć pensję netto w 2026 roku w Polsce. Progi PIT, składki ZUS, zdrowotna i kwota wolna, z tabelą wypłat netto i limitem trzydziestokrotności 282 600 zł. Read →