HL Deb 26 March 2002 vol 633 cc37-8WA
Lord Marlesford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the current top rate of tax on income in each of the members of the European Union, indicating in each case the threshold of total income at which this rate of tax would be applied. [HL3404]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The current top rates of personal income tax together with threshold levels of taxable income in EU member countries are shown in the following table. We are unable to provide threshold figures for total income because they vary depending on an individual's personal circumstances. For example in the UK an individual's threshold may vary accordingly to his entitlement to children's tax credit or age related allowances.

Country Top rates of tax including local taxes % Level of taxable income at which top rates apply in £ Sterling
UK 40.00 29,400
Austria 50.00 31,363
Belgium 160.78 43,916
Denmark 59.00 23,417
Finland 253.00 33,724
France 53.25 28,571
Germany 351.17 33,913
Greece 40.00 14,427
Rep of Ireland 42.00 15,662
Italy 445.34 42,985
Luxembourg 538.95 21,270
Netherlands 52.00 29,436
Portugal 40.00 31,598
Spain 48.00 41,581
Sweden 656.00 28,342
1 Belgium: national max rate (55%) plus crisis surcharge (3%) plus municipal surcharge (average 7.5%) total effective rate 60.775%.
2 Finland: national max rate (36%). Local taxes range from 15.5% to 19.75%, say average 17%. Total 53%.
3 Germany: max national rate 48.5% plus solidarity surcharge 5.5%. Total effective rate 51.1675.
4 Italy: max national rate 45% plus regional surcharge of 0.5% to 1%, say average 0.75%. Total effective rate 45.3375.
5 Luxembourg: max national rate 38% plus surcharge 2.5%. Effective 38.95%.
6 Sweden: max national rate 25% plus average local rate 31%. Total 56%.