12 countries · one page

Tax in Europe,
compared.

Every country on this site, side by side: income tax, the special expat regimes, capital gains, wealth tax, inheritance, property taxes. Set your scenario below and see how the map changes.

Figures verified 8 July 2026 · sourced from each country's tax guide
Scenario planner

How would each country tax you?

Pick your profile and passport. Bars show the statutory rate range that would apply to your main income under the best regime each country offers — a comparison of the rules, not a calculation of your bill.

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Read this before you act on it. These are headline statutory ranges under each country's rules as we last verified them — they ignore deductions, credits, treaty mechanics, and your personal facts, any one of which can change the answer completely. Cross-border tax is specialist territory. Get in touch and we'll recommend a vetted cross-border tax adviser for your country shortlist.
The full matrix

Every tax element, every country

The headline treatment in each country. Click a country name for the full guide with sources and worked examples. Cells marked not yet covered are on our research list — treat them as an adviser question, not a blank.

Country Income tax (top rate) Special expat regime Capital gains / investments Wealth tax Inheritance tax Property purchase
Austria 0–55% (55% above €1M) None 27.5% flat (KESt) None noted None — abolished 2008 3.5% transfer + 1.1% registry
Cyprus 0–35% (0% to €22,000) 5% pension election · non-dom: 0% dividends & interest, 17 yrs CGT 20% Cyprus property only; portfolio gains untaxed; GHS 2.65% None None — abolished 2001 Transfer fees 3/5/8% (−50% resales); stamp duty abolished 2026
France 0–45% per part (quotient familial) US treaty: US retirement income taxed only in the US 18.6% social levies on investment income IFI — property only, above €1.3M Not yet covered — adviser question ~7–8% all-in (frais de notaire)
Germany 14–45% (+5.5% Soli above threshold) None 25% flat (Abgeltungsteuer) None Not yet covered — adviser question 3.5–6.5% by state (+~2% fees)
Greece 9–44% Art. 5B: 7% on all foreign income, 15 yrs Inside the 7% under 5B; standard rates — guide coming None noted (ENFIA annual property tax applies) Not yet covered — adviser question 3.09% transfer; ~7–10% all-in
Ireland 20/40% + USC to 8% Remittance basis (non-dom) — no time limit, no fee Foreign gains sheltered until remitted; CGT rate — guide coming None CAT 33% above €400k/€40k/€20k thresholds Stamp duty 1% / 2% / 6%
Italy 23–43% (+ regional/municipal) 7% flat, southern towns, 10 yrs · forfettario 15%/5% 26% flat; IVIE 1.06% / IVAFE 0.2% on foreign assets (waived under 7%) IVIE/IVAFE on foreign assets Not yet covered — adviser question 9% of cadastral value (2% prima casa)
Malta 0–35% Remittance basis · MRP/GRP 15% · Nomad 0%→10% Foreign capital gains untaxed — even if remitted None None — 5% property transfer duty applies incl. on death 5% stamp duty
Netherlands 35.75–49.5% (≈17.85% first band past AOW age) 30% ruling, employees, 5 yrs (27% from 2027) No CGT — Box 3 taxes a deemed 6% return at 36% above €59,357/person Box 3 is the de facto wealth tax Not yet covered — adviser question 2% (own home) / 8% (other), 2026
Portugal 12.5–48% (+ solidarity to 5%) IFICI 20%, 10 yrs — pensions excluded; NHR closed 28% flat; property gains 50% taxable at progressive rates AIMI on property above €600k VPT Not yet covered — adviser question IMT progressive + 0.8% stamp duty
Spain ≈19–47% (regional; to ~54%) Beckham 24% flat to €600k, 6 yrs — no retirees Savings scale 19–30% Patrimonio + ITSGF above ~€3.7M; Modelo 720 reporting Not yet covered — adviser question ITP 4–13% by region
United Kingdom 20–45% (Scotland to 48%) FIG: 0% on foreign income & gains, first 4 years (needs 10 prior years non-UK-resident) CGT 18/24%; dividends to 39.35% None IHT 40% above ~£500k bands; worldwide once resident 10 of 20 yrs SDLT to 12% + 2% non-resident + 5% additional-dwelling surcharges
The gaps are deliberate. Where a cell says not yet covered, our verified research doesn't cover it yet, and we'd rather show a gap than an unverified number. Where we haven't verified a country's inheritance and gift rules yet, don't assume there's nothing to pay — it's exactly the kind of question to put to a specialist before you commit. Ask us for an introduction.
The special regimes

Retiree regimes at a glance

Six of the twelve countries offer a route that dramatically cuts tax on foreign pension income. The other six tax it at ordinary progressive rates — though treaties can still change the picture (France being the standout for Americans).

CountryRegimeRate on foreign pension incomeDurationLocation constraint
GreeceArticle 5B7% on ALL foreign income15 yearsNone
ItalyArt. 24-ter7% on ALL foreign income (+ IVIE/IVAFE waived)10 yearsSouthern towns under 30,000 inhabitants
Cyprus5% pension election + non-dom5% above €5,000 (or bands, if lower); 0% dividends/interestAnnual election; non-dom 17 yrsNone
MaltaRemittance basis / MRP0% unremitted; 15% (MRP) or bands on what you bring inIndefinite (minimum taxes apply)None
IrelandRemittance basis (non-dom)0% unremitted; normal rates on remittancesNo time limitNone
United KingdomFIG regime (needs 10 prior years non-UK-resident)0% on foreign income & gainsFirst 4 tax yearsNone
FranceUS treaty (Arts. 18/19)US retirement income taxable only in the USIndefiniteNone (US-source income only)
Portugal · Spain · Germany · Netherlands · AustriaNo retiree regimeOrdinary progressive rates
The American asterisk
  • The IRS moves with you. The US taxes citizens on worldwide income wherever they live — a 7% Greek or Italian rate often just means paying the difference to the IRS instead. Canadians who properly exit Canadian tax residency capture far more of these savings.
  • Lump sums and Roths are the recurring grey areas — in the UK, Portugal, Italy, Germany and Austria, practice on US retirement-account withdrawals ranges from unsettled to contradictory.
  • Timing beats geography. Realising gains, converting Roths, or taking lump sums before you become tax-resident is frequently worth more than the country choice itself — and it's irreversible once you've moved. Take advice first.
Before you decide anything

This page compares rules. It can't do your return.

Everything above is general information from official sources — not tax advice. Cross-border tax is where do-it-yourself gets expensive: one mistimed lump sum or missed election can cost more than a decade of adviser fees. Tell us where you're heading and we'll recommend a vetted cross-border tax specialist who works with Americans and Canadians in that country.

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Sources & method

Every figure on this page is drawn from our country tax guides, each verified against official sources (tax authorities, treaty texts, national legislation) on the date shown. See the full guide for per-figure citations:

  1. Portugal — Tax & Finance · Spain · France · Italy · Germany · Netherlands
  2. Greece · Ireland · Malta · Cyprus · Austria · United Kingdom
  3. Special-regime deep dives: Italy's 7% flat tax · Greece's 7% pensioner regime · Malta's remittance basis · Cyprus non-dom & the 5% pension rate

All figures last verified 8 July 2026 (Portugal 2 July, UK 3 July). Scheduled re-verification: October 2026.