Belgium or
the Bahamas: how much of your year is truly yours? On €100,000 gross, Belgium withholds the equivalent of nearly six months of your working year for the tax authority. In the Bahamas: zero income tax. Different country, different life. Why in months rather than an amount? A euro figure assumes you take your salary with you to the new country, and almost nobody manages that. The share that goes to the tax authority, your average effective rate, does travel with you everywhere. That is why we calculate in months. The calculation, on €100,000 gross employment income: in Belgium you keep €52,630 net (effective rate 47%), meaning the equivalent of nearly six months per year goes to the tax authority. In the Bahamas you keep €100,000 (effective rate 0%), zero income tax. The difference: €47,370 per year. Important: the more you earn, the larger that share, because the system is progressive. The figures here apply at €100,000 gross; on your own income the outcome will differ. Calculate your own figure at libaros.com. Belgium now taxes at such a high level that raising rates further barely increases revenue. That is not an opinion, it is the Laffer curve. Figures: average effective rate on employment income (income tax plus employee social contributions), single individual, current tax year. Indicative, not tax advice. Calculated with the Libaros calculation engine.