Belgium or Italy: how many months of your year do you work for the tax authority?

Belgium or Italy: how many months of your year are truly yours? How much of your year is truly yours? On €100,000 gross, the equivalent of almost six months goes to the tax authority in Belgium. In Italy: almost two months for the tax authority. 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 47%), meaning the equivalent of almost six months per year goes to the tax authority. In Italy you keep €85,860 (effective 14% under the impatriati (English: repatriation tax regime for returning or incoming workers) regime), almost two months for the tax authority. The difference: €33,230 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 income the outcome will differ. Calculate your own figure at libaros.com. On paper Italy is not a cheap country (statutory top rate 46%), but as a newcomer under the impatriati regime you do not pay that full rate. 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.