How we calculate

Updated for the 2026 tax year

Overview

SalaryCalc computes gross-to-net and net-to-gross salary estimates for employees and self-employed individuals across 13 European countries. All calculations use official 2026 tax rates, brackets, and contribution thresholds.

Employee calculations

For employees, we apply progressive income tax brackets, mandatory social security contributions (health, pension, unemployment where applicable), and standard personal allowances. Employer contributions are not included in the take-home breakdown — they only affect your employer's total cost, not your net salary.

B2B / freelance calculations

Each country supports the most common self-employed regime: JDG flat tax in Poland, Selbstständig in Germany, ZZP in the Netherlands, autónomo in Spain, and other country-specific regimes. We account for regime-specific deductions, social contribution caps, and optional flat-rate expense rules where applicable.

Monthly vs annual

All calculations are performed annually and divided by 12 for monthly display. This matches how tax brackets and contribution caps are officially defined in most countries.

Currency conversion

Exchange rates are fetched from a public exchange rate service and cached for one hour. Converted results are estimates — actual take-home in foreign currency depends on your bank's exchange rate and any transfer fees.

Limitations

Results are estimates for typical cases. They do not account for individual deductions (mortgage interest, charitable contributions, pension top-ups), municipal tax variations, or special tax rulings. Always consult a local tax advisor for precise figures.