Sri Lanka vs Germany
Tax Rate Comparison
Enter your income below for a personal tax estimate, then scroll down for full rate breakdowns.
๐ฐ Personal Income Tax Calculator
Enter your income to see your estimated annual tax liability in each country โ side by side.
๐ฑ๐ฐ Sri Lanka โ Provincial & Local Authority Taxes
Sri Lanka's 9 provincial councils have some tax powers including turnover tax, certain business taxes, and stamp duties within their provinces. Local authorities (municipal councils, urban councils, pradeshiya sabhas) levy property tax (Assessment rate) at 25% of annual value and various service fees. The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) administers national taxes. Sri Lanka went through a severe debt crisis in 2022โ23; significant IMF-backed tax reforms dramatically raised income tax rates and broadened the tax base.
๐ฉ๐ช Germany โ Trade Tax (Gewerbesteuer) & Church Tax
Germany's 16 Bundeslรคnder apply federal income tax rates uniformly โ no state income tax variation. Municipalities levy Gewerbesteuer (trade tax) on business profits at ~7โ17% effective. Church tax (Kirchensteuer) of 8โ9% of income tax applies to registered members. The solidarity surcharge (Soli) now only applies to the top ~10% of earners.
Sri Lanka vs Germany: Key Tax Differences (2026)
๐ฐ Income Tax: ๐ฉ๐ช Germany has a higher top income tax rate (6โ36% vs 14โ45%). ๐ฑ๐ฐ Sri Lanka is more favourable for high earners.
๐ VAT/Sales Tax: Germany has a higher consumption tax (18% vs 7โ19%).
๐ข Corporate Tax: ๐ฉ๐ช Germany offers a lower corporate rate (29% vs 30%), which can influence business location decisions.
๐ Capital Gains: ๐ฑ๐ฐ Sri Lanka taxes investment gains at a lower rate (10% vs 25%), benefiting investors.