All tax class pairs
III/V, V/III, IV/IV and IV/IV with factor side by side: simulated monthly pay for each partner and the estimated year-end result.
Free · No sign-up · Nothing leaves your browser
Simulate your couple taxes in Germany.
A free simulation tool for married couples. Explore how tax class pairs, salaries and deductions change estimated net pay and the year-end result.
- Based on published BMF formulas
- 2025 and 2026
- Works on your phone
Live example · 2026 · one child
Alex earns€65,000 a year
Sam earns per month€700 Midijob
Sam's job adds to the family€516/mo74 % of the gross
Family has after tax€4,579/moincl. Kindergeld
Midijob range: here the simulated family total is lower than at €603 (minijob).
Refund (+) or back-payment (−) after the joint return
An example simulated with the same engine. Drag the slider to try it.
What you can explore
Per partner
The simulated joint tax split between both partners by the § 270 AO ratio, next to the payslip figures.
Salary range view
Move one salary from €0 up and see how the simulated family total and year-end result change.
Month by month
Enter a full year or each month, for example months without pay or a one-off payment in December.
Rules explained
Short notes on the general rules your inputs touch: minijob and midijob limits, Progressionsvorbehalt, prepayments.
Compare scenarios
Save as many household profiles as you like and compare their simulated results in one table.
Rules worth understanding
General rules that often surprise couples. The guide explains them in more detail.
The limit at €603
Above the minijob limit, social contributions generally apply and the wage counts in the joint return. The simulation shows how totals change around the limit.
Timing, not total
Tax classes change how much is withheld during the year. The yearly income tax of a jointly assessed couple does not depend on them.
Progressionsvorbehalt
Tax-free benefits such as Elterngeld or ALG I can raise the tax rate applied to other income. The simulation includes this.
Prepayments
When a back-payment reaches €400 a year, the tax office can set quarterly prepayments. The simulation shows when an estimate crosses that line.
Three steps
- 1
Add both salaries
Per year or month by month, with names, tax classes, health insurance and church.
- 2
Add deductions
Commute, home office, children and childcare, Elterngeld, medical costs, support for parents.
- 3
Compare scenarios
Change class pairs and salaries, save scenarios and compare the simulated results side by side.
Your numbers stay yours
Salaries are private. So the whole calculator runs in your browser: nothing you type is sent to a server, there are no cookies, no tracking and no accounts. Saved profiles live only on your device, and you can delete them with one click.
How we handle privacy →Questions
Is it really free?
Yes. No account, no ads, no paid tier. Use it as often as you like.
Do you see my salary?
No. Every number is calculated on your device. Nothing you type is sent anywhere, and saved profiles stay in your browser.
How accurate is it?
Wage tax follows the programme flow published by the BMF for 2025 and 2026, and sample cases were compared with the BMF's online test calculator. The rest is a simplified model of the Income Tax Act. Results are estimates and can differ from your actual tax assessment. Not every rule or circumstance is covered.
Is this tax advice?
No. It is an automated simulation and an educational tool. It does not look at your personal situation the way a Steuerberater does and does not recommend what to do. For decisions, ask a Steuerberater, a Lohnsteuerhilfeverein or your Finanzamt.
Which years?
2025 (for the return you file now) and 2026 (for planning).
Who is it for?
Married couples and registered partners filing jointly in Germany, with salaries, small jobs, parental leave or unemployment in the year.
Important
This website is an independent, free educational and simulation tool. It produces automated estimates based on publicly available German tax and social security rules.
It does not provide individual tax advice (Steuerberatung) within the meaning of the Steuerberatungsgesetz, and it does not recommend what you should do. Results are indicative and may differ from actual tax assessments. Not every personal circumstance, deduction, exemption or special rule is covered.
Check important financial decisions with a qualified Steuerberater, a Lohnsteuerhilfeverein or your Finanzamt.