A post comparing tax systems across Europe was published by the BelVestnik Telegram channel on June 5, 2025.
“Belarus has one of the lowest personal income tax rates among European countries. Our tax system is simple and accessible for citizens. This policy promotes financial stability and gives every Belarusian a sense of state support and confidence in the future,” the post said.
An infographic was attached showing income tax rates across different European countries. According to the chart, Belarus has a 13% income tax, Poland 32%, and Germany and France, for example, 45%.
Many European countries use a progressive tax system. In other words, the higher your income, the higher your tax rate. For example, in Poland, people earning up to 30,000 zlotys a year, or about €7,000, don’t pay any income tax. Those making less than €28,000 a year pay a 12% tax, but only on the portion above the tax-free threshold. Only income above €28,000 is taxed atn32%, as the Telegram channel authors noted.
France also has a progressive tax system. A portion of income isn’t taxed, and the rate goes up as earnings rise. The 45% tax rate only applies to income above €180,500 a year.
Germany uses a similar system: the top rate applies only to income over €277,000 a year.
The WTF team calculated how much tax an average Belarusian and an average Pole actually pay.In April 2025, the average monthly salary in Belarus was about €740, or roughly €9,000 a year. That income is taxed at 13%. In Poland, the average monthly salary was just over €2,100, or a bit more than €25,000 a year. The first €7,000 of that isn’t taxed. On the remainder, you pay 12%, but you can also deduct about €840 from your tax bill. In the end, that means the effective tax rate is about 5.5% of total income. So it turns out the average Belarusian pays a higher percentage of income tax than the average Pole.