Effective tax rates

Which governments take the biggest chunk from a $100,000 salary?

DENMARK has the highest rate of income tax for a person earning $100,000, according to a survey of effective tax rates in 93 countries published on September 29th by KPMG, an accounting firm. But employee social-security contributions in Denmark are only 0.2%, and once such contributions are taken into account, high earners in several countries, including Belgium, Greece, Germany and France, take home less than the Danes. Belgium’s government grabs the highest share from earnings of $100,000, at almost 48%. Between 2003 and 2009, the highest tax rates on personal income declined. But last year they increased by 0.4% as governments sought to reduce deficits. Sickly euro-zone economies such as Iceland, Ireland, Spain and Portugal were among the countries who levied more on their top earners. Countries that have suffered natural disasters, like Japan, may introduce temporary taxes.