Abolition of the Solidarity Surcharge (Solidaritätszuschlag): Are You One of the Beneficiaries?
Since 2021, the solidarity surcharge (Soli) has been largely abolished for most individual taxpayers in Germany.
However, not everyone is exempt. Let’s see whether you belong to the group that benefits.
You benefit (i.e. you do not pay Soli) if you fall into one of these categories:
| Situation | Do you pay Soli? |
|---|---|
| Employee with annual gross income up to approx. €73,000 (single) | No |
| Married couple with joint income up to approx. €151,000 | No |
| Your annual income tax is below approx. €17,000 | No |
| You work as a low- to mid-income employee or an average pensioner | No |
Around 90% of all taxpayers have been fully exempted from paying the solidarity surcharge.
You are not fully exempt (i.e. you pay Soli partially or in full) if:
| Situation | Soli share |
|---|---|
| You pay more than approx. €17,000 in income tax per year | You pay Soli partially |
| You pay more than approx. €31,000 in income tax per year | You pay Soli in full |
| You own a corporation (e.g. GmbH, AG …) | You always pay Soli |
| You have a very high annual income above the upper threshold | You pay Soli in full |
Take a look at your tax assessment notice (Steuerbescheid) or your payslip (Lohnabrechnung) and search for:
„Solidaritätszuschlag“
If the amount is 0.00 € → you are fully exempt
If the amount is greater than 0 € → you still pay Soli (partially or fully)
| Annual income (single) | Soli? |
|---|---|
| €35,000 | No |
| €60,000 | No |
| €80,000 | Partially |
| €100,000 | Yes |
| German term | Meaning in Arabic |
|---|---|
| Solidaritätszuschlag | ضريبة التضامن |
| Freigrenze | حد الإعفاء التدريجي |
| Steuerbescheid | إشعار الضريبة الرسمي |
| Lohnabrechnung | كشف / بيان الراتب |
The Soli has been completely abolished for most employees and people with medium income levels.
If you have a high income or own a corporation (GmbH, AG, etc.), you will often still have to pay it.
To be sure, check your tax assessment notice or payslip and look for the Solidaritätszuschlag line.
The team of writers and editors on this website strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and consultation of multiple sources. However, errors may still occur or some details may not be fully verified. For this reason, please treat the information in the articles as an initial reference and always consult the relevant authorities to obtain final, confirmed information.
