DE · EuropeJP · Asia
Germany vs Japan: tax rates compared
Japan's income tax rate is 8.4pp higher than Germany's (55.9% vs 47.5%). The 200-country average is 28%: both sit above it.
Verified data covers six of the six tracked tax types for both countries; every rate below is cited to its source and dated.
At a glance
| Tax | DE | JP | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income Tax | 47.5% | 55.9% | JP +8.4 pp |
| Corporate Tax | 30.1% | 29.7% | DE +0.4 pp |
| VAT | 19% | 10% | DE +9 pp |
| Capital Gains Tax | 25% | 20.3% | DE +4.7 pp |
| Crypto Tax | 0% | 55% | JP +55 pplargest gap |
| Wealth Tax | 0% | 0% | match |
Income Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 47.5% | Source: OECD Tax Database — Top statutory personal income tax rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Japan | 55.9% | Source: OECD Tax Database — Top statutory personal income tax rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Difference | −8.4 pp | Japan higher |
Corporate Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 30.1% | Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Japan | 29.7% | Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Difference | +0.4 pp | Germany higher |
Germany's corporate tax rate is 0.4pp higher than Japan's (30.1% vs 29.7%). The 201-country average is 22.6%: both sit above it.
VAT
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 19% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Germany (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-06-30 |
| Japan | 10% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Japan (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-01-13 |
| Difference | +9 pp | Germany higher |
Germany's VAT rate is 9pp higher than Japan's (19% vs 10%). The 181-country average is 15%: Germany sits above it, Japan sits below it.
Capital Gains Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 25% | Source: PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Germany, Individual - Income determination · as of 2026-06-30 |
| Japan | 20.3% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Japan (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-01-13 |
| Difference | +4.7 pp | Germany higher |
Germany's capital gains tax rate is 4.7pp higher than Japan's (25% vs 20.3%). The 175-country average is 10.3%: both sit above it.
Crypto Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 0% | Source: Bundesministerium der Finanzen — Einzelfragen zur ertragsteuerrechtlichen Behandlung von Kryptowerten (BMF-Schreiben vom 6. März 2025) · as of 2025-03-06 |
| Japan | 55% | Source: PWC Japan — Japan Tax Update: Overview of 2026 Tax Reform Proposals (December 2025) · as of 2025-12-19 |
| Difference | −55 pp | Japan higher |
Japan's crypto tax rate is 55pp higher than Germany's (55% vs 0%). The 88-country average is 13%: Germany sits below it, Japan sits above it.
Wealth Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Germany (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2026-06-30 |
| Japan | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Japan (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2026-01-13 |
| Difference | 0 pp | displayed rates match |
Germany's wealth tax rate is identical to Japan's — both sit at 0%. The 193-country average is 0.1%: both sit below it.