A slight diversion to compare taxation in Germany vs Malaysia:
If u earn E$60,000 per annum (5K per month) in Germany, the total amount of tax you need to pay is E$ 14,650 or 24%. This includes the following taxes:
1) Income tax
2) Solidarity tax (to help rebuild East Germany)
If u earn >E$52,000 per year, your company must pay 50% your monthly private medical insurance premium up to a max of E$ 315 per month. You pay the balance.
So if ure earning E$5,000 per month, the net salary u will receive after all tax, health insurance and pension fund deductions will be
E$ 3,330. If u compare with a Malaysian earning RM5K per month, your net salary you receive(after deductions) will be RM4,243 per month. But from this amount, you need to pay RM 600 per month for health insurance (to get the same coverage as a German). So after this deduction, you get
RM 3,640 in your pocket.
So if you take into account salary comparisons with taxes, yes Germans will pay more. But for a difference of 310 per month (take currency conversion out of the picture since ure not a tourist), Germans get:
1) Cars priced about 50% cheaper with more efficient engines
2) Higher grade petrol at 30% cheaper
3) Toll free highways
4) World class education system
5) Higher levels of personal safety
6) Better quality of life in general
7) Higher purchasing power
So tell me, are all those stories that the Malaysian Gov told us all these years about our supposedly lower cost of living, really true? Germany VAT at 17% & reduced VAT at 7% for things like food, books, medical, transport, newspaper & etc
Married people pay less tax compare to Single. ..lol