Top Personal Income Tax Rates in Europe, 2026

Among European OECD countries, the average statutory top personal income tax rate lies at 43.4 percent in 2026. Denmark (60.5 percent), France (55.4 percent), and Austria (55 percent) have the highest top rates. Hungary (15 percent), Estonia (22 percent), and the Czech Republic (23 percent) have the lowest top rates.

European countries that are not part of the OECD tend to feature lower rates and tax personal income at a single rate. Bulgaria and Romania (10 percent) levy the lowest rate, followed by Moldova (12 percent), Ukraine (19.5 percent), and Georgia (20 percent).

For comparison, the simple average combined state and federal top income tax rate for the 50 US states and the District of Columbia lies at 42.14 percent as of January 2025, with rates ranging from 37 percent in states without a state income tax to 50.3 percent in California.

Several European countries have changed their top personal income tax rates from last year. Denmark has added one more income tax bracket for incomes above DKK 2.8 million (EUR 375,000), increasing its top rate from 55.6 to 60.5 percent. The Slovak Republic added two tax bracketsA tax bracket is the range of incomes taxed at given rates, which typically differ depending on filing status. In a progressive individual or corporate income tax system, rates rise as income increases. There are seven federal individual income tax brackets; the federal corporate income tax system is flat. to its schedule, shifting its top rate from 25 to 35 percent. In contrast, Finland reduced its top personal income tax rate from 51.5 to 45 percent.

Other European countries are due for potential changes to their top personal income tax rates in the coming years. Austria postponed the planned expiration of its highest tax bracket in 2026 to the year 2030, leaving its top income tax rate at 55 percent instead of reverting back to 50 percent.