Germany Soli Calculator: Solidaritätszuschlag on Income Tax
Work out the German solidarity surcharge (Solidaritätszuschlag, the 'Soli') — the 5.5% levied on top of your income tax — and your total tax liability including it.
Adjust the inputs and select Calculate for a full breakdown.
Compare Common Scenarios
How the numbers shift across typical situations for this calculator:
| Scenario | Solidarity surcharge (Soli) | Total tax with Soli |
|---|---|---|
| 5.5% of €10,000 tax (€550) | $550.00 | $10,550.00 |
| 5.5% of €25,000 tax | $1,375.00 | $26,375.00 |
| 5.5% of €5,000 tax | $275.00 | $5,275.00 |
| 5.5% of €100,000 corporation tax | $5,500.00 | $105,500.00 |
How This Calculator Works
Enter your assessed income tax (the Soli is charged on the tax, not on your income) and the Soli rate (5.5%). The calculator returns the surcharge and your total tax. Since a 2021 reform the Soli only applies above a high exemption threshold, so most individual taxpayers now pay nothing — but it still applies to high incomes, companies, and capital income.
The Formula
Percentage Add-On
Rate is the tax or tip percentage applied to the amount
Worked Example
At 5.5% on €10,000 of income tax, the Soli is €550, for a total of €10,550. The Solidaritätszuschlag was introduced to help fund German reunification and is calculated as 5.5% of the income or corporation tax. Since 2021 a high exemption threshold (Freigrenze) removed the Soli for roughly 90% of taxpayers, with a sliding zone above it before the full 5.5% applies — so today it largely falls on top earners, corporations, and flat-taxed investment income.
Key Insight
The Soli is one of Germany's most politically charged levies, and understanding where it now bites matters. It is a surcharge on tax, not on income: 5.5% of your assessed Einkommensteuer (or corporation tax), so it sits on top of the tax figure rather than being a separate rate on earnings. Introduced in 1991 to help finance reunification, it was long paid by nearly everyone, but a major 2021 reform raised the exemption threshold (Freigrenze) dramatically — so around 90% of income-tax payers now owe no Soli at all, with a sliding 'Milderungszone' above the threshold where the surcharge phases in gradually before reaching the full 5.5%. This calculator applies the headline 5.5% to the tax you enter and does not model the threshold or the phase-in zone, so for most individuals the real Soli is zero and you should treat this as the upper-bound calculation for those above the threshold. Crucially, the Soli still applies in full in two big areas the reform left untouched: corporation tax (companies pay the 5.5% Soli on their Körperschaftsteuer) and the flat tax on investment income (Abgeltungsteuer), where the 25% capital-income tax carries the 5.5% Soli regardless of the income threshold — which is why investors and high earners still see it. There have been ongoing legal and political debates about whether the remaining Soli is constitutional now that the reunification 'Solidarpakt' has ended, but it remains in force. This calculator shows the surcharge and total tax for a given tax amount; to know whether you actually owe it, check your income tax against the current Freigrenze, remember the sliding zone just above it, and note that company profits and investment income are charged the Soli in full.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the solidarity surcharge calculated?
Multiply your assessed income tax by 5.5%. On €10,000 of income tax, the Soli is €550, for a total of €10,550. The surcharge is charged on the tax amount, not on your income — so it's 5.5% of the tax, not 5.5% of earnings.
Do I still have to pay the Soli?
Most individuals no longer do. A 2021 reform raised the exemption threshold (Freigrenze) so that around 90% of income-tax payers owe no Soli, with a sliding zone above it. It still applies in full to high incomes, company profits, and flat-taxed investment income.
What is the Solidaritätszuschlag for?
It was introduced in 1991 as a surcharge to help fund German reunification and the development of the former East Germany. The reunification 'Solidarpakt' funding programme has since ended, which is why the surcharge's continued existence has been politically and legally contested — but it remains in force.
Does the Soli apply to investment income?
Yes — in full. The flat tax on capital income (Abgeltungsteuer, 25%) carries the 5.5% Soli regardless of the income-tax exemption threshold, so investors still pay it on interest, dividends, and capital gains. Companies likewise pay the Soli on their corporation tax (Körperschaftsteuer).
Is the Soli on my income or my tax?
On your tax. The Solidaritätszuschlag is 5.5% of your assessed income or corporation tax, not 5.5% of your income — which is why this calculator uses your tax amount as the base. It's a surcharge layered on top of the tax already calculated.
Related Calculators
Methodology & Review
The Soli is the surcharge rate applied to your assessed income tax; the total is the income tax plus Soli. It models the headline 5.5% on the tax amount and does not apply the high exemption threshold (Freigrenze) that means most individuals now pay no Soli, nor the sliding entry zone above it.
Written by Ugo Candido · Last updated May 22, 2026.