Working here
Employment, tax, and your payslip
Understand what your employer deducts, how tax classes work, and what to do if your job situation changes.
Follow these steps in order
Timings are typical — your visa type, employer, and city may change the order slightly. Each step links to a full guide or tool with checklists and official sources.
- 1First payroll
Tax ID (Steuer-ID)
Your employer withholds income tax using this number — make sure HR has it.
Read guide → - 2First payrollTool
Salary calculator
See your gross-to-net breakdown — every deduction explained in English.
Open tool → - 3First payroll
Tax classes (Steuerklassen)
Classes I–VI control monthly withholding — III/V for couples, VI for second jobs.
Read guide → - 4First payslip
German payslip (Lohnabrechnung)
Decode Brutto, Netto, and every deduction abbreviation on your Lohnabrechnung.
Read guide → - 5First payslip
Church tax (Kirchensteuer)
Check if you are paying 8–9% church tax — many expats trigger it accidentally at Anmeldung.
Read guide → - 6Side income
Minijob (mini-job)
Part-time work up to €603/month — simplified social insurance and visa limits for expats.
Read guide → - 7Ongoing
Pension (Rentenversicherung)
Understand the largest social deduction and what happens when you leave Germany.
Read guide → - 8If self-employed
Freelancer registration
Register with the Finanzamt if you switch to or start freelance work.
Read guide → - 9If job ends
Unemployment (ALG I)
Register on time with the Agentur für Arbeit and inform immigration if non-EU.
Read guide → - 10If you have children
Kindergeld (child benefit)
Claim €259/month per child — separate from payroll deductions.
Read guide → - 11If expecting a child
Parental leave (Elternzeit)
Job-protected leave and Elterngeld — plan before the birth.
Read guide →