How to Legally Increase Your Net Salary?
If you have agreed on a fixed gross salary with your employer, any tax reduction directly increases the amount of money that enters your bank account. Here are some of the easiest legal ways to automatically boost your monthly income by shifting the responsibility for tax savings from the state back to your budget.
11. Update and Optimize Your Personal Deduction (PK Card)
Income tax is calculated only after your tax-free "Personal Deduction" is subtracted from your base. Everyone has a basic personal deduction of approximately ~560 EUR, on which no tax is calculated at all.
By adding so-called "Personal Deduction Factors", this minimum threshold grows drastically, which effectively lowers the portion of your income taxed by your city's rates.
Who qualifies for the factor?
- Dependent children:The factor share increases per child – each subsequent child brings an incredibly large, higher percentage point of relief (second, third, and so on!).
- Unemployed spouse:If the spouse has minimal or zero monthly income throughout the year (caregiving, full-time study, and earnings up to the limit prescribed by law of about ~3,360 EUR/year). These laws are subject to change depending on the current tax period.
- Established disability:Deductions are applied according to resolutions for care and assistance, with a specific factor for each individual member.
Pro tip on redistribution!
If both you and your spouse work, smart child redistribution is the key to maximization. Never split the deduction 50-50 if one person has a much higher salary (higher marginal tax rate), as only that side will fully benefit from the mathematical deductions. It is wiser for the higher earner to claim the child entirely if the other person's income doesn't even reach the taxable threshold.
22. Requesting Tax-Free Bonuses Instead of Net Raises
It is much easier for an employer to pay out tax-free items for which they pay zero "levies" to the state than to increase your gross salary by the same net amount:
33. Tax Refunds for Youth (Age-Exempt Marginal Rates)
The state grants youth aged up to 25 and 30 a full or partial (50%) refund of excess income tax paid. If you fall within this age group, expect this surplus as a form of bonus (the so-called "Spring Tax Refund"), which significantly strengthens your cumulative annual funds.