9 October 2026 · Model corrections and new analysis
This release corrects how several country models apply rules that were previously approximated, and adds new outputs. Results for the affected countries change.
- Japan: now applies the statutory employment income deduction, deducts employee social insurance before national and inhabitant tax, uses the ¥580,000 basic deduction and adds the 2.1% reconstruction surtax. Previously the taxable base was overstated, so earlier results showed too much tax.
- Ireland: personal and employee tax credits are now deducted from tax instead of being treated as an allowance, and USC is calculated band by band alongside PRSI. Earlier results overstated deductions.
- United States: FICA is split into Social Security up to the wage base, uncapped Medicare and the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax. Earlier results understated deductions above the wage base.
- India: adds marginal relief just above the ₹12 lakh rebate threshold and the 4% health and education cess.
- Singapore: uses the 2026 CPF ordinary-wage ceiling, applies CPF relief and earned income relief, and adds a foreign-employee (no CPF) option.
- Marginal rate is now measured directly from the model, so allowance tapers and contribution caps are reflected. Added the marginal rate, total tax wedge, a raise illustration and a pay-period breakdown (annual to hourly) to every result.
- Country pages open with the country's example salary in local currency and add a step-by-step worked example, an effective-vs-marginal rate chart, a nine-level salary table, employer cost, an international position and country-specific FAQs.
- Rankings can be viewed at $50,000, $100,000 and $200,000 and sorted by marginal rate and tax wedge. Comparison pages show seven salary levels, the salary at which the better-paying country switches, and key figures side by side.
- New guide: employer payroll cost by country. The effective-vs-marginal guide now includes an 18-country table.
Germany's formula-based tax curve and aggregate social insurance, Canada's combined CPP/EI estimate and other disclosed approximations are unchanged in this release.
30 September 2026 · Calculator and content
- Shared scenarios now preserve pay periods, calculation direction, currencies, individual country assumptions, job offers, budgets and edited FX rates.
- Added different job offers, common-currency monthly results and personal living-cost budgets.
- Restricted the initial country selector to models with linked references. Illustrative screening models require opting in and carry an explicit warning beside their amounts.
- Removed purchasing-power rankings based on undocumented cost indices. Renamed unsourced “typical salary” values as example salaries.
- Moved the calculator higher on the homepage, repaired mobile article overflow, improved reading sizes and added keyboard navigation support.
- Expanded guides with worked examples, practical checklists and relevant calculator scenarios. Reading times now follow the actual text length.
Scope of this update
This release changes behavior, presentation and disclosures. It is not a new independent review of all country tax legislation. Country pages retain their dataset dates and disclose formula approximations, omitted reliefs and regional limitations.
How to report a discrepancy
Include the country, tax year, income, pay period, assumptions, expected result and a direct authority reference. A shared scenario makes the calculation reproducible, but exposes its inputs to anyone who has the URL.