Freelance tax by country, 2026

One freelance income, every country we cover, and what is left once income tax and social contributions are paid.

Your €80,000 freelance across 4 countries

Best result
Poland · €51,697
Range
€36,085–€51,697
Max difference
€15,611/year

Open-access comparison

Special regimes are shown separately and do not affect the ranking. Learn more

PolandBest result

€51,697per year65% kept

€28,303 tax and contributions

RyczałtOpen-access result · best of 3 checked
No better special regime

Assumes Defaults for this country

View Poland details

Spain#2

€46,676per year58% kept

€5,021 less than Poland

AutónomoOpen-access result · best of 2 checked
No better special regime

Assumes Madrid

View Spain details

Portugal#3

€41,474per year52% kept

€10,222 less than Poland

Regime SimplificadoOpen-access result · best of 2 checked
No better special regime

National rules

View Portugal details

Italy#4

€36,085per year45% kept

€15,611 less than Poland

Regime OrdinarioOpen-access result · best of 5 checked
Forfettario 5%Conditional+€17,960 / year€54,045 if eligible

Assumes Lombardy (Milan)

View Italy details

2026 rates verified · official authority + PwC · oldest check 14 Jul 2026 · How we verify

The same amount in every country, converted to euros. Each card is the cheapest legal way that country lets you be taxed on it under the rules you chose, and says which one that is.

How this comparison works

The same amount runs through each country's real rules for 2026: income tax, regional and municipal surcharges, and the social contributions that come with this kind of income. Where a country taxes the same income in more than one way, we calculate every option you are allowed and name the one behind the number.

Regimes, conditions and what we cannot check

Taking the first regime listed in each country's rules would rank countries by the order of their paperwork rather than by their tax. A regime with a revenue ceiling drops out of the comparison by itself once you go above it.

By default the ranking uses only regimes open to anyone. Special regimes exist for teachers, researchers, young taxpayers and people moving for the first time, and they can change the answer by tens of thousands: where one applies, the card shows what it would be worth to you as a separate opportunity. Switch Regimes to Best available to rank by that figure instead, and read the conditions before you believe it. We cannot check your age, your profession or your residence history, so anything resting on those is marked Conditional.

Each card links to the full calculation for that country, where every assumption is editable, every regime we checked is listed with its own number, and each rate carries its source and verification date.

Earning a different way?

Information only, not tax advice. Rates change; confirm your own situation with a qualified adviser. View sources and how we verify