Methodology
Where the numbers come from.
Every figure talentcost shows you is built from published statutory rates, labeled with a verification date, and reconstructable line by line. This page explains exactly how, and where the limits are.
RATES VERIFIED JULY 2026 · 158 COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIESWhat a calculation is made of
One salary, four layers.
When you enter a gross salary, we resolve it against the statutory stack of the country you chose: employer contributions, mandatory benefits and levies, employee-side deductions, and the resulting net pay. Each layer is computed from published rates and thresholds, including brackets, caps, and floors, not from averages or survey data.
Employer cost = gross salary plus employer-side statutory layers. Net pay = gross salary minus employee-side deductions.
Sources
Primary sources only.
Rates come from the bodies that set them: tax authorities, social-security administrations, and official gazettes. Where a country splits responsibilities across agencies, we track each one. The source used for a result is named on the result itself.
We do not use crowdsourced salary data or third-party aggregations for statutory rates.
Freshness
Verified dates, not vibes.
Statutory rates change, usually annually and sometimes mid-year. Our target is to reflect legislative changes within 14 days of them taking effect. Every result carries the date its country's ruleset was last verified, so you never have to guess whether a number is current.
Worked example
€75,000 in Germany, reconstructed.
The example used across this site is a real calculation, not marketing math. Here is every line from the shared demo result.
Figures are the standard illustrative case used in the product demo: single filer, tax class I equivalent, no church tax, statutory health insurance.
Start from GermanyLimits
The limits, in writing.
talentcost models statutory obligations. It does not know your collective agreements, 13th-month customs, bonuses, equity, private benefits, or municipal quirks unless the country's statute mandates them.
Results assume the common employment case per country; edge cases such as sector schemes and regional surcharges are flagged where supported and absent where not.
For binding payroll decisions, verify with a local specialist. If they find us wrong, tell us at hello@talentcost.com so we can review and correct the ruleset.
Check us
Check us. That's the point.
The full breakdown is free precisely so you can verify it against your own payroll before trusting us with planning.