Church Tax Germany

About Church Tax Germany

Germany collects a church tax Kirchensteuer of 8 to 9 percent of income tax for members of recognized religious organizations, primarily the Catholic and Protestant churches. The church tax is collected by the state tax authorities and transferred to the churches. The system dates to the 19th century as compensation for the secularization of church property. The church tax generates approximately 12 billion annually for German churches. Members can leave the church to avoid the tax, but doing so also means losing access to church services. Church membership has declined as the tax has become more visible on payslips. Similar church taxes exist in Austria, Switzerland, and Scandinavian countries. The German church tax is the most financially significant example of state collected religious taxation in the developed world.