How much church tax will I save if I leave the church?

Leaving the church reduces your tax burden as you no longer pay church tax. However, the full saving only becomes apparent when you consider the tax benefit of the special expenses deduction. Here you can find out how to calculate your actual savings.

Church tax and special expenses deduction

Church tax is considered a special expense and can be fully deducted in your income tax return. This reduces your taxable income and lowers your income tax. Alternatively, you can claim a general allowance for special expenses, which is 36 Euro for singles and 72 Euro for couples. If your church tax paid exceeds this amount, you benefit from an additional tax advantage.

Example calculation for couples:

• Church tax paid: 600 Euro
• Less allowance: 72 Euro
• Deductible amount: 528 Euro

With a marginal tax rate of 28%, the tax saving is 528 Euro × 28% = 147 Euro. Additionally, the solidarity surcharge is reduced by approximately 8 Euro, so the total tax relief is around 155 Euro.

Actual savings from leaving the church

If you leave the church, the church tax is no longer applicable, but neither is the tax benefit. The actual savings result from the difference:

• Church tax paid: 600 Euro
• Tax relief through deduction: 155 Euro
• Actual savings: 600 Euro – 155 Euro = 445 Euro

Conclusion

The amount of actual savings from leaving the church depends on the church tax you paid, your income, and your marginal tax rate. While church tax is completely eliminated at first glance, you should consider the lost tax benefit of the special expenses deduction. An accurate calculation will help you realistically assess the financial impact of leaving the church.