I live and work in Paris. My net income after taxes, social contributions, etc is 65% of my gross salary.

This includes the new prélèvement à la source, so in theory I shouldn't owe additional taxes next year.

I personally calculate every mandatory contribution that comes off my gross salary as "taxes" even though many people will disagree. IMHO, it's mandatory, it comes off the top, so it's "taxes"

I wouldn't consider 35% of my gross salary as being overly high, considering the excellent quality of life here. I cannot comment on how this compares to US taxes since I've never lived or worked there.

The taxes/quality of life I experience in Paris is similar to what I had living in Germany.

Given that we have so much vacation here, rent is reasonable, and infrastructure is very good (I can be in Brussels in 2 hours with the TGV) it's unlikely I'll ever move back to Canada.

From what I've read, France is using a trick (used by other countries in Europe as well, Poland for example) where the "gross" amount stated on your employment contract is not the real gross amount, because the employer pays additional taxes (invisible to you) on top of it. So, effectively the employment contract is taxed on both your end and employer's, for a total 50%+ of effective taxation. I suppose this trick is used to not make people angry when they see their payslip.

> France is using a trick (used by other countries in Europe as well, Poland for example) where the "gross" amount stated on your employment contract is not the real gross amount, because the employer pays additional taxes (invisible to you) on top of it.

You mean (insofar as this is a trick), just like the US does?

I do not know US taxes, if US does that as well, then I guess the trick is just too good to not be used. If you're wondering if this is a trick at all, just read some tax theory, where they define a well-constructed tax as (amongst others) one that brings lots of revenue and does not create lots of resentment/social unrest in return.

>> My net income after taxes, social contributions, etc is 65% of my gross salary.

It certainly depends on your income?

IT workers' salaries would fall into 30% income tax rate category anyway. Should be noticed that french taxes for EEA residents are made of household total income divided for spouses, so one might pay less.