Both France and Italy sit in Europe, but their tax structures take different paths. On a 65 000 € gross, the effective tax burden in Italy is roughly 2.8% higher than in France — driven by differences in Cotisations vs INPS, bracket structure, and personal allowance.
Same nominal gross applied to both tax systems. Currencies aren't FX-converted — compare structures, not purchasing power.
France pairs a five-band income tax (impôt sur le revenu) with substantial employee social contributions — roughly 22% covering pension, health, unemployment, and CSG/CRDS. Family quotient adjustments significantly reduce taxes for households with children. Employer contributions on top of gross are even larger but invisible to the employee.
Italy uses a three-band IRPEF income tax (23/35/43%) plus regional and municipal surcharges of 1–3.3%. The 9.49% INPS social contribution funds pension and unemployment. The regime impatriati offers returning workers a 50–70% tax base reduction for several years.
Pre-calculated breakdowns at common pay levels in France — open either side for the full page.
Last updated: 2026. Estimates only — see the disclaimer above.