Country Tax Guides
Clear, practitioner-grade explanations of how income tax, VAT/sales tax, corporate tax and withholding work across major economies. Compare headline rates side by side, then dive into 85 in-depth guides written for founders, finance teams and globally mobile professionals.
Compare tax rates at a glance
Headline rates for the 2025/26 tax year. Tap any figure to read the full guide. Effective rates differ once reliefs, surcharges, local taxes and treaties apply.
| Tax type | 🇬🇧 UK | 🇺🇸 US | 🇩🇪 Germany | 🇨🇳 China | 🇨🇦 Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate income taxHeadline / main rate | 25% | 21% | ~30% | 25% | 15% |
| VAT / Sales taxStandard rate | 20% | None* | 19% | 13% | 5% |
| Top personal income taxHighest marginal band | 45% | 37% | 45% | 45% | 33% |
| Withholding on dividendsDomestic default | — | — | 26.4% | 10% | 25% |
| Capital gains (individuals)Standard treatment | 18–24% | 0/15/20% | 26.4% | 20% | 50% incl. |
*The US has no national VAT; state & local sales taxes range from 0% to ~10%. Germany’s corporate figure combines 15.825% federal tax with municipal trade tax (effective ~30%). Dividend withholding shown for Germany includes the solidarity surcharge (26.375%). UK CGT: 18% basic / 24% higher rate. China A-share trading gains are currently exempt. Always confirm with a qualified adviser.
Tax facts worth knowing
A few quirks that catch businesses and individuals off guard.
United Kingdom Tax Guide
From PAYE and Self Assessment to corporation tax, VAT and inheritance tax — the full UK system for individuals and companies.
UK Tax Record-Keeping & Deadlines: A Complete Compliance Guide (2025/26)
A complete UK tax compliance reference — how long to keep records, the key filing and payment deadlines, the penalties for missing them, and Time to Pay arrangements.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: Rules, Dates & Software (2025/26)
How Making Tax Digital for Income Tax works — the April 2026 rollout, the £50k/£30k/£20k thresholds, quarterly digital updates, software needs and how to prepare.
UK Double Taxation Relief & Treaties Explained (2025/26)
How the UK relieves double taxation — treaties, the credit method, residence tie-breakers, reduced withholding taxes and unilateral relief for cross-border income.
UK Tax Residence & the End of Non-Dom: The FIG Regime Explained (2025/26)
How UK tax residence works after the 2025 abolition of non-dom status — the Statutory Residence Test, the new four-year FIG regime, the TRF and residence-based IHT.
HMRC Enquiries & Penalties: How UK Tax Investigations Work (2025/26)
How HMRC enquiries and penalties work — the behaviour-based regime, careless versus deliberate errors, how disclosure cuts penalties, time limits and handling a check.
UK Inheritance Tax Reliefs & Estate Planning: Gifts, Trusts & BR (2025/26)
How to reduce UK Inheritance Tax — the seven-year gift rule, annual exemptions, Business and Agricultural Relief, trusts, charitable giving and life insurance in trust.
UK Inheritance Tax: Thresholds, Nil-Rate Bands & the 40% Rate (2025/26)
How UK Inheritance Tax works — the £325,000 nil-rate band, the £175,000 residence band, transferable allowances reaching £1m for couples, and the 40% rate.
UK CGT on Property: Second Homes, Buy-to-Let & the 60-Day Rule (2025/26)
How CGT applies to second homes and buy-to-let property — the 18%/24% rates, Private Residence Relief, the 60-day reporting rule, inherited property and landlord planning.
Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR): The £1m CGT Relief Explained (2025/26)
How Business Asset Disposal Relief cuts CGT on a business sale — the 14% rate rising to 18%, the £1m lifetime limit, the qualifying conditions and how to plan an exit.
United States Tax Guide
Federal brackets, state income tax, sales & use tax, payroll, LLC vs S-corp vs C-corp, IRS filing and audits.
US Tax Record-Keeping & Deadlines: A Compliance Guide (2025)
A complete US tax compliance reference — what records to keep and for how long, the key federal deadlines, the cost of missing them, and the habits that keep you compliant.
IRS Penalties & Interest: Failure to File, Pay & Relief (2025)
How IRS penalties and interest work — failure-to-file vs failure-to-pay, accuracy and fraud penalties, compounding interest, and first-time and reasonable-cause relief.
IRS Audits Explained: Types, Triggers & How to Respond (2025)
How IRS audits really work — the three types, how returns are selected, what raises audit risk, how to respond, your rights, and the appeals process.
US Sales Tax & Use Tax: Economic Nexus After Wayfair (2025)
How US sales tax and use tax work in 2025 — economic nexus after Wayfair, the $100,000 threshold, use tax, the five no-sales-tax states, and how businesses comply.
US State Income Tax: Rates, No-Tax States & Residency (2025)
How US state income tax works in 2025 — the nine no-tax states, flat vs progressive rates, residency rules, multi-state income, and the real cost of state tax.
US Business Tax Deductions: Home Office, Depreciation & More (2025)
The major US business tax deductions for 2025 — home office, vehicle, depreciation, Section 179, permanent 100% bonus depreciation, startup costs, and record-keeping.
US QBI Deduction (Section 199A): The 20% Pass-Through Break (2025)
How the US QBI deduction (Section 199A) works in 2025 — the 20% pass-through break, income thresholds, wage limits, service-business rules, and OBBB Act permanence.
S-Corp vs C-Corp: US Corporate Tax Compared (2025)
S-corp versus C-corp taxation — pass-through vs double taxation, the 21% corporate rate, the S-corp salary strategy, eligibility limits, and which corporate status to choose.
US LLC Taxation Explained: Default Rules & S-Corp Election (2025)
How US LLCs are taxed in 2025 — default pass-through treatment, S-corp and C-corp elections, self-employment tax, the QBI deduction, and when electing S-corp pays off.
Germany Tax Guide
Einkommensteuer, Körperschaftsteuer, the Gewerbesteuer trade tax, Umsatzsteuer (VAT) and cross-border withholding.Germany Tax Audits, Penalties and Compliance Risk
How German tax audits work and the habits that reduce penalty and interest risk.
Germany Transfer Pricing Documentation: Related-Party Transactions
The German transfer-pricing rules businesses need when trading with related parties.
Germany Double Tax Treaties and Foreign Tax Credit Relief
How Germany reduces double taxation through treaties, exemptions and credits.
Germany Tax Residence: Worldwide Income and Limited Tax Liability
How residence affects German income taxation for individuals and companies.
Germany Withholding Tax on Dividends, Interest and Royalties
When German withholding tax applies and how treaty relief can reduce it.
Germany Capital Gains and Investment Income Tax Explained
How dividends, interest and capital gains are commonly taxed for German individual investors.
Germany R&D Tax Incentives: Research Allowance Basics
How Germany’s research allowance can support eligible R&D activity.
Germany Depreciation (AfA): Tax Treatment of Fixed Assets
How German businesses deduct fixed assets over time using depreciation.
Germany Business Expenses and Tax Deductions: What Companies Can Claim
How deductible business expenses work and where German tax rules limit deductions.
China Tax Guide
Individual income tax brackets, corporate income tax, CIT incentives (HNTE/SLPE), VAT and cross-border withholding.Canada Tax Guide
Federal and provincial income tax, RRSP/TFSA/FHSA registered accounts, CPP and EI, the small business deduction, GST/HST, and CRA compliance.
China Tax Credit Rating & Record-Keeping: A-D Grades & CAS Records (2025)
China’s tax credit rating and record-keeping — the A-to-D grade system, the benefits and restrictions, Chinese-language CAS records, retention periods, and good compliance habits.
China Tax Administration, Golden Tax & Audits: How the STA Enforces (2025)
China’s tax administration, Golden Tax Phase IV and audits — how the STA enforces through real-time data matching, what triggers audits, and the anti-avoidance rules.
China Annual Reconciliation & CIT Settlement: IIT & Corporate Filings (2025)
China’s annual tax settlements — the IIT reconciliation and its 2025 Measures, the CIT settlement by May 31, exemptions, book-tax differences, and completing both correctly.
China Tax Penalties & Statute of Limitations: Surcharges & Audits (2025)
China’s tax penalties and statute of limitations — the 0.05% daily surcharge, under-reporting penalties up to 5x, the tiered limitation periods, and tax-credit-rating impacts.
China Tax Filing Calendar & Deadlines: Monthly, Annual & CIT Settlement (2025)
China’s tax filing calendar — monthly and quarterly deadlines, the CIT annual settlement (May 31), the IIT reconciliation, the statutory audit, and the FAR cross-agency filing.
China Expat Tax Compliance & Talent Incentives: GBA, Qianhai & Hainan (2025)
Expat tax compliance in China — IIT withholding, the annual reconciliation, the Greater Bay Area subsidy, Qianhai and Hainan 15% talent caps, documentation, and planning.
China Tax Treaties, Foreign Income & the Foreign Tax Credit (2025)
China’s tax treaties and foreign income rules — how treaties prevent double taxation, the foreign tax credit and its cap, overseas income rules, and claiming relief.
China Foreigner Fringe Benefits (BIK): Tax-Exempt Allowances for Expats (2025)
China’s tax-exempt fringe benefits for expats — the eight benefit-in-kind categories, the conditions, BIK vs special additional deductions, and the 2027 extension.
China’s Six-Year Rule for Expats: Worldwide Income & Reset (2025)
China’s six-year rule for expats — how foreign residents become taxable on worldwide income after six years, the 30-day reset, the 2019 start, and strategic planning.
