A handful of European countries levy an annual tax on net wealth above a threshold. Enter your net assets and a country to estimate the yearly bill.
Thresholds and rates differ sharply — France taxes only real estate (IFI), Spain varies by region, Norway and Switzerland tax broad net wealth at lower rates.
Valuation rules, regional variations and exemptions (like primary residences) materially change the result; use this as an orientation, not a filing figure.
The rate that matters is the effective one, and it sits far below the headline bands because the exemption comes off first. On €1,000,000 of net wealth in Spain, €700,000 is exempt and the remaining €300,000 is taxed progressively — roughly €733, an effective rate of 0.07% rather than the 0.2–0.3% the band table quotes.
These taxes fall on capital rather than income, which is what makes them bite differently: an illiquid asset producing no cash still generates a bill every year. That is why most systems carve out business assets and pension rights, and why the valuation rules usually matter more to the final figure than the rate does.
Residency rather than nationality normally determines liability, and several countries tax residents on worldwide net wealth while taxing non-residents only on assets held locally. That distinction moves the bill far more than any band in the table, and it is decided by where you live rather than by what you own.
Frequently asked questions
Which European countries levy a wealth tax?
Spain and Norway tax broad net wealth, Switzerland does so at cantonal level, and France taxes only real-estate wealth (IFI). Thresholds and rates differ sharply between them.
How is taxable net wealth calculated?
Assets at their taxable value minus deductible debts, with country-specific exemptions — pension rights and business assets are often partly or fully excluded.
Is my primary residence subject to wealth tax?
Usually with relief: Spain and France apply allowances or partial reductions, Switzerland taxes it at often-favourable official values. The details are regional, so verify locally.