Which countries have the highest top tax rates?

A top rate of 50% would be above the OECD average but Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands all have higher rates.

By George Eaton

Based on the neuralgic reaction of some business leaders and politicians to Labour’s proposal to reintroduce the 50p tax rate, you might assume that the UK will become a pariah state if the measure is introduced. But how radical a move would it really be? For comparison, I’ve listed the top income tax rates (as of 2012) in the rest of the OECD below.

As the figures show, while a top rate of 50 per cent would be significantly higher than the average of 42.5 per cent it is far from the highest. Denmark, Sweden and Belgium (hardly socialist backwaters) are among the six countries with higher rates, while Austria and Japan also have a top rate of 50p.

And while plenty have accused Labour of “returning to the 1970s”, a top rate of 50 per cent would be far from the top rate of 83 per cent (98 per cent on “unearned income”) seen under Jim Callaghan. Even Margaret Thatcher managed to live with a top rate of 60 per cent for nine years of her premiership before Nigel Lawson reduced it to 40 per cent in his 1988 Budget. And, mercifully for the rich, Ed Balls has already said that there is “absolutely” no chance of Labour raising the rate beyond 50p.

Top marginal tax rate

Denmark 60.2%

Sweden 56.6%

Belgium 53.7%