Why did my net pay drop this month?
A lower net with the same gross is almost always one of six things. Compare the two payslips line by line and the cause jumps out.
1. Tax changed
A new tax card (Luxembourg), a new withholding rate (France's prélèvement à la source, Germany's Steuerklasse), a tax credit that stopped (CIS phasing out, Belgian werkbonus), or January: new year, new scale, new ceilings.
2. Social contributions changed
New contribution rates or ceilings in January (Luxembourg's pension contribution rose from 8% to 8.5% in January 2026), a change of health fund rate (Germany's Zusatzbeitrag), dependency allowance dropped, or the 108% base for Belgian blue-collar workers.
3. Something was added to the bases
A company car, housing or another benefit in kind raises your taxable and social bases even though you receive no cash; the net drops by the tax on it.
4. Fewer paid days or hours
Unpaid leave, sick leave beyond continued pay, a part-time change, fewer overtime hours, or a bonus that only existed last month.
5. New deductions after tax
Meal vouchers, insurance, union dues, a salary advance being recovered, a garnishment, a pension top-up you signed.
6. An actual error
Wrong tax class, missing allowance, overtime without premium, index not applied, duplicated deduction. These are the ones worth a message to payroll.
Check your own payslip. Upload it and every line is explained, the rates verified and the questions for HR written for you. Free, nothing stored. Decode my payslip
Questions people ask
How do I compare two payslips quickly?
Decode this month's payslip on Payslop, then use 'Compare with another payslip' to upload last month's: every changed line is listed with the reason.
Related guides
- 13th month and bonuses: how they are taxed
- Index tranche: did your salary really go up 2.5%?
- Your first Luxembourg payslip, explained line by line
Indicative rules as of October 2026. Not tax or legal advice.