Life & Style
Parliament Votes on Tax Reform: What Is Being Decided and Why It Matters
Luxembourg’s Parliament is expected to vote later in 2026 on a major reform of the personal income tax system. The decisions taken during this legislative process will shape how individuals are taxed in the coming years, although the changes will not take effect immediately.
We explain what the reform involves, what Parliament will vote on in 2026, and what residents should realistically expect.
Why Tax Reform Is Being Proposed
Luxembourg’s current income tax system is based on three tax classes, which apply different tax rates depending on marital status and household situation. Over time, this structure has been criticised by the government and advisory bodies for being complex and increasingly misaligned with modern household and employment patterns.
The government has therefore proposed a structural reform with the stated objectives of:
Simplifying the tax system
Reducing disparities between different household types
Increasing purchasing power, particularly for low- and middle-income earners
To implement this, a draft law has been submitted to the Chamber of Deputies, initiating the parliamentary process.
The Core Proposal: A Single Tax Scale
The central element of the reform is the introduction of a single personal income tax scale that would apply to all individual taxpayers.
Current structure
Class 1: Singles
Class 1a: Certain single parents and older residents
Class 2: Married couples and registered partners
Tax liability currently depends not only on income, but also on household composition.
Proposed structure
One unified tax scale for all individuals
Higher tax-free income thresholds
Targeted tax credits and allowances instead of tax-class-based advantages
The government has indicated that this new structure is intended to apply regardless of marital status, with social policy objectives addressed through credits rather than tax classes.
What Parliament Will Decide in 2026
During 2026, Members of Parliament will debate and vote on several key aspects of the reform.
1. Adoption of the Reform Law
The main bill introducing the single tax scale has been formally tabled and assigned to parliamentary committees. MPs will review:
The structure of the new tax brackets
The level of tax-free income
The estimated cost to public finances
A final vote is expected before the end of 2026.
2. Transitional Arrangements
To avoid abrupt changes, the proposal includes transitional measures. These are intended to ensure that taxpayers who currently benefit from the existing system are not immediately disadvantaged.
Parliament will decide:
The length of the transition period
Whether taxpayers can temporarily remain under the old system if it is more favourable
These provisions are a central part of the parliamentary debate.
3. Related Credits and Allowances
Alongside the new tax scale, Parliament will also vote on accompanying measures, including:
Child-related tax credits
Adjustments for single parents
Changes to deductions linked to pensions and long-term savings
These measures are designed to maintain social support within the new structure.
Timeline for Implementation
Even if Parliament approves the reform in 2026, the changes will not apply immediately.
2026–2027: Legislative adoption, administrative preparation, and publication of guidance
Planned application date: 1 January 2028
This transition period is intended to allow both taxpayers and tax authorities to prepare.
Expected Impact on Taxpayers
According to government projections:
Singles and single-income households are likely to see reduced tax pressure
Middle-income earners may benefit from higher tax-free thresholds
Families will rely more on explicit credits rather than tax-class advantages
High-income households are not expected to see significant structural changes
Final outcomes will depend on the details adopted by Parliament.
Why This Matters for Residents
Income tax affects:
Monthly net income
Household budgeting
Decisions related to work, marriage, and childcare
Long-term financial planning
The 2026 parliamentary votes will determine the framework for these factors from 2028 onward.
The parliamentary votes on tax reform in 2026 represent a structural decision about how Luxembourg taxes individual income. While the reform is gradual and includes long transition periods, it marks a shift away from household-based tax classes toward a more individualised system.
For residents, the key point is that the rules decided in 2026 will shape personal taxation for many years, even though practical effects will only be felt later.
Official Government & Parliamentary Sources
Luxembourg Government – Presentation of the tax reform packagehttps://gouvernement.lu/fr/actualites/toutes_actualites/communiques/2026/01-janvier/06-presentation…
Chamber of Deputies – Legislative dossier (Bill introducing the single tax scale)https://www.chd.lu/fr/dossier/8676
Luxembourg Government – Overview of changes affecting residents in 2026https://gouvernement.lu/fr/actualites/toutes_actualites/articles/2025/12-decembre/nouveautes-2026.h…