Need to move close to family.. NE stopping us... What to do?

This website takes into account the public sector pension levies - http://taxcalc.eu/ - there is still a big discrepancy in their weekly take home wage, regardless of the public sector pension levies.

Gross salary of €55K with €358 pw take home pay does not add up? Private sector employee on this salary who is say contributing 5% towards a pension would have a weekly take home pay of around €690 per week - where as a public sector employee should have a weekly take home pay of about €650. That is almost a €300 difference?

Gross salary of €40K with €406 pw take home pay does not add up? Private sector employee on this salary who is say contributing 5% towards a pension would have a weekly take home pay of around €560 per week - where as a public sector employee should have a weekly take home pay of about €538. That is about a €150 difference?

Meaning a shortfall of €450 per week in their net wages.
 
I am also public sector and can confirm that there is a definite under value on those take home wages even after pensions and everything else. I’m pointing this out because perhaps looking at these figures you are getting more stressed about the situation than you need to be. Your payslip should be able to give you your correct take home pay.
 


It's more complicated that a flat 5% pension contribution.


The basic rates (for the civil service) is:


  • 1½% of pensionable remuneration plus 3½% of net pensionable remuneration for their own pension
  • 1½% of pensionable remuneration for the spouses’/children’s pension

Then the newer pension levy is on a sliding scale:

  • First €15,000 of earnings is exempt
  • 5% on next €5,000 of earnings
  • 10% on earnings between €20,000 and €60,000
  • 10.5% on earnings above €60,000
(not forgetting the other deductions everybody has for PAYE, PRSI & USC!)
 

I only referred to the flat 5% pension contribution when I was talking about a private sector employee