[eru]

Yes, the high tax rates weren't meant to be paid. They were almost universally routed around via benefits and deductions.

Of course, both what you said and what I said still doesn't explain why benefits weren't taxed (or at least not as heavily).

Btw, I remember growing up in the 1990s in Germany that having a company car used to be a big deal as a perk. I don't hear about that as much anymore, I suspect it's because the relative tax attractiveness of benefits vs straight up cash changed over time; I remember some loopholes being tightened (if not closed).