> was a very strange feeling to receive that completely untaxed,

Well thats the absurdity of the German tax system.

People which do not have much don't pay much taxes (lower %cut).

People who are more wealthy then that pay a lot of taxes (max %cut).

People who are even more wealthy again much less taxes (still max %cut, but docents of ways to circumvent taxes, and "safely" launder money e.g. by going through art collections, buildings etc.).