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Not just because of the sugar tax: Why there's trouble in the coalition: Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil (left) and Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Federal ...
abendblatt.de/politik/article413347134/nicht-nur-wegen-der-zuckersteuer-warum-es-aerger-in-der-koalition-gibt.html
Not just because of the sugar tax: Why there's trouble in the ...
Neue Beamte sollen einzahlen: SPD pocht auf abschlagsfreie Rente nach 45 Jahren: Bei der Rentenreform sollen laut dem Kanzler alle Vorschläge der ...
n-tv.de/politik/SPD-pocht-auf-abschlagsfreie-Rente-nach-45-Jahren-id31380222.html
Neue Beamte sollen einzahlen: SPD pocht auf abschlagsfreie Rente nach 45 ...
Fuel bombshell in the coalition: The wealthy want to lower VAT - | Germans don't believe Merz's promises
tz.de/politik/umfrage-zeigt-deutsche-glauben-nicht-an-merz-sprit-verbrechen-zr-94499622.html
Fuel bombshell in the coalition: The wealthy want to lower VAT - | Germans ...
Manuela Schwesig: The last bullet of social democracy?: Financial difficulties in nursing care are just as chronic as the disputes between the CDU/CSU and the ...
morgenpost.de/politik/article412505918/manuela-schwesig-die-letzte-patrone-der-sozialdemokratie.html
Manuela Schwesig: The last bullet of social democracy?
Taxes, pensions, sick leave: What the government is planning now directly affects millions
nordkurier.de/politik/steuern-rente-krankschreibung-was-die-regierung-jetzt-plant-betrifft-millionen-direkt-4689286
Taxes, pensions, sick leave: What the government is planning now directly ...
The M-word is making the rounds: Is it even possible to manage without tax increases?
n-tv.de/politik/Geht-es-ueberhaupt-ohne-Steuererhoehungen-id30868701.html
The M-word is making the rounds: Is it even possible to manage without tax ...
Relief for households – Merz does not rule out changes to the value-added tax: The Chancellor emphasizes the major goal of providing financial relief to private ...
stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.entlastungen-fuer-haushalte-merz-schliesst-aenderungen-bei-mehrwertsteuer-nicht-aus.0200f55e-85b7-41e4-9204-8fc73e56f495.html
Relief for households – Merz does not rule out changes to the value-added ...
Key FactsMerz Considers Flexible VAT Adjustments to Ease Burdens
Mar 25, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: stuttgarter-nachrichten.de
  • Chancellor Friedrich Merz highlights the goal of easing financial strain on employees and companies through tax and social contribution relief.

  • He expresses openness to possible changes in VAT as part of planned relief efforts.

  • Merz clarifies that no VAT increase is intended but does not rule out lowering the reduced rate for food items.

  • Efforts to identify relief measures continue amid coalition discussions and political inquiries.
  • For example, it would also be conceivable to significantly reduce the reduced VAT rate on food to relieve households with very low incomes.
    — Friedrich Merz, Chancellor of Germany, during the government question time in the Bundestag
What the Federal Government's Tax Plans Will Mean to You: Income tax, joint taxation of married couples, value-added tax, family insurance ...
focus.de/finanzen/steuern/das-bringen-ihnen-die-steuerplaene-der-bundesregierung_84fc447a-7276-4447-8343-9836fe224029.html
What the Federal Government's Tax Plans Will Mean to You
Key FactsGovernment Unveils Major Tax and Social Policy Changes
Mar 26, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: focus.de
  • The income tax reform raises the top rate to 49% from €90,000 while reducing taxes for most citizens.

  • The spousal splitting system is set to be abolished and replaced to encourage more workforce participation.

  • A proposed VAT increase by two percentage points could generate €30 billion yearly but hit low-income households hardest.

  • Free family insurance coverage for spouses would be replaced by a €225 monthly minimum fee, affecting 1.5 million households.
  • Even high fortunes would have to contribute more in Germany.
    — Lars Klingbeil (Vice-Chancellor, SPD), quoted verbatim in the article discussing proposed tax reforms; noting that even high fortunes should contribute more.
Chaos with reform proposals - | Merz also falls into Habeck's trap: Value added tax, joint taxation of married couples, co-insurance: First proposals from ...
berliner-zeitung.de/politik-gesellschaft/chaos-bei-reformvorschlaegen-auch-merz-tappt-in-die-habeck-falle-li.10026744
Chaos with reform proposals - | Merz also falls into Habeck's trap
Pensions, spousal income splitting, taxes: Klingbeil outlines reform plans: The government wants to launch extensive social reforms. Klingbeil and Merz have now ...
infranken.de/ratgeber/karriere-geld/rente-krankenversicherung-und-haushalt-sozialreformen-rentenreform-gesetzliche-krankenversicherung-haushalt-2027-art-6333078
Pensions, spousal income splitting, taxes: Klingbeil outlines reform plans
Government's test: VAT up, joint taxation for married couples abolished? These are the reform ideas of the CDU/CSU-SPD coalition
spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/mehrwertsteuer-rauf-ehegattensplitting-weg-das-sind-die-reformideen-von-schwarz-rot-a-121ddd29-1e0f-4495-ab33-2a7133e6456a
Government's test: VAT up, joint taxation for married couples ...
Health insurance contributions: How the SPD wants to reduce contributions: At the SPD's executive committee meeting, Bärbel Bas in particular distances herself ...
augsburger-allgemeine.de/politik/beitraege-fuer-die-krankenkasse-wie-die-spd-beitraege-senken-will-113403888
Health insurance contributions: How the SPD wants to reduce contributions
"Assisted governance is over": Greens refuse to support pension package - | Economists demand a halt to the reform
tagesspiegel.de/politik/betreutes-regieren-ist-vorbei-grune-wollen-rentenpaket-nicht-mittragen--okonomen-fordern-stopp-der-reform-14919866.html
At least €3,000+3,000: SPD wants electric car purchase subsidy for average earners
n-tv.de/wirtschaft/SPD-will-E-Auto-Kaufpraemie-fuer-Normalverdiener-article26100072.html
At least €3,000+3,000: SPD wants electric car purchase subsidy for average ...
Citizen's income is history, new pension: What this means for you: Citizen's income gives way to basic income support: What this means for you
focus.de/finanzen/buergergeld-ist-geschichte-neue-rente-das-bedeutet-es-fuer-sie_c708f936-7272-4175-90b3-19874d113243.html
Citizen's income is history, new pension: What this means for you
Key FactsCoalition agrees new rules on welfare, pensions and transport
Oct 10, 2025 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: focus.de
  • Under the agreement, repeated unjustified missed appointments at job centres are to trigger graduated cuts up to the withdrawal of payments, with sick people exempt.

  • The Aktivrente planned from 1 January 2026 would allow employed pensioners to earn up to 2,000 euros a month tax-free, and Markus Söder said it would affect around ten million pensioners.

  • Three billion euros are earmarked to help low- and middle-income households switch to climate-neutral vehicles, probably mainly electric cars, while the income limits are still to be defined.

  • The coalition plans to provide three billion euros from funds originally intended for microelectronics for roads, railways and waterways, then review in two years whether the amount is sufficient.
  • The Bürgergeld chapter is finished. Whoever refuses to work cannot expect the state to fund him.
    — Markus Söder, Bavarian Prime Minister, said at the press conference presenting the coalition committee's results in Berlin.
OpinionActive pension: Pensioners to receive even higher tax allowance: From January 2026, pensioners will be able to receive an annual tax allowance of €24,000 ...
t-online.de/finanzen/aktuelles/id_100931104/aktivrente-rentner-sollen-wohl-noch-hoeheren-freibetrag-erhalten.html
Active pension: Pensioners to receive even higher tax allowance
Reducing bureaucracy and the "active pension": What the coalition is planning: How does the coalition intend to strengthen the economy and stabilize pensions and ...
deutsche-handwerks-zeitung.de/buerokratieabbau-und-aktivrente-was-die-koalition-plant-367713/
Reducing bureaucracy and the