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No money for the 13th AHV pension payment? Dispute over tax increase intensifies: The FDP (Liberal Party), the SVP, the Juso (Young Socialists) ...
nzz.ch/schweiz/nach-dem-ja-zur-13-ahv-rente-droht-am-29-november-ein-nein-zur-finanzierung-ld.10029191

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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
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
,regionOfInterest=(686,296)&hash=af1d11e3e95ca5cad36970ffc940f95a7b7660e73bf3014d76efa3672a37440f)
Key FactsGovernment Unveils Major Tax and Social Policy Changes
Mar 26, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: focus.de
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.
SPD: “Will require courage from us” – Klingbeil presents reform plan: The government is working on a major reform package. The Finance Minister is now outlining ...
handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/spd-wird-uns-mut-abverlangen-klingbeil-stellt-reformplan-vor/100211493.html

Paid articlePaywallChaos 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

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

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

Paid articlePaywallHealth 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

Union and SPD call for higher tobacco tax: Coalition politicians want to ease the financial burden on health insurance companies with the help of a higher ...
faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/hoehere-tabaksteuer-von-union-und-spd-gefordert-accg-200489725.html

"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

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

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
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

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/

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