Natural gas refinery on the Persian Gulf: The usual VAT rate will be due again in Germany.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin According to information from ministry circles, the increase in VAT on gas planned by Finance Minister Christian Lindner is supported by the entire federal government. It is part of the budget draft for 2024 and has been planned for a long time, it was said in Berlin on Monday. “All federal government departments supported this approach.” A government spokesman also referred to the 2024 budget draft in Berlin on Monday. War-related price peaks have subsided.
Because of the high energy prices after the Russian attack on Ukraine, the federal government temporarily reduced the VAT rate for gas from 19 to 7 percent, thereby making gas cheaper. This special regulation is now set to expire three months earlier than planned at the turn of the year.
The Ministry of Finance wants to allow the tax cut to expire early.
(Photo: IMAGO/photothek)
As a result, experts expect gas prices to rise again in the middle of the heating season. An increase in VAT from 7 to 19 percent means an absolute increase of 11.2 percent, provided the tax increase is passed on in full.