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Finance Minister Lindner at video conference
Photo: Felix Zahn / picture alliance / photothek
Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) has announced that the easing of tax returns agreed in the traffic light coalition agreement will be implemented as quickly as possible. "The tax return has to be easier," said Lindner to the newspapers of the Funke media group. "We are now taking the necessary steps to get this relief into practice as quickly as possible." According to the minister, data that the authorities already have will be offered in advance so that citizens do not search for every single piece of information in their files have to.
Lindner also commented on other taxation plans.
He was open about permanent tax deductibility for the home office: "I think it is conceivable that we will turn the exception rule into a permanent rule," said Lindner.
»Many employees would like more self-determination.
I welcome and encourage that. ”On the other hand, many prefer to work in the office.
The current home office regulation is limited to the period of the pandemic: If you don't have a separate office, you can deduct a flat rate of five euros from tax per home office day for 2021.
A maximum of 600 euros per year can be claimed.
Anyone who has a separate study and uses at least 90 percent of it for work can deduct the actual costs.
Lindner also wants to adapt tax law more closely to the needs of women.
One of the goals is to »shape the tax brackets in favor of women«.
He has the subject of the "part-time trap" on the radar.
"At the beginning of the new year I will approach the federal states and campaign for a quick solution," said the FDP politician.
The coalition of the SPD, the Greens and the FDP has agreed to prevent mini-jobs from being abused as a substitute for regular employment or being used part-time, especially for women.
Many women initially work part-time after giving birth to take care of childcare.
Returning to full-time is often difficult because employers are unwilling or not financially viable.
Through what is known as spouse splitting, couples in which one partner earns significantly more than the other often enjoy tax advantages.
This also lowers the incentive to work full-time for the less-earning partner - usually the woman -.
fdi / AFP
