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Cleaner on the escalator: The minimum wage will rise - but higher taxes will also be due in 2022
Photo: Florian Gaertner / photothek.de / imago images / photothek
On New Year's Eve, new rules and regulations came into force in numerous areas in Germany.
An overview:
Finances:
The most important innovation here is probably the minimum wage. In any case, it is a law that over the course of the year it will rise from EUR 9.60 to at least EUR 9.82 gross per hour worked, and EUR 10.45 from July 1st. However, the new federal government has announced that it will increase it further later this year. Goal: twelve euros per hour. The pensions will also rise significantly in summer. The exact amount has not yet been determined, but retirees can expect an increase of between 4 and 6 percent.
As of today, a higher basic tax allowance applies to income tax.
Single persons up to an annual income of EUR 9984 do not have to pay any taxes to the tax office; for married couples, the double rate applies.
For single parents, a so-called relief amount of EUR 4008 per year will apply for an unlimited period.
Employers also have the chance until March to pay their employees a tax-free corona bonus of up to 1500 euros.
For Hartz IV recipients, the standard rates increase slightly.
The maximum amount of the child allowance increases by four euros, the child benefit itself will probably remain unchanged.
However, according to the updated Düsseldorf table, parents living separately have to pay a little more maintenance for their children from now on.
Many statutory health insurances have announced that they will increase their contributions from 2022. The main reason is the additional costs caused by the corona pandemic. The statutory long-term care insurance, however, is now adding something to its own share for inpatient care: 5 percent in the first, 25 percent in the second, 45 percent in the third and 70 percent in all subsequent years. In return, childless people will pay a contribution of 3.4 instead of 3.3 percent in the future.
With the new year, energy costs will continue to grow by law.
Due to the increasing CO2 tax, refueling and heating will become more expensive every year until 2025.
In 2022, oil and diesel will cost around 1.5 cents more per liter, petrol 1.4 cents and natural gas 0.1 cents per kilowatt hour.
The EEG surcharge is falling: from 6.5 to 3.7 cents per kilowatt hour of electricity.
The customers are unlikely to notice this, however, as the electricity procurement costs of the suppliers have increased significantly - and these will probably pass on the increased prices to consumers for years to come.
Consumption:
For many, 2022 will put an end to endlessly extending telephone or internet contracts. Previously, they had to be terminated three months before the end of the contract period - otherwise the contract was extended for another year. From March this period of notice will be reduced to one month, and contracts will then be extended without a term, i.e. they can be terminated within one month in due time. It's even more convenient on the Internet. From summer onwards, providers will have to place a so-called »termination button«.
Consumers can feel the turn of the year when shopping.
As of today, plastic bags are prohibited, only thin plastic fruit and vegetable bags may continue to be used.
All beverage cans and one-way bottles are now subject to a deposit.
The only exceptions are "pure dairy products".
Most supermarkets and discounters will also have to take back old electronic devices in the future, smaller copies up to 25 centimeters in length, even if customers do not buy a new device.
From January, there is also an extended deadline for defects or defects that appear after a purchase.
Previously, within six months of the purchase, it was automatically assumed that these were already available when the contract was concluded - and the seller is therefore liable.
This so-called burden of proof rule is now extended to one year for new contracts.
Deutsche Post is also increasing its postage for letters and postcards by 5 cents each.
Telephone advertising providers will in future have to document their customers' express consent for a period of five years.
And from the end of May, coffee trip entrepreneurs will already be advertising their customers about where the event is taking place, how they can be reached and what is on sale.
Medical products, food supplements and insurance or building society contracts will be completely prohibited in the future.
Mobility:
Older drivers must exchange their old driver's licenses for counterfeit-proof check cards by January 19th. This applies to those born between 1953 and 1958. People born between 1959 and 1964 have an extra year for this. Medical masks will also be mandatory in all cars in the future - in first-aid kits. The regulation provides for a couple to be made an integral part. When it comes into force has not yet been finally decided.
The premiums for motor vehicle insurance are also changing because the cars are moving into new type classes.
For most drivers, this results in higher premiums.
The “innovation bonus for electric vehicles” will be extended until the end of 2022.
In the future, hybrid models will only be funded if they can cover at least 60 kilometers in purely electric mode.
In addition, extensive driver assistance and safety systems are required for the approval of new vehicles.
Rail customers, however, have already seen the tariff increase with the winter timetable that came into force in December.
There is only one innovation for them: from today, tickets can no longer be bought from the conductor on the train.
However, there is still a digital ticket in the app up to ten minutes after departure
Bless you:
The e-prescription, long awaited by many, is postponing indefinitely.
The technology for the obligation for doctors, clinics and pharmacies to issue drug prescriptions only in digital form, which is actually planned at the turn of the year, is not yet widely available.
The changeover to the new electronic certificate of incapacity for work, in which doctors and health insurers send the AU directly to employers, will also be a long time coming across Germany.
What is certain, however, is the compulsory vaccination for employees in clinics, nursing homes, medical practices, emergency services and birthing centers.
From mid-March you have to provide proof of a full corona vaccination, alternatively proof of your recovery from Covid-19.
sbo / dpa