Tax consultants propose streamlining of tax law

Enlarge image

Tax return: Huge bureaucratic effort

Photo:

Hans-Jürgen Wiedl / dpa

According to the tax consultants, Germany's tax law is becoming more and more complicated and can hardly be managed in the long term.

"Germany is lagging behind other countries that have modernized their tax system," Hartmut Schwab, President of the Federal Chamber of Tax Advisors, criticized in the "Augsburger Allgemeine".

"That prevents us from implementing pragmatic solutions and ultimately costs us an immense amount of bureaucracy, which is sometimes disproportionate to the income," said Schwab.

“Instead, thousands of detailed questions arise that tie up staff and keep the courts busy.”

As the most recent example, the President of the Chamber named the federal government's measures to combat rising energy costs: "The energy aid entails many complicated tax issues - and anyone who thinks that tax consultants would be happy about it is wrong." according to different vintages.

"A huge effort for 300 euros," Schwab stated.

In addition, digitization must finally be pushed ahead.

"For modern taxation, Germany needs more digitization, networking, less small-stateism and would also have to review its tax rates in international comparison," demanded Schwab.

Other European countries have long since introduced electronic invoices, which can be immediately and automatically compared digitally by all departments.

mike/AFP