Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier wants to strengthen the middle class with a series of measures: "With a 'tax cover' we want to ensure that the tax burden of private companies is limited to a maximum of 45 percent," said the CDU politician at the presentation of the SME strategy.
Altmaier said he wanted to improve "tax attractiveness" and "competitiveness". "The solidarity surcharge must be abolished in the foreseeable future." The core of a comprehensive corporate tax reform must be to reduce the tax burden on retained corporate profits to 25 percent, "said the Altmaier proposal.
Fighting with SPD colleagues
The Minister also wants to enforce relief payments for small and medium-sized enterprises in social security contributions. The social security contribution rate for the pension, unemployment, health and long-term care insurance should be stabilized at less than 40 percent. "We will work towards ensuring that a corresponding social security cover is anchored in the Basic Law," states the strategy paper.
This also calls for a reduction in bureaucracy. Thus, the retention periods for documents in commercial and tax law should be reduced from ten to five years.
Which of the proposals Altmaier can implement is completely open. Responsible for taxes and labor are with Finance Minister Olaf Scholz and Labor Minister Hubertus Heil two SPD politicians who represent different views on a number of points.
