EU: No VAT exemption for gas surcharge

Created: 2022-08-16Updated: 2022-08-16, 2:40 p.m

There will be no exceptions to the VAT on the gas surcharge in Germany.

© Hauke-Christian Dittrich/dpa

The federal government wanted to prevent VAT from having to be paid on the gas surcharge.

However, according to the EU Commission, it is not possible to abolish the tax.

Berlin - For consumers in Germany, there will be no exemption from VAT on the gas surcharge.

The EU Commission confirmed in Brussels that a cancellation of the tax is not possible, contrary to what the federal government had hoped.

According to its own statements, the Commission is working together with Berlin on a solution regarding VAT.

Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) had asked for an exception at EU level.

However, a spokesman for the EU Commission made it clear: “There is no way to exempt this type of levy.” At the same time, he emphasized: “We are in contact with the German government to find solutions that benefit consumers and the would have the same effect on them.”

In order to support gas importers, customers in Germany will have to pay significantly more for their gas from autumn.

The amount of the state surcharge will be 2.419 cents per kilowatt hour without VAT, as announced by Trading Hub Europe, a joint venture of the gas transmission system operators in Germany, on Monday in Ratingen.

dpa