New year, new regulations: Drastic changes in driver's license, minimum wage and Hartz IV

Created: 01/06/2022, 09:14 AM

From: Yasina Hipp

At the turn of the year there are a number of new regulations for citizens.

An overview of news and changes.

Munich - The new year is only a few days old and a large number of new regulations and laws are already in place in Germany.

Whether tax allowances, the minimum wage, deposit regulations or shopping - a lot will change in 2022. In order not to lose track of things, here is a brief summary.

New in 2022: minimum wage, tax allowance, tobacco tax, maintenance and Hartz IV

Increase in the minimum wage:

Those who receive the minimum wage can look forward to more money from now on.

The minimum wage will rise from EUR 9.60 to EUR 9.82 per hour.

On July 1st, it will be increased again to 10.45 euros.

Higher tax allowance:

Also good news: The basic income tax allowance continues to rise.

This means that employees have more money at their disposal because the state only deducts taxes on income above the newly assessed amount.

For single people, the amount is now 9,984 euros (240 euros more than in the previous year).

For spouses it is 19,968 euros, an increase of 480 euros.

Tobacco tax on the rise:

there is less good news for everyone who smokes.

The tobacco tax has increased for the first time in seven years.

For a pack of 20 cigarettes for around ten cents.

A further ten to fifteen cents per pack will also be added in the coming years.

Also new: Shisha tobacco and heated tobacco will be taxed higher from now on, it was different so far.

More maintenance:

The minimum maintenance for children separated also increases slightly.

For children from one to five years of age it is 396 euros per month, an increase of three euros.

For children aged six to eleven it is 455 euros - four euros more.

For children from 12 to 17 years it is five euros more at 533 euros.

Increase in the Hartz IV rate:

The Hartz IV rate for single adults (449 euros), young people (376 euros), spouses and partners (404 euros) and people under 25 years of age (360 euros) is also three euros each gone up.

New in 2022: unemployment registration, driver's license, shopping and corona bonus

Unemployment registration online:

From now on, anyone who wants to register as unemployed no longer necessarily has to leave their home.

As the Federal Employment Agency reports, this is now also possible online around the clock in the customer portal.

Requirements: An identity card with online ID function, an electronic residence permit, an eID card or ID from an EU or EEA country with online ID function as well as AusweisApp2 or a card reader for ID cards. 

Driving license exchange:

The old paper driving license has to be removed, a new EU credit card driving license has to be obtained.

The first conversion period for those born between 1953 and 1958 and those who received their driver's license before January 1, 1999 expires on January 19.

Later vintages have a little longer time.

Shopping bags and deposit system:

a lot changes when shopping.

On the one hand, there has been a ban on light plastic carrier bags for retailers such as Edeka, Aldi, Lidl and Co. since the turn of the year - but the ban has been suspended in the fruit and vegetable department.

In addition, the deposit system is changing.

From now on, a deposit will be charged on every single-use plastic beverage bottle (up to three liters).

The only exception: plastic bottles with milk drinks.

Payment of the corona bonus:

Employers can only pay out the tax-free corona bonus up to a total of 1,500 euros until March 31, 2022.

2022: Population is counted

In addition to all the new regulations, a census, i.e. a register-based population census, is due again this year.

The count is used to determine how many people live in Germany, where they live and what they work.

These data are an important basis for a large number of political decisions.