Changes in May 2022: Corona rules, tax returns and online shopping - that's new now
Created: 05/02/2022Updated: 05/02/2022 09:15
By: Kathrin Reikowski
A group of adults go on a trip on their light motorcycles on May 1st.
(Iconic image) © Thomas Warnack/dpa
Changes in May: online shoppers, participants in coffee trips and food rescuers can be happy - that will change in May: an overview.
Berlin - In May 2022 some legal changes will come into force.
Consumer protection, the end of further Corona regulations, but also the tax return will be an issue in May 2022.
One important change affects consumers only indirectly.
In order to continue to guarantee the energy supply in view of the Ukraine war and already scarce gas supplies, operators of gas storage facilities in Germany are obliged to fill their storage facilities step by step.
From May 1, 2022, there will be statutory minimum filling levels, which are also intended to curb sharp price fluctuations in the future.
Changes in May 2022: This will change for consumers when shopping online from May 28, 2022
More protection when shopping online: Operators of marketplaces such as Ebay or Amazon are obliged to make decision-making criteria more transparent.
Before the contract is concluded, the essential circumstances of the purchase must be clarified.
This includes, for example, the criteria according to which search results are ranked, as can be read on Bundesregierung.de.
This change in the law will come into force on May 28 with the “Act to Strengthen Consumer Protection in Competition and Commercial Law”.
Changes in May 2022: Strengthening of consumer protection at a glance
With the "Act to Strengthen Consumer Protection in Competition and Commercial Law", further changes will come into force on May 28:
In the case of sales at the apartment door, there is a ban on immediate payment for amounts over 50 euros
More protection against abusive practices for participants in so-called coffee trips.
More transparency for digital services such as video streaming or eBooks.
More legal certainty for influencers and bloggers when it comes to product recommendations
Uniform quantities on packaging should make price comparisons easier
The changes in May 2022: protection against unwanted telephone advertising
The new law should also provide better protection against unwanted telephone advertising.
From May 28, providers who advertise by telephone must document that the person called has consented to an advertising call - and retain this consent for five years.
Violations are subject to fines.
That will change in May 2022: Countering food waste
Starting May 28, 2022, vendors will no longer need to refer to previous prices for price reductions, but will instead need to quote the lowest price that applied to the product within the last 30 days.
This also prevents a short-term increase in prices before a price reduction.
It also makes it easier to sell perishable food at low prices.
This is intended to counteract food waste.
Changes in May: Corona regulations in the workplace - regulation expires
The current Corona Occupational Health and Safety Ordinance is only valid until May 25th.
Since March, companies have been able to define basic protective measures for employees.
Tests, masks, distance - what will apply to companies from May 25th is not yet known.
(as of April 29, 2022)
Important dates in May 2022: census and tax return
The survey for the 2022 census will start on March 15. Anyone who receives mail from the federal and state statistical offices must respond.
The survey, which takes place across Europe every ten years, aims to find out how many people live and work where and how - the basis for many decisions.
Employees who seek advice from a tax advisor only have until May 31 to submit the tax return for 2020 (i.e. for the previous year).
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