The federal government's multi-billion dollar corona stimulus package is also intended to help boost the economy in the Erding district. This is what traders, craftsmen and tax consultants think of it.
Lower district VAT, grants for families up: The billion-dollar corona stimulus package for Germany should also help boost the economy in the district. We spoke about this with tax consultant Peter Ratajak, traders and craftsmen from the region: Because whether and who will ultimately benefit from the economic stimulus package remains to be seen.
Pleasure about government funding for retail
“Overall, the stimulus package is a good thing. The state can hardly do more, ”says district craftsman Rudolf Waxenberger. And Stefan Tremmel, chairman of the Dorfen promotional group, welcomes the huge government subsidy for the retail trade. But the devil is known to be in the details. Or to put it in good Bavarian with Waxenberger: "A bissle a G'schieß it will be fine."
By this he means reducing VAT from 19 to 16, or from 7 to 5 percent. Regardless of whether you buy bread rolls or install sanitary facilities, at a hairdresser, bookseller or in a restaurant - the entire IT system of every business has to be changed within three weeks, because the reduced tax rate applies from July 1 - limited to half a year.
Enormous administrative effort
That is an enormous administrative effort, says tax consultant Peter Ratajak, who has had law firms in Dorfen and Erding for many years. It is not certain whether the tax cut will also go to the end consumer. "Let's take an example from the catering industry. So far, a schnitzel has cost EUR 9.80, and if the tax rate is passed on, the final consumption price is reduced by EUR 1.15 from 19 to 5 percent. It is possible that the host takes this difference as an increase in yield, because he does not necessarily have to pass it on to the guest, ”says Ratajak. This is legitimate: “The catering sector in particular had a huge drop in sales during the lockdown. Many restaurants are struggling to survive. "
At the retailers, all goods have to be given a new award, the POS system has to be converted: "It will be shown whether the customer is then ready to suddenly buy a lot more due to three percent," says Tremmel, full-time managing director at the specialist store "Technikwerker - Der Heuschneider." “In Dorfen.
Customers value bonus
However, customers value their bonus, reports Dorfener optician Armin Ponkowsky: "People come into the shop, are already asking if the tax rate for the eyeglass frame has already been lowered and are holding their order back until July 1st."
According to Ratajak, it is by no means certain how chain stores or discounters deal with the tax cut: “Discount campaigns are often offered here anyway. What the bottom line is for the consumer is ultimately not understandable. "
There is complete confusion when writing the invoices, for example in craft businesses that work with installments. “The tax cut is only limited until the end of the year. The conventional tax rate will apply again from January 2021, ”explains Ratajak.
Many private individuals suffer from short-time work
Whoever starts building a house can save money by cutting taxes, says master craftsman Waxenberger. In the case of individual awarding by the client, the shell, roof structure or sanitary installation - everything in turnkey construction of the entire house - must be completed and approved by December 31, 2020. "People are careful, the uncertainty is great."
After all, nobody knows whether a second corona wave is coming, and many private individuals also suffer from short-time work. The construction industry was not really bad during the Corona crisis, after all, construction projects were planned in the long term - and craftsmen were also needed during the lockdown, says Waxenberger.
The Erdinger worries above all about the smaller studios, for example in foot or nail care, or about the snacks and pastry shops, attached to bakers and butchers, who would only be sparsely visited even after the contact was closed.
Car dealer disappointed
The car dealers are disappointed with the economic stimulus package: "I would have expected more," says Michael Zachskorn from the Kurth car dealership in Erding. The Honda dealer regrets that there is no direct sales promotion for cars with internal combustion engines. After all, the auto industry is still the key industry and with a targeted premium for petrol engines, the value chain could start up again and thus support the economy. "That would have given new impetus," said Zachskorn. For electric cars that are purchased from July 2020, the environmental bonus increases by up to EUR 3,000 net. "All car buyers will benefit from a reduction in VAT from 19 to 16 percent by the end of 2020," says Zachskorn. The bottom line is there is no reason to whine, Tremmel says: "Sleeves up and on." (Michaele Heske)