Minimum wage, corona bonus, mandatory deposit: that will change for your wallet in 2022
Created: 12/31/2021, 06:27 AM
By: Patricia Huber
With the turn of the year there are also a few important innovations in terms of finances.
© IlluPics / Imago Images
The new year is just around the corner and with it numerous changes for consumers, from the minimum wage and child allowance to the basic tax allowance.
An overview.
Munich - In 2022, numerous innovations and legislative changes will come into force, many of which will also have an impact on Germans' wallets - both positively and negatively.
While minimum wage recipients have reason to be happy, drivers are likely to be annoyed.
Minimum wage will rise twice in 2022
The statutory minimum wage will rise from January 1, 2022 from EUR 9.60 to EUR 9.82 per hour.
That's not that much at first, but on July 1, 2022 it will rise again to 10.45 euros.
With the traffic light coalition, there should be a significant increase.
In the coalition agreement, the SPD, Greens and FDP have set twelve euros.
Corona bonus possible until the end of March
There is also another tax benefit.
Because employers can still pay out a tax-free Corona bonus * to their employees until March 31.
The limit, however, is 1,500 euros.
So if such a bonus has already been paid in 2021, the sum of 1,500 euros must not be exceeded.
Deutsche Post: Postage for letters is becoming more expensive
Consumers are also expecting a change at Deutsche Post *.
At the turn of the year, letters and postcards become more expensive.
A standard letter should then cost 85 cents and a postcard 70 cents.
The letter was previously 80 cents and the postcard 60 cents.
The new stamps have been on sale since the beginning of December, but the old ones remain valid, but must be franked with additional stamps so that the total is correct in the end.
The new prices will initially apply until 2024.
Tax: basic tax credit increases
But there is also good news for everyone else who receives more than the minimum wage.
Because the basic tax-free amount will rise to 9,948 euros in 2022.
In 2021 it was 9,744 euros.
Income tax only has to be paid from this exemption.
Child allowance: more money for low-income families
Low-income families can look forward to a little more money in 2022.
Because the child allowance, which is paid in addition to child benefit, increases from 205 euros to 209 euros per month, per child.
Energy prices rise: CO2 tax is increased
But bad news also awaits in the New Year - especially for drivers.
Because the CO2 tax increases from 25 euros to 30 euros per ton of CO2.
For consumers, this means higher heating oil, diesel and petrol prices.
According to estimates, this could mean around 1.5 cents per liter more at the gas station.
EEG surcharge falls, but electricity prices remain high
In contrast to the CO2 tax, the EEG surcharge should decrease by 43 percent.
This surcharge should promote the expansion of renewable energies.
Each end consumer has to pay this to his electricity consumer, who then forwards it to the network operator.
In January 2022, the EEG surcharge will be reduced from 6.5 cents per kilowatt hour to 3.723 cents per kilowatt hour.
That is the lowest level in ten years.
Nevertheless, customers should not expect lower electricity prices, as the procurement costs of the electricity suppliers have risen, explains the comparison
portal Verivox.
In future, a deposit will also be required for juices
There will also be an important change in the supermarket from January 1st: The deposit requirement will be expanded.
If juices in plastic bottles were previously exempt, a deposit of 25 cents has to be paid for them as well.
All disposable plastic beverage bottles and cans are then affected - regardless of the content.
(ph) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.