Corona, energy flat rate, gas levy: What you need to know for the fall

Created: 04/08/2022, 19:30

By: Lisa Mayerhofer

In September comes the energy price flat rate for employees - and then in October the gas surcharge for consumers.

An overview of important innovations in autumn.

Berlin – From September, measures such as the fuel discount and the nine-euro ticket from the federal government’s relief package will no longer apply.

The energy price flat rate for employed persons should then come for this.

In addition, consumers will have to adjust to higher energy costs in October – partly because of the gas levy – and new corona regulations.

Energy flat rate: 300 euros gross coming in September

In September, there will be a cash injection from the state for those in employment: the one-off payment of 300 euros gross is to be transferred to every income tax-paying employee with their salary this month.

However, the energy allowance is subject to income tax, which means that only employees whose taxable income remains below the basic tax allowance of around 10,000 euros benefit from the full amount.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the employees will receive an average of 193 euros net from the energy flat rate.

Depending on the salary, the range of deductions is between zero and 142.42 euros.

The self-employed can deduct the amount from the tax prepayment.

Anyone who has no income - such as many pensioners or Hartz IV recipients - does not receive the lump sum.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the employees will receive an average of 193 euros net from the energy flat rate.

(Archive image) © Fotostand/Imago

The gas surcharge will be introduced in October

At the same time, it is advisable for consumers to save the money they receive: they will need it to pay their energy bills.

Because in October the state gas surcharge for companies and private households is to be introduced;

In addition, market-driven drastic price increases will reach customers.

Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) recently named a range of 1.5 to 5 cents per kilowatt hour in which the gas levy is expected to move.

For an average four-person household with a consumption of 20,000 kilowatt hours per year, that would be 300 to 1000 euros.

Because of the high financial burden for consumers, the coalition is currently discussing what additional relief there must be and whether this must come at the same time as the levy.

Among other things, an abolition of value added tax on the levy is being examined. 

New Corona rules for autumn and winter

In addition, in August the federal government presented a multi-stage protection concept to contain the corona pandemic in autumn and winter.

The mask requirement in air and long-distance public transport should continue to apply nationwide.

The mask and test requirement for access to hospitals and care facilities should also remain in place, albeit with certain exceptions.

The isolation obligation for corona infected people and the facility-related vaccination obligation will not be shaken, it said.

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According to the new corona rules, the federal states can also decide on further measures to protect the health system and critical infrastructure, as stated in a statement by the two ministries.

This includes, among other things, a mask requirement in local public transport, in publicly accessible rooms and in schools from the fifth grade, provided this is necessary to maintain regulated face-to-face classes.

The regulation is to be passed by the Bundestag in the first week of September and will apply from October 1st to April 7th next year.

The previous regulation, which would expire on September 23, is to be extended until the end of September.

The changes are to be incorporated into an ongoing legislative process, and the government is expected to adopt a so-called formulation aid for the coalition factions on August 24th.