2023: What will change in the new year
Created: 01/01/2023, 08:00
By: Michaela Breuninger
The new year brings with it a lot of changes (symbolic photo).
© PantherMedia/Boris Zerwann
Region – The year 2023 has begun: Like every new year, it brings numerous changes and innovations with it.
Citizens' allowance, price controls, tax exemptions, sick leave and much more - many will come into force as early as January 1, 2023, some later in the year.
Some of these have an impact on citizens' wallets.
An overview of the most important innovations in 2023.
Citizens' allowance:
From January 1st, Hartz IV (unemployment benefit II) will be replaced by the new citizens' allowance.
This increases the monthly basic security for single people to 502 euros.
The allowance for savings has also been increased to up to EUR 15,000 per person.
Child benefit:
The child benefit increases to 250 euros per month and child on January 1st.
Child allowance:
The child allowance will also be increased to 8,952 euros on January 1, 2023.
Additional earnings limit:
By eliminating the so-called additional earnings limit, early retirees can earn as much as they want without reducing their pension.
Midi jobs:
Here the earnings limit is increasing.
Employees in so-called midi jobs may earn 2,000 euros instead of 1,600 euros in the future.
Up to this earnings limit, employees have to pay fewer social security contributions.
Home office flat rate:
Many people still work in the home office.
Instead of 600 euros, up to 1,260 euros can be claimed in the tax return.
Sick leave:
The “yellow note” is history.
From the new year, sick leave from a doctor will be issued by means of an electronic certificate of incapacity for work (eAU).
The essential information is then forwarded directly from the health insurance company to the employer.
Electricity and gas price brake:
The planned electricity and gas price brake should take effect for the first time from March 2023 - retrospectively also for the months of January and February.
However, the brake does not apply to the entire energy consumption, but only to the first 80 percent of the previous year's consumption.
For private households, the gas price is capped at twelve cents/kWh.
The electricity price has an upper limit of 40 cents/kWh for a basic consumption of 80 percent.
Photovoltaic systems:
There will be simplifications for the owners of solar systems due to the elimination of the EEG surcharge from January 1, 2023.
Anyone who owns a photovoltaic system and produces and sells electricity can now bill more easily than before.
Due to the cancellation of the EEG levy, the production meter can be omitted from some existing PV systems.
For new photovoltaic systems that go into operation from January 1, 2023, the technical requirement that only a maximum of 70 percent of the nominal PV power may be fed into the public grid will also be abolished.
Property tax return:
A recalculated property tax is to apply in Germany from 2025.
Thanks to the extension of the deadline, homeowners have to submit their property tax return by January 31, 2023.
Reusable containers :
from 1 January 2023, catering establishments, delivery services and cafés must also offer take-away food and drinks in reusable containers (with a deposit).
When selling on the street, restaurants, snack bars and cafés must offer reusable packaging as an alternative to single-use packaging.
This is intended to reduce the consumption of to-go packaging.
Driver's license:
In the coming years, many Germans will have to exchange their driver's license.
Until January 19, 2023, all driving license holders who were born between 1959 and 1964 must exchange their old driving license for an EU driving license card.
E-car:
The state subsidy for pure electric cars will be reduced from 6,000 euros to 4,500 euros and even completely abolished for plug-in hybrids.
As of September 1, 2023, funding will be limited to private individuals.
Autogas:
The tax concession for autogas (LPG) will expire and the regular tax rate of 409 euros per ton will apply.
However, according to the ADAC, these taxes are cheaper than for petrol or diesel fuels.
Motor vehicle insurance:
At the beginning of the year, the type classes for vehicles will be reclassified, which will also change the contributions for motor vehicle insurance.
49-euro ticket:
The 9-euro ticket was very well received.
So that more people can switch to rail, a 49-euro ticket should be available (probably in the spring) as its successor.
With the Deutschlandticket, every connection in local transport can then be used every month.
Tobacco tax:
Smokers have to dig deeper into their pockets for the blue haze.
Taxes on cigarettes, cigarillos and tobacco are increasing.
Packs of 20 cigarettes will cost an average of 18 cents more in future.
Electrical devices:
A new EU law is to come into force in 2023 with the right to repair electrical devices.
Smartphones, tablets or laptops, for example, currently have very little interchangeable hardware - even simply replacing the battery is usually no longer possible.
Croatia:
Good news for vacationers.
In Croatia, the euro will be the official currency from January 1, 2023.
As part of the changeover, new euro coins will also be introduced, which show the country's special embossing.
The new year brings with it a lot of changes and new things - sometimes this provides relief and sometimes the citizens have to dig deeper into their pockets.
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