“Markus Lanz” takes a close look at the German tax system.
In the debate, tax cuts and increases are weighed against each other.
Hamburg – Germany's tax revenues regularly reach new highs.
Citizens still have to struggle to secure their livelihood.
Markus Lanz would therefore like to know how fair our tax system is.
FDP politician Johannes Vogel explains that the German model is not perfect, but that it follows an understandable principle for income tax, for example: "Strong shoulders carry more than weak ones." The member of the Bundestag therefore finds the system to be fair, even if it is weak in his eyes and middle incomes are burdened too heavily.
"The people should be relieved," Vogel suggested.
+
The deputy FDP federal chairman Johannes Vogel comments on “Markus Lanz” on his party’s tax and financial policy concepts.
He says: "We don't have an income problem, but rather an expenditure problem."
© Cornelia Lehmann/ZDF
Tax debate with Markus Lanz
Sarna Röser agrees with the previous speaker and rates the German tax system as fair.
At the same time, she criticizes the high taxes for employees, who, in her view, should have more net than gross.
When it comes to taxes, Roman Pletter sees the top tax rate as a major evil that takes effect far too early.
He finds it unfair that people who work a lot have to pay more taxes than those who have merely inherited their money.
Marlene Engelhorn will inherit an amount in the double-digit millions in the near future and is still upset about the inheritance tax, which she believes is too low.
She also thinks it is wrong that an inheritance is always viewed as a private matter, even though the taxes from it benefit the public.
Entrepreneur at "Markus Lanz": Wealth is not equal to wealth
Röser, heiress to a family business, warns against generalizing discounts.
A distinction must be made between liquid and fixed assets.
Her own assets are linked to her company, for example.
She is therefore unable to pay many taxes from her inheritance as she needs the capital to keep the business running.
Pletter is asking for a solution on this.
The state could install itself as a silent partner in the first five to ten years.
Only then would the inheritance tax be due.
If this still does not succeed, Pletter believes that the entrepreneur has mismanaged the business.
Tax expert Christoph Trautvetter tends to criticize companies for holding back the assets they have earned instead of reinvesting them and thus exploring new sources of income.
+
From left: Markus Lanz, Johannes Vogel, Sarna Röser, Christoph Trautvetter, Roman Pletter, Marlene Engelhorn (Shifte).
© Cornelia Lehmann/ZDF
Röser Trautvetter pulls this tooth immediately.
She refers to the corona pandemic, which she and her company would probably not have survived without the existing savings.
The climate crisis is also a major challenge for the corporations.
FDP politician positions himself against tax increases
Meanwhile, Engelhorn describes the wealth tax as a niche topic because it only affects five percent of the population.
Nevertheless, it is often discussed, which according to Engelhorn shows how much power rich people have.
They are allowed to debate what happens to their money while the worker is denied that privilege.
"Markus Lanz" - these were his guests on March 14th
Johannes Vogel
, politician (FDP)
Roman Pletter
, journalist ("Die Zeit")
Marlene Engelhorn
, heiress to millions
Sarna Röser
, entrepreneur
Christoph Trautvetter
, tax expert
While Pletter agrees with her, Vogel steers against it.
Germany is already a "high-tax country" anyway, which is why he advocates tax cuts rather than increases.
The deputy federal chairman of the FDP does not want to use the inheritance tax to endanger families and companies, since we are particularly dependent on the companies.
Röser advises against letting the discussion about inheritance tax degenerate into a debate about envy.
Instead, she wanted to focus on cohesion.
She also reminded that in terms of taxes, there is no revenue problem in our country.
However, the income would “trickle away” in the bureaucracy.
A statement that does not evoke resistance in the group.
Million heiress criticizes guest list at "Markus Lanz"
Since it concerns many of his viewers, the moderator wants to know why the top tax rate in Germany already applies to an income of 60,000 euros.
Trautvetter replies that in the past the state would have focused on average salaries.
According to the expert, the rich people who earn far more than 60,000 euros hardly have to pay taxes on their returns.
Trautvetter would therefore prefer to increase the top tax rate to 100,000 or 200,000 euros in order to relieve the middle income bracket.
Vogel welcomes this proposal because the middle of society would be additionally burdened by additional taxes such as the real estate transfer tax.
However, Lanz reminds us that the rich people who pay their taxes properly are not the big problem.
Much more would have to be closed loopholes that make it possible not to pay taxes.
Engelhorn heiress agrees with Markus Lanz
Engelhorn, who admitted at the beginning of the show that her ancestors used such tax tricks to increase their fortune, agrees with the moderator.
She also emphasizes that money always goes hand in hand with power, since influence can be bought.
Engelhorn also uses her argument to criticize the guest list.
Although the working class bears a large part of the tax burden, no representative has been invited to the show.
In conclusion, Trautvetter explains how companies can minimize their own tax burden.
For many people, Germany is a tax haven because the municipalities are allowed to decide independently on the amount of trade tax.
A group can simply settle in a specific municipality with a few employees in order to benefit from the favorable conditions.
"Markus Lanz" - The conclusion of the show
The German tax system does not need a general overhaul.
There is still enough to optimize.
For example, medium-sized companies would have to be given more relief through a higher top tax rate.
In addition, the state should tax private inheritances more heavily in order to cushion part of the tax burden.
(Kevin Richau)
