As of: January 23, 2024, 6:00 a.m
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It's all in the small print: Since January 1st, the previous full VAT rate of 19 percent has applied again in the catering industry.
© Marcus Brandt/dpa
Many Erdinger restaurateurs are outraged that the federal government increased the VAT again from seven to 19 percent at the turn of the year - as announced.
The innkeepers immediately felt compelled to raise prices.
ERding - The tax - temporarily reduced during Corona times - has been raised again for three weeks now.
But how do restaurant operators in the district deal with this?
We asked around.
Michael Hildebrandt reports that the prices at the Gasthaus zum Erdinger Weißbräu have increased by around 60 to 80 cents each.
“But that is still far below the actual VAT increase,” asserts the operations manager.
The reactions of the guests still remained to be seen, as the catering industry always records a slight decline at this time of year.
The increase in VAT is currently far from the only problem.
Higher cost of goods and the increased minimum wage turned the price spiral even higher and caused price increases.
Andreas Fehlberger, head of the Hotel am Schlossberg in Aufhausen, complains about the government's short-term decision.
He also made “a small adjustment” to his prices, although he did not quantify this in more detail because, in addition to the VAT increase, the purchase prices for food, for example, also rose.
“But it is particularly important to me to retain my employees,” he says, citing another reason for the increase.
In principle, Fehlberger, who is deputy district chairman of the hotel and restaurant association in the Erding district, is calm: “You just have to wait and see what the next few months bring.”
Anton Müller, operator of the Reiter-Bräu inn in Wartenberg and host of several folk festivals in the area, sees it similarly.
He is also optimistic and does not expect any major losses.
Müller has decided to increase the price of food by around ten percent.
“This is a very sensitive topic, but in the end you have no choice because as a restaurateur you cannot bear the higher tax rate alone,” he says.
The reactions of his guests remain to be seen for now, but Müller can certainly imagine that at some point many will no longer be able to afford the high prices.
“Since we also offer a delivery service, some customers have already asked what VAT is charged on it,” he explains.
The festival host cannot yet provide any specific information about the festival.
This is because the prices are recalculated every year.
“Food prices are also going up overall due to diesel surcharges and so on,” he reports.
Magdalena Fellermair