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CRIME

HypoVereinsbank raided by police for tax fraud

German prosecutors and tax police have raided the offices of HypoVereinsbank, the German arm of Italian bank UniCredit, on suspicion of tax fraud, the bank and prosecutors said on Thursday.

Published: 29 November 2012 11:28 CET
HypoVereinsbank raided by police for tax fraud
Photo: DPA

“The offices of UniCredit Bank AG (HypoVereinsbank) in Munich were searched yesterday (Wednesday) on the orders of the public prosecutors in Frankfurt, who are investigating suspicions of tax evasion,” the bank said in a statement.

A spokesman for prosecutors told AFP the raids were carried out by 60-70 officers at 13 different premises, both business and private, around the country. He declined to reveal any further details.

HypoVereinsbank explained that the tax authorities were questioning the award of capital gains tax credits in connection with share transactions carried out between 2006 and 2008 shortly before annual dividend payments were due.

The bank insisted it is cooperating with the authorities and keen to clear up the allegations.

A report in the daily Süddeutsche Zeitung put the estimated loss to the tax authorities at €124 million ($161 million).

HypoVereinsbank is Germany’s sixth-biggest bank and was acquired by UniCredit at the end of 2005.

AFP/mry

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COST OF LIVING

Families in Germany to see next child benefit hike in 2025, says finance minister

Finance Minister Christian Lindner, of the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), says he expects the next increase for child allowance or Kindergeld to take place next year, as bickering among German coalition parties continues.

Published: 25 April 2024 09:57 CEST
Families in Germany to see next child benefit hike in 2025, says finance minister

The minister, who was discussing relief for families in Germany in an interview with Redaktions Netzwerk Deutschland (RND), said that Kindergeld will be increased in 2025 but didn’t say how much it would increase. 

“For the exact amount, we will have to wait for the subsistence level report in autumn,” the FDP politician said.

Lindner added that there are also plans to compensate for inflation in wage and income tax in 2025.

“Together with an increase in child benefits, there will also be a further increase in the basic tax-free allowance and the child allowance in wage and income tax in 2025,’ he said. He estimated the volume of relief from these tax cuts to support German residents at a time of high inflation at a “single-digit billion amount”.

However, the interview also revealed further cracks within the coalition government, which has been arguing about several topics recently including unemployment benefits. 

READ ALSO: Why a push for tougher sanctions in Germany is sparking a coalition row

Lindner said his party continues to reject a hike in child benefit called for by coalition partners the SPD and the Greens at the beginning of 2024.

“Child benefit was already increased significantly and disproportionately in 2023 in order to relieve the burden on families,” he said. “That was a great success. That is why the next increase is not due until 2025.”

Lindner also reiterated his call for child tax free exemptions (known as the Kinderfreibetrag) to be increased retroactively to the beginning of 2024, which he says is necessary for constitutional reasons. “Unfortunately, the SPD and the Greens have blocked this so far,” the FDP politician lamented.

There has been a row in the coalition over this matter for some time. 

Lindner wants to increase the tax-free allowance for families with children without increasing child benefit at the same time. However, the SPD considers this to be unfair because it would only relieve the burden on families with high incomes. For families with lower incomes. child benefit is the main factor. The FDP argues that the increase it wants to see is intended to follow on from the hike in child benefit from 2023.

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner.

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Kay Nietfeld

Parents in Germany automatically receive either child benefit or child tax exemptions depending on their income. The Finanzamt (tax office) looks at each tax return to determine whether the Kinderfreibetrag or Kindergeld makes the most sense for the family in question. 

READ ALSO: 

The tax-free allowance is often only worthwhile for families bringing in higher incomes. It was increased from €6,024 to €6,384on January 1st and would rise retroactively to €6,612 under the Finance Minister’s plans.

Child benefit or Kindergeld rose to a standardised €250 per month and child in 2023.

As The Local has been reporting, the German government has agreed to replace Kindergeld with Kindergrundsicherung or ‘basic child allowance’ from 2025.

The new system will see those with a greater financial need granted additional benefits. It means all benefits including a basic allowance, a supplemental allowance, and parts of an “education and participation package” will be bundled into the Kindergrundsicherung.

READ ALSO: What families in Germany need to know about Kindergeld’s replacement from 2025

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