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CHANGES

Tax deadlines, banknotes and pollen: Everything that changes in May 2019 in Germany

From extra time for tax returns to cheaper calls to European countries, there’s lots of changes in store in Germany in May.

Published: 26 April 2019 16:51 CEST
Updated: 29 April 2019 16:30 CEST
Tax deadlines, banknotes and pollen: Everything that changes in May 2019 in Germany
Photo: DPA

More time for your tax declaration

Very few people enjoy doing their taxes. So it might come as good news to discover that this year you have more time to sort out receipts, forms and invoices. Previously, the deadline for submitting your tax declaration (Steuererklärung), if you did it on your own without a tax advisor, was May 31st.

However, from this year the deadline to submit the previous year's earnings has been changed to July 31st. So that's two months additional time.

There’s also extra time for those who hire a tax advisor. Previously, the deadline was December 31st. But it’s been changed to the end of February the following year.

SEE ALSO: The ultimate guide to paying your taxes in Germany

Cash change

New Euro banknotes will come into circulation on May 28th. The four first banknotes in the new Europa series, the €5, €10, €20 and €50, started circulating in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017 respectively. And now the €100 and €200 will start circulating at the end of May.

The new notes have improved security features in a bid to stop counterfeiters bringing fakes into circulation. They are also more durable.

The new banknotes are called the Europa series because two of their security features contain a portrait of Europa. This figure from Greek mythology was included in the notes because it has an obvious link to the continent of Europe and also adds a human touch to the banknotes. The image of Europa was taken from a vase in the Louvre in Paris.

SEE ALSO: How diesel bans have ignited a debate about dirty tricks and dodgy money

The European Central Bank has decided to stop producing the €500 banknote, although the first series €500 remains legal tender.

Meanwhile, consumers do not have to worry about their old 100 and 200 bills, because they remain valid. The central banks are gradually replacing them.

Photo: DPA

Environmental protection

The government's amended Federal Emission Control Act will come into force in May. The new regulations generally classify diesel driving bans as disproportionate if the nitrogen oxide in the air only slightly exceeds the limit.

Vehicles with new Euro 6 diesel signs will also not be affected by any bans, the same goes for retrofitted buses, refuse collection and fire brigade vehicles, as well as trade and delivery vehicles.

SEE ALSO: Germany eases diesel vehicle bans, angering enviornmentalists

Calls to be cheaper

Although roaming charges for making calls, sending text messages and surfing the net have been a thing of the past since June 2017, mobile operators are still charging a substantial amount for calls from home networks abroad. The EU now wants to change that and cap costs. The charges for a telephone call within the EU are to fall as early as May 15th, 2019.

That means that calls from Germany to other EU countries should not cost more than 19 cents per minute, and SMS messages will cost no more than six cents. However, the EU Council will have to agree to the new rules beforehand – but this is considered a mere formality.

The maximum applies regardless of whether the calls are made from mobiles or landline phones.

Help for hayfever sufferers

Good news for pollen allergy sufferers and asthmatics in Bavaria: in the future, it will be easier for those affected to find pollen information.

On May 22nd, the world's first electronic pollen information network (ePIN) will be launched, providing up-to-date and accurate real-time data on the pollen count in specific locations, and pollen types. Allergy sufferers can call up the measurement data online via the State Office for Health and Food Safety.

Although the system is initially only available in Bavaria, other federal states could follow in the southern state’s footsteps.

Photo: DPA

SEE ALSO: Pollen at 'unusually high levels amid early spring in Germany

New coins for collectors

Since 2012, Germany has been regularly issuing series of silver coins to mark the 200th anniversary of the Grimms Fairy Tales. The eighth issue of the coins branded with the motif “The brave little tailor” will be launched on May 16th. The €20 silver coins have already whipped up enthusiasm among collectors.

The first volume of the fairy tale collection by the Brothers Grimm, Jackob and Wilhelm, was published on December 20th, 1812. The much-loved stories have been part of the UNESCO World Document Heritage since 2005.

Some workers to get wage increase

The minimum wage will rise again in May 2019 – at least for painters and varnishers. While the minimum wage for unskilled workers is currently €10.60 per hour, they will earn at least €10.85 from May onwards.

In addition, the minimum wage for journeymen (skilled workers who have completed an apprenticeship) will go up in the eastern German regions. From May they will receive €12.95 – that is 35 cents less than in the West.

Make the most of public holidays

In May there are two public holidays: Labour Day (Wednesday May 1st) and Ascension Day (Thursday May 30th). So make the most of your holiday allowance by taking the ‘bridge days' (Brückentage) off – those are the days off in between the public holiday and the weekend. It can help to make your holidays go further.

SEE ALSO: How you can make the most of Germany's 2019 public holidays

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LIVING IN GERMANY

Living in Germany: Battles over Bürgergeld, rolling the ‘die’ and carnival lingo

From the push to reform long-term unemployment benefits to the lingo you need to know as Carnival season kicks off, we look at the highlights of life in Germany.

Published: 14 November 2022 09:54 CET
Living in Germany: Battles over Bürgergeld, rolling the 'die' and carnival lingo

Deadlock looms as debates over Bürgergeld heat up 

Following a vote in the Bundestag on Thursday, the government’s planned reforms to long-term unemployment benefits are one step closer to becoming reality. Replacing the controversial Hartz IV system, Bürgergeld (or Citizens’ Allowance) is intended to be a fair bit easier on claimants.

Not only will the monthly payment be raised from €449 to €502, but jobseekers will also be given a grace period of two years before checks are carried out on the size of their apartment or savings of up to €60,000. The system will also move away from sanctions with a so-called “trust period” of six months, during which benefits won’t be docked at all – except in very extreme circumstances. 

Speaking in parliament, Labour Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) said the spirit of the new system was “solidarity, trust and encouragement” and praised the fact that Bürgergeld would help people get back into the job market with funding for training and education. But not everyone is happy about the changes. In particular, politicians from the opposition CDU/CSU parties have responded with outrage at the move away from sanctions.

CDU leader Friedrich Merz has even branded the system a step towards “unconditional Basic Income” and argued that nobody will be incentivised to return to work. 

The CDU and CSU are now threatening to block the Bürgergeld legislation when it’s put to a vote in the Bundesrat on Monday. With the conservatives controlling most of the federal states – and thus most of the seats in the upper house – things could get interesting. Be sure to keep an eye out for our coverage in the coming weeks to see how the saga unfolds. 

Tweet of the week

When you first start learning German, picking the right article to use can truly be a roll of the “die” – so we’re entirely on board with this slightly unconventional way to decide whether you’re in a “der”, “die”, or “das” situation. (Warning: this may not improve your German.) 

Where is this?

Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Boris Roessler

Residents of Frankfurt am Main and the surrounding area will no doubt recognise this as the charming town of Kronberg, which is nestled at the foot of the Taunus mountains.

This atmospheric scene was snapped on Friday morning, when a drop in temperatures saw Kronberg and surrounding forests shrouded in autumnal fog.

After a decidedly warm start to November, the mercury is expected to drop into single digits over the weekend. 

Did you know?

November 11th marked the start of carnival season in Germany. But did you know that there’s a whole set of lingo to go along with the tradition? And it all depends on where you are. First of all, the celebration isn’t called the same thing everywhere. In the Rhineland, it’s usually called Karneval, while people in Bavaria or Saxony tend to call it Fasching. Those in Hesse and Saarland usually call it Fastnacht. 

And depending on where you are, there are different things to shout. The ‘fools call’ you’ll hear in Cologne is “Alaaf!” If you move away from Cologne, you’ll hear “Helau!” This is the traditional cry in the carnival strongholds of Düsseldorf and Mainz, as well as in some other German cities.

In the Swabian-Alemannic language region in the southwest of the country, people yell “Narri-Narro”, which means “I’m a fool, you’re a fool”. In Saarland at the French border, they shout “Alleh hopp!”, which is said to originate from the French language. 

Lastly, if someone offers you a Fastnachtskrapfe, say yes because it’s a jelly-filled carnival donut. And if you’re offered a Bützchen? It’s your call, but know that it’s a little kiss given to strangers!

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