Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

LAWS

Explained: Why shops in Germany will soon be forced to give you a receipt

A new law comes into force on January 1st that means bakeries, hairdressers, restaurants and other retailers in Germany will have to issue receipts to customers. Here's why and what people think about it.

Published: 19 December 2019 17:04 CET
Explained: Why shops in Germany will soon be forced to give you a receipt
Do you need a receipt with every purchase? Photo: DPA

When you buy something at the supermarket you're probably asked if you want a receipt with your purchase. But usually at smaller shops, hairdressers, cafes or bakeries it's often the norm to not get a receipt (unless you specifically ask for one).

That's all set to change in Germany.

The “Law on the Protection against Manipulation of Digital Records” (Kassengesetz) , which was passed back in 2016, means from next year German retailers will have a “receipt obligation” (Bon-Zwang or Bon-Pflicht) and must issue a record of the item or service they have sold to customers.

The move is intended to make tax evasion more difficult – but as it means more bureaucracy and paper waste, some people are not happy about it, as German media reported this week. 

Who does the law apply to?

Anyone who sells products of services in exchange for money has to comply with the Kassengesetz.

If the seller doesn't have an electronic cash register they still have to manually record each transaction and make sure the tax office has a way to trace it. 

The receipt when it's given to the customer has to include information such as an invoice number, the serial number of the cash register, the name and address of the seller and the date.

Do I have to keep the receipt?

No. The obligation is on the retailer to issue the receipt and the make it available immediately. There is no legal requirement for customers to take the receipt with them and file it.

READ ALSO: The complete German supermarket survival guide

Photo: DPA

Is there really a point in retailers printing a receipt? Doesn't the cash register log it?

The obligation to issue receipts serves to increase transparency in the fight against tax fraud, as additional data will have to be printed on the receipt compared to the current requirements, authorities say.

In a cash register review or a tax audit it is apparently easier to check whether the business transaction was individually recorded and stored. For example, a comparison of the receipt with the records of the software can reveal any manipulation of the system.

Is everyone okay about this?

No. In fact, there's been a few high profile outspoken critics of the plan.

Federal Economics Minister Peter Altmaier, of the centre-right Christian Democrats, told broadcaster ZDF television's “Morgenmagazin” on Monday: “When I buy a roll, I don't look on the receipt to see if there's any fraud.”

Criticism of the new law also came from the environmental organization BUND. “The till receipt obligation primarily produces mountains of rubbish from non-recyclable and problematic thermal paper till receipts,” said BUND waste expert Rolf Buschmann.

According to German daily Welt, the amount of receipts printed out each year could fill 43 football fields. And if they were laid one behind the other, they would be 2.2 million kilometers long, enough to wrap receipts around the equator 50 times.

“We talk about environmental protection and discuss the reduction of coffee-to-go cups, but then create mountains of waste made of coated paper,” Daniel Schneider of the Central Association of the German Bakery Trade told the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”.

Experts consider sales receipts to be particularly bad for the environment due to them being coated in harmful chemicals.

However, retailers are moving towards using more environmentally friendly sales slip paper.

The Finance Ministry justifies the mandatory issue of receipts with the fact that it will make the work of local tax investigators easier.

Can receipts be sent electronically?

Yes. Receipts can also be issued as e-mails or sent to mobile phones. But it doesn't seem likely that your local baker or small shops will go for this option (at least at first).

Germany is also notorious for being slow on moving forward in the digital world (cash is still king in Deutschland) and places importance on data privacy so many people might feel uncomfortable about handing over their email addresses to retailers.

Can anyone get out of this?

An exception to the rule is possible in rare cases when it's “reasonable” – for example when goods are sold to a large number of people in cash.

Bars or kiosks, for example, which have several walk-in customers, may be exempt from the obligation to record the receipt. To do this, an application must be submitted to the relevant tax office, which can be approved, but also revoked at any time.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

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!

SHOW COMMENTS