Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner wants to make tax returns easier for citizens as soon as possible. The FDP chairman announced this in the newspapers of the Funke media group. To this end, the declarations should be offered to taxpayers in such a way that data that the authorities already have at their disposal are already included in the declarations. It would then no longer be necessary for citizens to search for every single piece of information in their files. The government would thereby realize one of the election promises of the FDP.
“We are now taking the necessary steps to get this relief into practice as quickly as possible,” said Lindner. The finance minister wants to tackle a goal from the coalition agreement between the SPD, the Greens and the FDP, which states: “Digital processes should make it easier for citizens to meet their tax obligations, for example through pre-filled tax returns (Easy Tax). . ” The contact between taxpayers and tax authorities should ultimately become completely digital.
The home office exemption should apply permanently
Regarding the tax deductibility for the home office, Lindner told the Funke newspapers: “I think it is conceivable that we will turn the exception rule into a permanent rule.” Many employees wanted more self-determination. “I applaud and encourage that,” he said. So far, the home office regulation only applies to the period of the pandemic. Anyone who does not have a separate study can deduct a flat rate of five euros per day in the home office for 2021 – a maximum of 600 euros can be claimed. In the case of a separate study that is used for at least 90 percent of the work, the actual costs can be deducted.
Lindner also wants to advance “the structuring of the tax class for women”. In an interview with the Funke group, he said that he had the subject of the “part-time trap” on his radar. The Ampel-Coalition wants to prevent especially women who work part-time after having a child, for example, from having problems returning full-time because employers do not want it or it is not financially worthwhile. Lindner announced that he would approach the federal states at the beginning of the new year and campaign for a quick solution.