Spouse splitting
Spouse splitting: Clear rejection by Lindner
The Minister of Finance clarified that there should still be tax breaks for newlyweds. photo
© Felix Kästle/dpa
Lars Klingbeil brings a partial abolition of spouse splitting into play. For this he gets support from his own ranks – but the finance minister clearly opposes it.
The FDP chairman Christian Lindner has a timely abolition of the Spouse splittings are rejected. “That will not happen in this election period of the German Bundestag,” said the finance minister in BR24’s “Interview of the Week”.
The step was neither agreed in the coalition nor fair for the taxpayers. “The working middle class in our country is already bearing a heavy burden and must not be burdened any further. I see that as an election campaign tune for the year 2025.”
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil had proposed the partial abolition of spouse splitting instead of savings in parental allowance, triggering discussions within the traffic light coalition. “In this way we would put an end to the antiquated tax model that favors the classic distribution of roles between men and women. And the state would save money,” he told the editorial network Germany.
Support for Klingbeil from Lower Saxony
With spouse splitting, the joint income of a couple is halved, the income tax due is calculated and the tax liability is then doubled. This is particularly useful for couples where one earns a lot and the other a little.
Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Stephan Weil supports the proposal by SPD leader Lars Klingbeil. “The marriage splitting from the Adenauer period has the image in mind that the woman is at home and takes care of home, stove and child, while the man raises the family income. This attitude has changed radically,” said Weil of the German Press Agency in Hannover.
Women and men should have equal rights in work and family, said the SPD politician. There are also many partnerships that are extremely stable but do not require a marriage certificate. “Therefore, the question is justified as to whether this tax regulation is still up to date.”
The head of government described it as sensible that Klingbeil expressly referred his initiative only to new marriages. “That doesn’t offend the couples who have adjusted to it,” Weil said.