Linke demands property tax reform: Who pays more by 2026?

Linke demands property tax reform: Who pays more by 2026?

Ludwig-Erhard-Ring 7, 99099 Erfurt, Deutschland - The discussion about the reform of property tax in Thuringia is gaining drive after the left has brought a new bill into parliament. This stipulates that relief should be effective from January 1, 2026. According to mdr , the left criticizes the current government, which is referred to as a blackberry government, for slow progress in this important matter. According to the deprivation of the law, tenants and home users will pay excessive taxes for another year.

In the draft law, it is also proposed to adjust the taxes for commercial areas in order to strain them more. However, there are no changes in the current draft for residential buildings, since the municipalities should regulate the loads themselves via the lifting rates. This is supported by Steffen Kania, the President of the Thuringian Association of Thuringia, who considers a rushed reform to be disadvantageous and emphasizes that the earliest possible implementation could be realized at the beginning of 2027.

Financial implications of the reform

The planned reform, which is based on the so -called “Saxon model”, could cause a total of around three million euros, as the Secretary of Finance Julian Vonarb reports. Above all, two million euros are scheduled for the hiring of temporary staff in the tax administration. In addition, there are costs for sending around 865,000 new modest as well as for necessary programming work.

Currently, the new calculation of property tax, which has been in effect since January 1, 2025, often leads to higher taxes for residential buildings in Thuringia, while commercially used buildings are usually less stressed. The property tax remains an important source of income for the municipalities that achieve annual income of around 240 million euros.

data protection and civil rights

In the context of the reform, data protection aspects are also important. On the Website for property tax reform it is pointed out to the recording and storage of user data. There are various rights for users in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), such as the right to information and correction of personal data as well as the right to deletion. Inquiries to exercise these rights are examined by the Thuringian Ministry of Finance.

Overall, the debate about the property tax reform in Thuringia shows the complex challenges and different interests that insist on political, financial and social level. In view of the outstanding steps, it is crucial to keep an eye on the quality and time frame of the reform in order to find a fair and balanced solution for all affected parties.