Black limousines are parked in front of the Bellevue Palace in Berlin.
Image: Soeren Stache/dpa
Because users of company cars often pay less tax than they actually drive, the state waives billions every year. That should change in order to relieve citizens elsewhere, says Omid Nouripour.
uIn order to finance additional relief for citizens, Green Party leader Omid Nouripour also wants a reform of the company car privilege. “When financing the relief measures, you also have to talk about reducing climate-damaging subsidies. A reform of the company car privilege is overdue,” he told the German Press Agency.
If you can also use your company car privately, you have what is known as a pecuniary benefit that must be taxed. If no logbook is kept, the monthly flat rate is one percent of the gross list price of the vehicle. According to the Federal Environment Agency, the actual monetary benefit for the user is often significantly higher. According to this, the state evades taxes of at least three billion euros annually.
New relief package
In view of the sharp rise in energy prices, the coalition is currently discussing additional relief for citizens. Nouripour said that targeted relief is needed in parallel with the gas surcharge. “This means that if the gas surcharge works, people need to know what measures they can expect. We will not be able to absorb the entire burden.” A relief package with targeted measures for small and medium incomes is needed. To finance a new relief package, the Greens leader also spoke out in favor of an excess profit tax.
The state gas levy from October will make gas bills more expensive. With the surcharge, importers will be able to pass on procurement costs to consumers from October due to the severe reduction in Russian gas supplies.
