North Rhine-Westphalia: Tax estimate not a reliable basis

Düsseldorf/Berlin (dpa/lnw) - The North Rhine-Westphalia Association of Towns and Municipalities sees no reliable basis in the optimistic autumn tax estimate.

North Rhine-Westphalia: Tax estimate not a reliable basis

Düsseldorf/Berlin (dpa/lnw) - The North Rhine-Westphalia Association of Towns and Municipalities sees no reliable basis in the optimistic autumn tax estimate. "Rarely has a forecast been so uncertain," said Managing Director Christof Sommer on Thursday. "Not a cent will be left of the additional tax revenue for the municipalities, the costs of the crisis will be many times higher." Cities and municipalities also have to pay three times the price for energy. Investments in climate protection, transport or digitization that cannot be postponed would become unaffordable due to inflation. "Without far-reaching financial support from the federal and state governments, the municipalities will very soon be unable to act."

The tax experts expect additional revenue of 8.9 billion euros nationwide for 2023. That would mean record revenues of 937.3 billion euros. In 2024, tax revenue should then increase to around 993 billion euros. According to Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP), there is still little room for maneuver - the additional income has been more than used up by relief packages for 2023 and 2024. This year, however, tax revenue is expected to be 1.7 billion euros lower than predicted.