Finance Minister Lindner wants to work with the federal states to extend the deadline for submitting property tax. The FDP leader suspects that some are “overwhelmed by the property tax levy”. The declaration is currently due at the end of October.
Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner wants to hold talks with the federal states this week in order to extend the deadline for submitting property tax returns. "So that people don't default, it may be advisable to be realistic," said the FDP leader. "My offer to the countries is to decide together to give people a little more time." So far, only between a quarter and a third of those affected have made the declarations.
According to Lindner, there were software problems. In some cases, however, people also felt very strongly challenged. "Some people, maybe older people, pensioners, are overwhelmed by the property tax." Lindner suggested a "manageable period" of "not many months" for the extension of the deadline. Property tax returns are currently due no later than October 31st.
After the most recent federal-state meeting, the minister cannot understand the hesitation of the federal states in financing the planned relief. North Rhine-Westphalia's Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst justified the wait-and-see attitude with ambiguities about the design of the gas price brake.
"I don't understand that," said Lindner in ntv's "Frühstart", "because the gas price brake and the electricity price brake have been announced". It is clear that this is coming. The federal government is making 200 billion euros available for the economic defense shield until 2024. "This commitment by the federal government alone to avert damage to people and companies should be a signal to the states that they also have to make their contribution," said Lindner.
After the poor result of the federal-state meeting, Lindner was still confident. There will be relief, and the federal states will also make their contribution. In terms of energy policy, the FDP leader once again increased the pressure on the coalition partners: he spoke of five nuclear power plants that should get Germany through the upcoming winter crisis.
But the FDP leader also warned the coalition partners to position themselves clearly on the subject of nuclear energy. "I am convinced that we need all three nuclear power plants that are still connected to the grid for the entire duration of the crisis," said Lindner. "And according to my information, at least two of the nuclear power plants that are no longer online can be brought back." You would then have five safe, climate-friendly power plants that can make an important contribution to reducing prices. "I don't think anyone would understand to do without it these days," said Lindner.
The Federal Minister of Finance made this proposal in connection with the enormous rise in electricity and gas prices. "We have to use our market power on the world markets to reduce the price." In Germany, one must also use all physical capacities to reduce the price of electricity and to limit the generation of electricity from gas.
