Overview
- The reduced VAT on on‑premise meals took effect nationwide on January 1 after Bundesrat approval, restoring the 7 percent rate that expired at the end of 2023.
- Industry group Dehoga frames the move as tax fairness versus takeaway food and says it gives operators room for investment without resolving all pressures.
- Rising costs continue to squeeze margins, with associations citing about a 30 percent increase in personnel, energy and goods since 2022 and a higher statutory minimum wage of €13.90 now in force.
- Most restaurants are expected to hold prices rather than cut them, with Thuringia’s Dehoga saying the relief mainly helps prevent further increases.
- Benefits appear uneven, as large chains such as McDonald’s have reduced select menu prices while many independent and rural eateries remain financially strained; Thuringia projects roughly €72 million a year in sector relief and Baden‑Württemberg has seen over 3,000 closures since 2019.