Overview
- Statutory minimum wage rises to €13.90 per hour on January 1, with a further increase to €14.60 set for 2027.
- Contribution assessment ceilings climb to €8,450 per month for pension and unemployment insurance and to €5,812.50 for health and long‑term care (Bundesrat sign‑off pending), and insurers expect the health fund surcharge to edge slightly above 3 percent.
- The basic tax‑free allowance increases to €12,348, child benefit moves to €259 per month, the mini‑job limit shifts to €603, and the new Aktivrente lets retirees earn up to €2,000 a month tax‑free from employment.
- The Deutschlandticket price rises from €58 to €63 per month on January 1 and the gas storage levy is abolished, while a permanent VAT cut on restaurant meals to 7 percent is planned from January 1 pending Bundesrat approval.
- A government draft would rename Bürgergeld to Grundsicherung and tighten sanctions, with most provisions proposed to take effect on July 1, 2026 if Parliament and the Bundesrat approve.