Factsheet for measure
DE-2020-13/407
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Updated
– measures in Germany
Deferral of tax payments
Stundung von Steuerzahlungen
Background information
The Federal Government has modified the tax law, in order to help business to stay afloat and improve their financial liquidity. If companies are not able to pay their taxes due to their financial losses in the crisis, they can apply for deferral of their tax payments. This measure is part of the support package to stabilise the German economy and help out firms during the COVID-19 crisis. The package was adopted by the Federal Government at the end of March 2020.
Content of measure
The German Federal Government eased tax rules for companies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. If companies are not able to pay their taxes due to their financial losses in the crisis, they can apply for deferral of their tax payments, without being charged of further interests. The applications need to be sent to local tax authorities by the end of 2020. Though applicants must prove that they are directly affected by the current crisis, they do not have to provide evidence regarding their losses or incurred damages. This measure concerns income, corporate and the sales tax. If needed, the motor vehicle tax can also be postponed.
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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31 January 2022
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On 31 January 2022, the Federal Ministry of Finance prolonged the deadline for businesses to defer their tax payments until the end of June 22 as the COVID-19 pandemic still impacts business in a negative way.
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03 March 2021
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With the introduction of the Social Protection Act 3 in March the Federal Government added the possibility to apply for an extension of tax deferral until 30 September 2021. A further extension until 31 December 2021 is only possible in combination with an instalment contract.
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15 December 2020
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In November and December 2020, the Federal Government prolonged its aid packages and added new elements. Rules to defer taxes in companies negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic were prolonged. Companies who apply for a tax deferral by the end of March 2021 will not have to reimburse their overdue taxes until 30 June 2021.
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10 September 2020
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In the latest tax estimate from September 2020, Federal Minister of Finance Olaf Scholz expects tax revenue for 2020 to decrease by €81.6 billion. In 2021, tax revenue is expected to be €19.6 billion lower than estimated in May 2020. A pre COVID-19 tax revenue level is expected for 2022 at the earliest. Information on how many companies applied for deferral of tax payments is not yet available.
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Use of measure
Initially, the Federal Ministry of Finance estimated that the new tax rules would lead to a decline in tax revenues by 10% at the federal level as well as at the level of the federal states in 2020. Such a decline would equal around €64 billion. Not included in these figures are further tax losses at the municipal level.
At the end of February 2021, the Federal Statistical Office indicated a drop in tax revenue of 11.6% from February 2020 to January 2021. After a significant decline of 14.3% in September 2020, tax revenue rose until the end of the year. The September decline has been attributed to the introduction of tax aid packages related to COVID-19. In another press release from 7 April 2021, the Federal Statistical Office stated that tax revenues declined by 3.8% in 2020 (over the previous year). This step decline is also attributed to the loss in revenues due to the impact of the lockdowns. In addition, the Federal Statistical Office reported at the beginning of October 2021 that business taxes declined in 2020 by 18.2% over 2019.
As announced on 3 April 2023 by the Federal Statistical office, in 2022, municipalities in Germany generated a financing surplus of just under €2.6 billion. The surplus has decreased in comparison to 2021 when it still amounted to €4.6 billion. The energy crisis and housing refugees led to greater expenditures.
Target groups
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Workers
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Businesses
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Citizens
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Does not apply to workers
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Applies to all businesses
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Does not apply to citizens
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Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
Company / Companies
Local / regional government
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National funds
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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Consulted
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Consulted
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Form
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Direct consultation outside a formal body
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Direct consultation outside a formal body
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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Unknown
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Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level
Involvement
German social partners are usually consulted by the Federal Government on broader measures, though no formal tripartite social dialogue structure exist in Germany at the federal level.
Views and reactions
The German Confederation of German Employers' Associations (BDA) supports the measure.
Sources
