How is the pension going on in Germany? Even in the run -up to the upcoming federal elections, necessary reforms are repeatedly discussed. A proposal now comes from Brandenburg that would help some seniors with their financial needs.

As the German press agency reports, the Brandenburg Finance Minister Robert Crumbach (BSW) is working tax -free for 2000 euros. A corresponding proposal has already been brought into the country chamber. Now you hope to enforce the project through the Federal Council.

Pension tax -free: Social Association of Germany sees the proposal critically

But how sensible would a tax -free pension up to 2000 euros be? When asked by infranken.de has the Social Association VdK Germany expressed. VDK-President Verena Bentele sees the BSW’s push rather critically.

Bentele: “We are skeptical about a one -sided tax relief for pensioners with a special basic allowance of 2000 euros. It is much more important to combat old -age poverty.”

In their eyes, it would be much more important “to fight specific old age poverty”. The concrete suggestions Bentele would therefore be “a reformed basic pension, the abolition of the discounts in the event of disability pensions or a pension allowance for basic security for older and preventive, of course, a higher minimum wage could also relieve pensioners”.

Relieve pensioners: keep an eye on health and care contributions

The VDK– President also points out that you pay around 1500 euros in health and long-term care insurance a year at 1200 euros per month. Bentele: “If you want to better relieve the same low-income pensioners, you should look at the increasing health and care contributions and raise the pensions as a whole and stand up for proper pension increases.”

In this income area, income tax plays an absolutely subordinate role. The problems with increasing contributions will be felt pensioners from March if there will be higher deductions for millions of seniors.

For Crumbach and the Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht, the downstream taxation in the pension system is considered a big mistake: “The pension level must not also go hand in hand with a high tax burden, this must be ended.”

Numbers for taxation of the pension

At the request of party leader Sahra Wagenknecht, the Ministry of Finance published corresponding figures for taxing the pension:

Anyone who retired in 2005 with 1,500 euros per month did not have to pay income tax. In 2024, on the other hand, 432 euros a year was due for new players with the same sum. With a monthly pay amount of 2,000 euros, Neurentner was asked to checkout with a total of 1,537 euros in 2024, i.e. around 128 euros per month.

The Federal Government calls on the application to the state chamber to submit a proposal for the legal implementation. First of all, the Federal Council’s committees are now advising.

Interesting: A few days ago, the consumer center published a new book that is aimed specifically at retirees and pensioners who have to prepare their tax return for 2024. The guide entitled “Tax Declaration for Pensioners and Pensioners 2024/2025” is intended to help keep the perspective in complex tax law and use possible tax benefits. It is available in bookstores and among others from Thalia* or at Amazon*.

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