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Top German official: wealth tax would harm the economy | dpa international
(dpa-international.com)
this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2025
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Technically, we still have a wealth tax. However, because the current implementation has been ruled as unconstitutional, it is not being collected.
I think it's not even unconstitutional - they have chosen not to enforce it because "it's ToO DiFfIcUlT To cAlCuLaTe and To eVaLuAtE" the correct wealth and an according tax share.
Offiziell wurde die Vermögenssteuer 1997 nicht abgeschafft, sondern nur "ausgesetzt". Hintergrund war eine Entscheidung aus Karlsruhe von 1995: Damals kritisierte das Bundesverfassungsgericht, die Besitzer von Immobilien würden zu wenig Steuern zahlen. Das Vermögenssteuergesetz müsse überarbeitet werden, so die Richter. Daraufhin argumentierte die damalige Bundesregierung von CDU/CSU und FDP, eine Gesetzesreform sei viel zu kompliziert.
Deshalb wurde die Vermögenssteuer nicht überarbeitet - sondern komplett ausgesetzt.
ZDFheute
For extra absurdity:
If i remember correctly the issue with the estimation of the value of houses and land was, that it was done based on 1918 and 1930 or so baseline values that then were adjusted over the years, but the underlying structure, which areas are expensive, which are cheap, what infrastructure is available... was never changed.
So because of systematically undervaluing property to benefit rich people, the wealth tax was stopped because the court found that it is unjust by undervaluing property.
Germany is a Banana Republic which affords more professors to devise ways in which to claim the contrary.
No, that's the stated reason for not passing an updated tax law.
The current state of the tax was ruled unconstitutional in 1995 and subsequently the tax hasn't been collected since 1997 (No English translation available).
I perceive it like not the wealth tax per se is unconstitutional. But it is not following the "Gleichheitsgrundsatz" But you may be right after all.
That's exactly what I said:
A wealth tax is even required as per §104 (2) GG.
OK, I beg your pardon then. I misunderstood your point.
If you think that I'm wrong, I'm happy to learn why.