Ulrich Creydt, tax consultant and managing director of Ypsilon GmbH Steuerberatungsgesellschaft:
In its first 100 days, the federal government has got some good things off the ground from my point of view as a tax consultant. But I miss the bigger throw that brings more people into ownership, boosts the economy and simplifies tax law.
For example, the gradual reduction of the corporate tax rate is the right thing to do – especially in an international comparison. However, it would have been desirable to start the first step of the reduction retroactively from 1 January 2025. Then the corporate tax rate would already be 14 percent for the current year. The first reduction will not come until the beginning of 2028.
I believe that a 'construction turbo' would ignite if all first-time buyers who use their four walls themselves do not have to pay real estate transfer tax. Existing measures of individual federal states, such as the 'Hessengeld', are not of much use and are complicated to apply. The most important reason why many households cannot afford to own their own home is the high proportion of equity. The real estate transfer tax is again the biggest chunk. A tax waiver for this group of buyers would protect their wallets and serve their private wealth accumulation.
If a tax expert from our company were Chancellor, he would radically simplify tax collection: Fewer declaration obligations and immediate abolition of the solidarity surcharge and trade tax. It should be replaced by a pay-as-you-go system of income and corporation tax for the municipalities. This would also end the competition between municipalities for the lowest possible trade tax burden and contribute to fair tax revenue for all municipalities.
I give the German government's foreign policy a thumbs up – especially in Europe. The interest of European investors in investing more in Germany again is increasing.
