A rising maximum interest rate is good news for savers, as they can expect higher returns. This applies to consumers who conclude new contracts with guarantees, but also to existing customers, as the increased interest level may lead to a higher profit sharing. With private pension insurance, you benefit if your contract includes flexible pension factors, as these can also increase.
Anyone who feeds electricity from a photovoltaic system into the grid pays no income tax up to a certain limit. From 2025, this value will be standardized: an exemption limit of 30 kilowatt peak (kWp) will then apply to every residential and commercial unit. For multi-family homes and properties with several commercial units, the limit was previously 15 kWp.
Exemption limit means that you also pay taxes on the service below the limit as soon as it is exceeded – not just on the part that exceeds it. Important to know: The higher limit only applies to systems purchased, installed and operated from January 2025. For existing devices, the previous values remain.
From 2025, parents will be able to deduct higher proportions of childcare costs from taxes. Previously, 67 percent of a maximum of 6,000 euros could not be counted against taxable income; in the future it will be 80 percent. The maximum amount increases from 4,000 to 4,800 euros per year. Expenses for kindergarten, crèche and childminders are deductible.
The tax office will examine maintenance payments more closely in the future. From 2025 it will only recognize payments that have been transferred. Anyone who gives their child cash can no longer claim it as maintenance.
If you pay maintenance payments, you can deduct them from your taxes as an extraordinary expense. The maximum amount for this will be increased from January in line with the basic allowance. It is then also 12,096 euros.
After several rulings by the Federal Finance Court, it is now also regulated by law: bonus payments from health insurance up to an amount of 150 euros per insured person per contribution year are not considered a premium refund. This means that the money will benefit you in full and it will not affect the amount of your deductible special expenses in your tax return. For higher bonus payments, the tax office requires proof that it is a health insurance benefit and not a contribution refund.
From January 9th, all banks in the euro area must be able to receive real-time transfers. This is stipulated by an EU regulation. At this point, however, this type of transfer may cost more than a normal transfer. The prices will only be equalized by law from October 9th.
