State-Subsidised ETF Savings Account [Riester 2.0]
Germany is replacing the Riester-Rente (Riester pension) with a new state-subsidized investment depot. You’ll be able to invest that subsidized money directly...
German Cities Can Join Anti-Extremism Alliances
German cities and municipalities may stay in alliances that fight right-wing extremism, as long as those alliances do not primarily serve to campaign against a specific...
German Public Health Insurance Proposed Reforms
Germany’s public health insurance system (GKV) is heading toward a financial crisis. To prevent its collapse, the German government has appointed an expert...
8 Ways to Increase Your Monthly Net Income in Germany
Most people wait until the end of the year to get money back from the tax office via their annual tax return. But you don’t have to wait. The tax...
Germany Plans to Abolish Free Health Insurance for Spouses
The German government is planning to end the free dependent health insurance for spouses (beitragsfreie Familienversicherung für Ehepartner). According to reporting...
Why Fuel Prices in Germany Are Among the Highest in Europe?
Germany’s fuel prices are high because taxes and levies make up the majority of what you pay at the pump. On a liter of petrol (Super E10), around 58% of...
Cut Taxes by Shortening the Depreciation Period
If you own a rental property in Germany and are depreciating it over 50 years, you may be paying far more tax than you need to. A shorter depreciation period...
Germany Passes Critical Infrastructure Protection Law
Germany now has a law that requires energy providers, hospitals, water utilities, and transport operators to physically harden their facilities against attacks,...
Germany Banned Lead Pipes in Drinking Water Systems
Since 12 January 2026, no drinking water pipe in Germany may contain lead, not even in trace amounts. This is now a hard legal requirement under the German Drinking...
New Schufa Score: How it’s Calculated
Since 17 March 2026, Germany’s credit agency Schufa (Schufa Holding AG) has switched to a new scoring system. For the first time, you can see your score for...