German Public Health Insurance Proposed Reforms
Originally published April 4, 2026. Updated July 12, 2026. The reform described below has since been passed into law. We have added the notes about each change under the relevant […]
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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 by Handelsblatt, the coalition is discussing replacing free coverage
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, sabotage, and disasters. This is called the Critical
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 Water
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 free, understand
Germany Lowers Mammography Screening Age to 45
If you are a woman between 45 and 49 living in Germany, you can now get a mammography for early detection of breast cancer. The federal government passed the Second
Germany Can Deport You Even If Another EU State Granted Protection
Suppose you received asylum or refugee protection in Greece (or another EU country) and filed a new asylum application in Germany. In this case, Germany can still threaten to deport