Federal government plans to end the receipt requirement: reduction in bureaucracy or tax trick?

Federal government plans to end the receipt requirement: reduction in bureaucracy or tax trick?

The federal government has big plans: the abolition of the receipt requirement in Germany is on the agenda of the new black-red coalition under Chancellor Friedrich Merz. This regulation was originally introduced in 2020 to reduce tax fraud in retail and make illicit sales more transparent. Anyone who worked with an electronic cash register system was obliged to give every customer a receipt for every purchase, which created a lot of paper waste and bureaucracy. How north24 reports, many retailers see the settlement of the receipt requirement as urgently necessary and perceive it as a burden.

But not everyone is enthusiastic about the planned abolition. The German Tax Union (DSTG) expresses sharp criticism and sees the receipt requirement as an essential control measure. DSTG boss Florian Köbler warns that the end of this regulation could send a negative signal at a time when public coffers are already stretched. According to the Federal Audit Office, tax fraud at the cash registers is estimated at up to ten billion euros annually - a vexing issue that should not simply be shelved, as Köbler emphasizes.

Unified voices in retail

The discussion about the receipt requirement is also polarizing in retail. The HDE trade association sees the abolition as a positive sign and argues that it is simply pointless to issue receipts that ultimately just end up in the trash. This is particularly true for large retail groups, which had to bear high costs running into millions as a result of the receipt requirement. Critics of the regulation emphasize that the low level of control by the tax authorities to check sales recordings is a real problem.

One suggestion is to instead increase controls by the tax offices, which brings the DSTG into play as a more promising measure. The trade association also calls for initiatives that bring tangible added value in practice, instead of burdening small retailers with bureaucratic hurdles. From 2027, it will also be mandatory for shops with an annual turnover of over 100,000 euros to use electronic cash registers - another measure that could cause a lot of discussion like this RND reported.

Criticism and concerns about tax fraud

The introduction of mandatory receipts was met with great hopes, but reality shows that many receipts end up in the trash unused. The trade association questions this unavoidable practice. Apart from the growing amount of waste, the high costs are also likely to have left a significant impression on the balance sheet. Critics argue that it is long past time to take reality into account and find a workable solution to combat tax fraud.

Ultimately, it remains to be seen how Friedrich Merz's coalition will implement its plans to reduce bureaucracy. It will be exciting to see whether the intended abolition of the receipt requirement actually leads to a measurable reduction in bureaucracy or whether important control mechanisms are lost, as many critics of the measure fear. While the fronts are hardening, it is clear: There is something in the air, and the discussion about the receipt requirement is gaining momentum ZDF today reported.