Finance : Learn the strategies to save taxes when receiving severance pay. There are two main strategies to save taxes on your severance pay: The one-fifth rule and contributing to the pension insurance. There are certain things you must do to qualify for these strategies. This requires advance planning. We have explained both strategies in detail and what you should keep in mind here.
Health : You can pause your contributions to public health insurance when you leave Germany temporarily. To do so, you must apply for the "Anwartschaft" status. The insurance expert explained the complete process, eligibility criteria, and loopholes during the webinar. You can get the webinar recording here.
Health : Updated our dental insurance guide. We recommend the "DFV Exclusiv 100*" dental insurance plan. The dental insurance plans from Barmania/Feather not only reduced their dental coverage but also increased their premiums. In our recent comparison, if you get DFV instead of Barmenia/Feather when you are 35 and stay with it until you are 45, you will save around €750. The premium gap increases as you get older. Read more ->
Family : You no longer need to apply for Kindergeld. The new law (effective from 2027) will enable automatic payment of Kindergeld without having to apply at the Familienkasse. As soon as you register your newborn with the Standesamt, the Standesamt will notify the tax office. The tax office will then notify the Familenkasse. Read more ->
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Changes in March
From March 1, the green insurance plates for e‑scooters and mopeds will become invalid. You must switch to the new black plates issued by your insurer. The colour of your insurance plate will change every year. This will allow the police to easily check whether you have valid insurance coverage. [5]
From March 1 until Sep. 30, the Federal Nature Conservation Act prohibits radical pruning of hedges, bushes, and coniferous trees. This is to protect birds nesting in bushes and trees. [8]
On March 8, municipal and district elections take place in Bavaria. Both German and EU nationals can vote. [1]
On March 8, state elections will be held in Baden‑Württemberg [2]
On March 22, state elections will be held in Rhineland‑Palatinate [3]
On March 29, the clocks will move forward by one hour. So, prepare to lose one hour of sleep that night. [6]
Border controls are extended further until September. Ensure to carry your passport and residence permit when crossing borders. [4]
Berlin immigration authorities digitized the freelance visa process. Hopefully, it will reduce the waiting time. [7] If you are waiting for your residence permit (more than 6 months) or citizenship (more than 12 months), you should consider filing an Untätigkeitsklage (inaction lawsuit). This is the only option to push your applications forward. Please note that just because authorities mention 18 months as the minimum processing time for your application doesn't make it a legal timeline. Courts consider 12 months as reasonable for citizenship and 6 months for other resident permits. You can contact LegalWeg for a free case assessment*.
Ukrainian refugees' protected status will be automatically extended until March 4, 2027. [9]
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The information provided here is based on our own experience and in-depth research. The content might be inaccurate. It should not be considered financial, insurance, tax, legal, or any kind of advice.
We are not certified brokers or consultants. Always do your research and contact certified professionals before making any decision. GermanPedia disclaims any and all liability for damages or losses arising from the use of this document.
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New here? Check out GermanPediaDid someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. Essentials Finance Married couples who own a rental property can reduce their tax using a strategy called the Ehegattenschaukel. Here is how it works. You sell your investment property to your spouse at the current market price. Your spouse depreciates the property using the new, higher purchase price. Your spouse can deduct the depreciation value from their income. Hence, reducing the tax. After ten...
New here? Check out GermanPediaDid someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. Essentials Finance Find out if your relative left money behind in a German bank. Up to €4.2 billion is sitting forgotten in German bank accounts. Most of it belongs to people who have died. Banks call these "dormant accounts." You have to contact different organizations depending on which bank your relative had an account with. You can find out the information about these organizations here. Finance...
New here? Check out GermanPediaDid someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. Important changes We are testing a new schedule to send the GermanPedia newsletter. For the next few months, you'll receive the newsletter on Monday morning instead of Saturday. ECB key interest rates remain unchanged at 2%. This means you will continue to earn interest on your savings account*, and your mortgage interest will remain between 3% and 5%. [1] Scammers have taken things to the next level....
