DThe FDP has rejected criticism from the SPD about a planned increase in the child tax allowance. SPD party leader Lars Klingbeil had previously criticized Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP)'s plans as “unfair” because they would only provide relief for families with very high incomes. The FDP presidium said on Sunday that the current approach to tax allowances and child benefit goes back to Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). Klingbeil should coordinate better with Scholz.
“It was decided in 2022, at the suggestion of Olaf Scholz, to increase child benefit disproportionately to 250 euros,” reported the German Press Agency, citing the FDP Presidium. “The child tax allowance, on the other hand, should be added in the usual procedure. Nothing else is planned.” If the SPD has a unified position, the coalition can advise. “But it is not acceptable for the Finance Ministry to be criticized by the SPD if it implements agreements with Olaf Scholz.”
SPD party leader Lars Klingbeil spoke in the “Bild am Sonntag” against Lindner’s plans for a higher child allowance: “I think it’s unfair to only relieve the burden on families with very high incomes. “The working middle class in particular, i.e. those who get up every day, work hard to earn their income and also look after their children, neighbors and the club, should be relieved,” said Klingbeil. These same people were still feeling the effects of inflation. “That’s why it’s completely clear to me that families with small and medium incomes also have to get more this year,” said the SPD chairman.
Objections also from the Greens
Michael Schrodi, financial policy spokesman for the SPD, also criticized Lindner's move in the “Bild am Sonntag”: “The SPD will not go along with that. There will be no majority for such plans from the Lindner family.” What Lindner has in mind is an austerity program in the wrong place: “If there are 380 million for additional relief for the richest parents, then he also has the money for an increase in child benefit. “
There are also objections from the ranks of the Greens. “Families in the middle must not go away empty-handed,” said parliamentary group vice-president Andreas Audretsch to the newspaper. It is common practice to increase child benefit and child allowance equally. “Citizens rightly expect this reliability.”
It became known on Friday that Lindner wanted to increase the tax allowance for children without increasing child benefit at the same time. Parents automatically receive either child benefit or the income tax allowance for children. The tax office checks what is more advantageous for you. The allowance is often only worthwhile for higher incomes. The tax allowance was already increased from 6,024 euros to 6,384 on January 1st and, according to the Finance Ministry's plans, should increase retroactively to 6,612 euros. The general basic allowance should also be increased. Child benefit should remain the same.
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