The big money and tax changes in Germany you need to know in 2026

With the new year approaching, Germany is set to introduce a range of financial changes and tax reforms that will impact residents across the country.

While increases in the minimum wage, tax allowances and pensions are set to benefit many, higher transport costs and stricter welfare rules may see some households needing to adjust their budgets.

Minimum wage and training pay set to rise

From January 1st, 2026, the statutory minimum wage will increase to €13.90 per hour.

Trainees will also benefit from higher minimum pay, starting at €724 per month in the first year and rising to €1,014 by the fourth year.

These changes are designed to boost incomes for lower earners and young people entering the workforce.

READ ALSO: Germany’s minimum wage set for record increase

Mini-job earnings limit increases

Alongside the minimum wage hike, the monthly earnings cap for so-called mini-jobs will rise from €556 to €603 on January 1st.

Mini-jobs are popular among part-time workers and students, offering flexible employment with simplified tax arrangements.

Tax-free allowances and child benefits

The basic tax-free allowance – the amount of income you can earn tax-free – will rise to €12,348 in 2026. The amount is doubled for married couples.

The child allowance will also increase to €9,756, and monthly child benefit payments will go up by €4 to €259 per child. These measures are designed to ease the tax burden for families and individuals.

Learn more about the changes affecting families in Germany in 2026 with our roundup HERE.

READ ALSO: The words you need to understand Germany’s childcare benefits

Pension increases

Pensioners can expect a boost in their payments, with pensions set to rise by an estimated 3.7 percent from July 1st, 2026.

The exact figure is expected to be confirmed in the spring, depending on economic and wage developments. This increase should help retirees keep pace with rising living costs.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED – What exactly is Germany’s controversial pension package?

Health insurance supplement set to rise

The average extra contribution to statutory health insurance looks set to climb from 2.5 percent to 2.9 percent next year, meaning that policy holders can expect higher deductions from their gross wages or pensions overall.  

Each statutory health insurance fund in Germany sets its own rate, so it may be worth comparing health insurance funds and possibly switching to a cheaper one.

When a statutory insurance provider raises its additional contribution (Zusatzbeitrag), members have a two-month notice period during which they’re permitted to switch providers.

READ ALSO: How you’ll be affected by a steep rise in German health insurance contributions

Germany’s Deutschlandticket will cost €5 more in 2026. Photo: picture alliance/dpa / Julian Stratenschulte

Higher costs for public transport

The price for a nationwide Deutschlandticket, which allows unlimited travel on regional and local transport, will increase from €58 to €63.

Local and regional fares are also set to rise. In Berlin and Brandenburg, for example, fares will rise by an average of 6 percent from January 2026.

For the first time, a single journey within Berlin’s S-Bahn ring will cost €4.00, up by 20 cents.

You can find out more about planned fare increases in cities across Germany HERE.

READ ALSO: LISTED – The big changes for travel in Germany in 2026

Commuter allowance changes

The commuter allowance, which helps offset travel costs for work, is set to be permanently increased to 38 cents per kilometre from the first kilometre.

Currently, the higher rate only applies from the 21st kilometre onwards. The measure has Bundestag approval but still awaits final sign-off in the Bundesrat.

According to Focus magazine, this amounts to an additional €176 in income-related expenses for workers who drive ten kilometres to work five days a week.

Gas costs: Surcharge abolished

The gas storage surcharge, which cost households up to €60 per year, will be eliminated from January 2026.

While this should reduce costs for gas customers, final prices may not fall automatically, as other factors also have an influence on energy bills.

The German government’s plans for energy bill relief in 2026 – reportedly worth over €10 billion and shared between households and businesses – also includes subsidies for transmission operators that are expected to reduce grid fees and could lower electricity prices for households slightly.

The details are still being worked out, but a federal government spokesperson has suggested that current plans could result in potential savings of up to €150 on household bills – assuming the savings are passed on and that consumers are willing to do some shopping around.

READ ALSO: Heating subsidies to remain as concerns grow over Germany’s soaring energy costs

Basic income support: New rules and sanctions

The system previously known as “citizen’s income” is set to be renamed “basic income support.”

Stricter sanctions are planned for those who miss job centre appointments or refuse employment without valid reasons.

Under current plans, penalties could include a 30 percent reduction in benefits, with further reductions for repeated non-compliance. These proposals are still subject to parliamentary debate.

READ ALSO: ‘Bürgergeld is history’ – How Germany’s unemployment benefit is being reformed

VAT reduction for restaurants

A permanent reduction in value added tax (VAT) on restaurant food from 19 percent to seven percent is proposed, continuing relief measures introduced during the pandemic.

However, this change has not yet been finalised and faces criticism due to potential revenue losses for some states. Even if the measure passed, there is no obligation on businesses to pass the savings on to customers and some commentators predict that prices in restaurants will actually rise next year.

Yasmin Fahimi, chairwoman of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), described the move as “a tax gift with no economic effect, that will not reach consumers.”

READ ALSO: Can the German states afford to approve planned tax relief?

A waiter brings two plates of food to a table at a restaurant in Coburg, Germany. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Daniel Vogl

Social security contributions rise for high earners

High earners will see higher social security contributions, with the ceiling for statutory pension insurance rising to €8,450 per month and for health and long-term care insurance to €5,812.50 per month.

Only income up to these limits will be subject to contributions.

Active pension: Tax-free earnings for retirees

Retired employees will be allowed to earn up to €2,000 per month tax-free under the new “active pension” scheme.

This benefit does not apply to the self-employed, freelancers, mini-jobbers, or civil servants.

The active pension was part of the bigger pension package that was recently passed by the Bundestag.

Tax relief and liability changes for volunteers

Tax allowances for trainers and volunteers will increase, and liability risks for volunteers will be reduced.

Compensation for damages will only be required in cases of intent or gross negligence, with the threshold for protected remuneration rising to €3,300. These changes are pending parliamentary approval.

SCHUFA credit score system to be simplified

Germany’s SCHUFA credit scoring system will undergo major reforms from March 2026, reducing criteria from 250 to 12 key factors (including the age of one’s oldest credit card, recent account charges and payment declines).

Essential for renting apartments, securing loans or financing purchases, SCHUFA aggregates data from over 10,000 firms including banks and utilities.

The overhaul responds to demands for transparency, spurred by consumer advocates and a 2025 European Court of Justice ruling that mandated clearer automated decision-making processes.

Access is set to shift online: users should be able to create accounts on the SCHUFA which will make it possible to view simplified scores instantly. The current reports cost €29.95 and often take weeks to arrive by post.

READ ALSO: Everything you need to know about Germany’s ‘Schufa’ credit score

Car insurance: Regional class changes

Around one in four motor vehicle policyholders will see changes to their regional insurance classification, which may affect premiums. About five million drivers are likely to move to a higher class (and pay more), while about 5.3 million will potentially see their premiums decrease.

The classification depends on accident rates in individual registration districts.

READ ALSO: Car insurance premiums to increase for millions of drivers in Germany

With reporting by DPA.