FDP on finance and taxes

The FDP wants to lower the Gewerbesteuer (local business tax) in both cities of the state. The aim is to relieve companies that, according to the platform, are struggling with the energy crisis and labor shortages, and to protect jobs.

Companies pay a tax to their city. The FDP wants to lower this tax in Bremen and Bremerhaven. This should help companies stay. New companies should also come.

The platform justifies the cut with the strain that the energy crisis and labor shortages put on businesses. It says the federal government has already cushioned the worst effects and that the two municipalities should now contribute as well. The goal is for existing firms to stay and new ones to move in. The measure is part of what the FDP calls a "welcoming culture for business," which also includes cutting red tape, digitalization, and faster permits.

The FDP wants the state and both of its cities to comply with the Schuldenbremse (debt brake) and take on no new debt. It justifies this with interest costs of more than 500 million euros a year and with fairness between generations. Spending should be reviewed, and investment in education, the economy and infrastructure should come first.

The FDP wants no new debt for Bremen. Bremen pays over 500 million euros in interest every year. The FDP wants to pay back old debt. Money should go first to education, the economy and roads. Bremen should use more funding from the EU and the federal government.

According to the program, Bremen's net debt has grown by more than half in 15 years to almost 23 billion euros. The FDP wants to meet the repayment agreements tied to the restructuring and consolidation aid and to raise investment in Bremen's economy significantly. Once inflation is back at around two percent, additional repayments should follow. For public projects, funding from the EU or the federal government should be used first.

The FDP wants to review all of Bremen's holdings and municipal enterprises and sell those that, in its view, do not need to be in public hands. The general coverage of losses for holdings should end, and all holdings and grants should be disclosed. Public services should not be brought under public ownership where private providers perform them well.

Bremen owns many companies in whole or in part. The FDP wants to review all of them. The state should sell what it does not need. The money should go to investment or paying down debt. The state should no longer cover these companies' losses across the board.

The program criticizes a lack of transparency about holdings and money flows and wants to make all holdings and grants to third-party organizations publicly accessible. In the FDP's view, the general coverage of losses wastes millions in tax money and prevents efficient operation. Proceeds from sales should go entirely to investment or debt reduction; this also applies to unused public property. The party sees Bremen's waste service as a public-law institution as a disadvantage for citizens and wants to continue the HanseWasser model.

The FDP wants citizens to be able to choose freely how they pay at state and city offices, without disadvantages or extra costs. Cash should remain a general means of payment. The party rejects caps on cash payments and demands that public offices at every level be required to accept cash.

The FDP wants people to choose freely how to pay at public offices. They should be able to pay by card, digitally or in cash. Cash should stay. The FDP is against a limit on cash payments. Public offices should have to accept cash.

The program notes that digital payments have increased since the pandemic, yet public offices often allow neither card payments nor digital options. The FDP therefore wants both: digital payment options in public offices and a duty to accept cash. It argues that forcing people to use digital payment does not necessarily reduce crime.

The FDP wants the city of Bremerhaven to stop running the Bad Bederkesa school camp and the Wüstewohlde youth hostel itself. Where possible, nonprofit or private operators should take them over. The platform cites operating losses and a risk to the city budget.

Bremerhaven owns a school camp and a youth hostel outside the city. The FDP wants the city to give up both. Other operators should take them over. The FDP says the two houses cost the city too much money.

According to the platform, the city has not managed to run either facility at cost in recent years. The school camp is said to have built up a repair backlog in the millions, and no hostel managers could be found for the youth hostel. If no nonprofit or private operator steps in, the FDP wants to discuss other solutions. It points out that many providers now offer lodging and educational programs for class trips.

The FDP wants to change how Germany collects import value-added tax. The model is the offset system used in other EU countries, where the tax is settled later through the advance VAT return. According to the platform, the current procedure ties up liquidity and creates administrative costs.

Companies pay a tax when they bring in goods from outside the EU. In Germany they must pay right away. The FDP wants to change that. Companies should be able to settle the tax later, as in other EU countries.

Import VAT is charged on goods brought in from countries outside the EU. In Germany, the platform says, it is due at the time of import. Many other member states instead offset it later against the regular VAT filing. The FDP sees this as a significant competitive disadvantage for German locations.

The FDP wants to abolish the dog tax. It considers the tax arbitrary and argues that the cost of collecting this minor tax is out of proportion to the revenue.

People who own a dog pay a tax today. The FDP wants to end this tax. It thinks the tax is unfair. To the FDP a dog is not a luxury but part of the family.

According to the platform, the dog tax was originally meant as a luxury tax. Today, it says, a dog is a family member and a source of social support. The FDP therefore finds it questionable to charge owners for it. It also argues that collection is not worth the effort given the revenue.