Linke on finance and taxes

The Left wants to abolish the debt brake in Hamburg and at the federal level to allow much more public investment. In the party's view, strong government stimulus is needed to overcome the economic crisis.

The debt brake limits new government debt. The Left wants to get rid of it. Then the city can spend more money. For example on schools, health, and the environment. People with little money should get help with buying things.

The money should go mainly to education, health care, culture, environmental protection, and infrastructure, with priority for resource-saving sectors that serve the common good. Low-income households should receive consumption support. State aid for companies should be tied to strict social conditions. Regional transformation councils including workers and unions should help shape the ecological and digital transition. The party considers the planned 2025/2026 budget of about 43.8 billion insufficient given the investment backlog. It also wants prosperity to be measured by social and ecological criteria as well.

The Left wants to tax very high incomes, inheritances, and wealth more heavily and calls on the Senate to push for a wealth tax and an effective inheritance tax. The tax administration should be expanded to fund social programs and public services.

Very rich people should pay more taxes. The Left wants the wealth tax back. The money would go to the city of Hamburg. The tax office should get more staff. It should audit big companies and millionaires more often.

As a state tax, the wealth tax would flow into Hamburg's budget. The party wants to push for ending the tonnage tax, close loopholes, and replace the trade tax with a municipal business tax. Landlords should no longer be allowed to pass the property tax on to tenants once the law permits this. Large companies and income millionaires should be audited more often, and the investigation of the Cum-Ex and Cum-Cum tax schemes should continue before the offenses expire. All types of income should pay into social insurance, including that of the self-employed, civil servants, lawmakers, and recipients of capital income.