The past year held a number of surprises in store for consumers – unfortunately also many unwelcome ones. In particular, the war, the energy price shock and skyrocketing inflation caused many problems. The government feverishly devised, rejected and reconsidered heating subsidies and other relief packages. (Read here who will get more money in 2023.)
Even beyond acute crisis management, consumers will face numerous legal changes in 2023. From train travel to buying an electric car, from health insurance contributions to tobacco tax – you will find an overview of important innovations here.
From March 1st, the federal government’s energy price brakes will apply retrospectively to January 1st. Consumers then receive 80 percent of their previous year’s consumption at a capped price. For electricity, that’s 40 cents per kilowatt hour. Gas is 12 cents and district heating customers pay a maximum of 9.5 cents. Anyone who consumes more than the capped amount pays the full price of their provider. The relief takes place via the bill from the energy supplier or the utility bill from the landlord. The price brakes are to remain in place until the end of April 2024.
A CO2 tax for heating with oil and gas was introduced in 2021, so far tenants have paid this alone. From January 1, 2023, landlords must participate. The following graduated model applies: the worse the building is insulated and the older the heating and windows are, the more costs landlords have to bear. The landlord’s share is between 0 and 95 percent. This should create an incentive for property owners to make their buildings more climate-friendly. According to the German Tenants’ Association, the CO2 tax for an average multi-family apartment in 2022 cost just under 70 euros for gas and around 100 euros for heating oil. Since the CO2 price will increase in the future, the annual costs will rise to an average of 125 euros (gas) and 180 euros (heating oil) by 2025.
After a long political struggle, the introduction of the 49-euro ticket has been decided. The offer, also known as Deutschlandticket, is scheduled to start in spring 2023, with the target being April 1st. As with the 9-euro ticket in summer, the 49-euro ticket should be valid on all buses and trains in local public transport throughout Germany. It should be bookable in the form of a monthly cancellable subscription. The 49 euros is an “introductory price” that could rise in 2024.
The state subsidies for the purchase of an electric car are falling. From January 1, 2023, there will only be an environmental bonus of EUR 4,500 for purely electric cars with a net list price of up to EUR 40,000 (previously EUR 6,000) and for electric cars with a net list price of between EUR 40,000 and EUR 65,000 there will only be an environmental bonus of EUR 3,000 (previously EUR 5,000). More expensive vehicles will continue to receive no funding. On September 1st funding is also limited to private individuals. Plug-in hybrid vehicles will no longer receive any funding from January 1, 2023. As before, the environmental bonus can only be applied for after the vehicle has been registered. This is definitely a factor given the current delivery times – a further reduction in funding is planned for 2024.
The certificate of incapacity for work on yellow paper, the famous “Yellow Certificate”, is no longer required. From January 1, 2023, employers must electronically retrieve the data from the health insurance companies when their employees are on sick leave. This is where the medical practices send the sick leave, which the insured person does not have to do either. However, employees who are ill must notify their employer immediately of their absence. You will also continue to receive a piece of paper in the doctor’s office – but only for your own documents.
The financial situation of the statutory health insurance is strained. Therefore, many health insurance companies will increase the additional contribution in 2023. On average, the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds expects an increase of 0.2 percentage points to 1.5 percent. Attention consumers: Until mid-2023, the health insurance companies will not have to inform their insured persons personally about increases in contributions; a notice on the website will suffice. In the event of an increase, insured persons have a special right of termination up to the end of the month in which the contribution is increased. Anyone who has been with their old health insurance company for at least 12 months can switch at any time. A notice period of two months applies.
From January 1, 2023, employees will have to pay a little more to unemployment insurance. The contribution rate increases slightly from 2.4 to 2.6 percent, half of which is borne by the employer. It is also becoming somewhat more expensive because the contribution assessment limit is increasing.
Owners of solar systems can look forward to bureaucratic simplifications. With retrospective effect from January 1, 2022, income tax will no longer apply for PV systems with an output of up to 30 kWp. In apartment buildings, 15 kWp per residential and commercial unit are tax-free (maximum 100 kWp). In addition, the sales tax on the purchase of such photovoltaic systems will be completely eliminated in 2023. The new version of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) contains other changes for operation, such as the elimination of the rule that only a maximum of 70 percent of the solar power generated may be fed into the public grid.
The tobacco tax will increase on January 1, 2023. If the manufacturers pass on the costs, a pack of 20 cigarettes will cost an average of ten cents more. In 2025 and 2026 there will be an additional 15 cents each. The tobacco tax for hookah tobacco will also increase in 2023, 2025 and 2026. Liquids for e-cigarettes have been taxed since July 2022, and the next liquid tax increase is due in early 2024.
A new state animal husbandry label for pork is to be introduced in the course of 2023. Consumers in the supermarket should then be able to see how the pigs were kept using a five-level label (barn, barn space, fresh air barn, outlet/free range and organic). The label initially only applies to unprocessed meat and only to pigs kept in Germany. It is planned to later extend the labeling obligation to poultry and beef, as well as to processed products and the catering trade.
From January 1, 2023, restaurants will no longer only offer food and drinks in disposable but also in reusable packaging, although the reusable version must not be more expensive. However, a deposit may be charged. The regulation should also apply to delivery food. This does not apply to small snack bars and kiosks with five or fewer employees, but these must fill containers brought by customers if requested. The reusable obligation applies to plastic – this also includes the coated coffee-to-go cup, but not the pizza box.
Ten years ago, “energy-saving lamps” replaced conventional light bulbs. Fluorescent lamps, which contain toxic mercury, are now on the verge of extinction. From February 25, 2023, there will be an EU-wide production ban for compact fluorescent lamps with plug-in bases and fluorescent lamps in a ring shape. From August 25, 2023, tubular fluorescent lamps may no longer be manufactured. The future belongs to modern LED lamps that do not require mercury.
As early as January 2022, more than 4000 dangerous chemicals in tattoo ink and permanent make-up were restricted or banned. On January 4, 2023, the transitional period for two more tattoo dyes will expire: “Pigment Blue 15:3” and “Pigment Green 7” will then also be banned.
From June 25, 2023, a new legal action should help consumers to their rights. The EU class action lawsuit enables consumer advice centers and similar institutions to directly sue for damages or repayment claims for affected consumers. So far, consumer advocates have only been able to clarify legal issues in principle within the framework of model declaratory actions, after which everyone has to sue for their own rights individually.
Sources: Consumer Centers / Federal Government / German Tenants’ Association / ADAC
