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Berlin waives fees for restaurants and other sectors

Berlin bars and restaurants will not have to pay any fees next year if they put tables and chairs out on the sidewalk. The Senate Chancellery announced on Monday that the special usage fee for public street land will be waived.

Guests sit in front of a café in the sun. Photo.aussiedlerbote.de
Guests sit in front of a café in the sun. Photo.aussiedlerbote.de

Special user fee - Berlin waives fees for restaurants and other sectors

Berlin bars and restaurants will not have to pay a fee next year if they put tables and chairs out on the sidewalk. The Senate Chancellery announced on Monday that the special usage fee for public street space will be waived.

The regulation also applies to showmen and event organizers, the trade fair and congress industry, retailers and the cultural and creative industries. Any resulting loss of revenue for the districts will be reimbursed by the Senate.

According to the Senate Chancellery, the district authorities can also reimburse affected companies at their own discretion for special usage fees that were charged this year from May onwards. In this case, too, the Senate will compensate for any demonstrable loss of revenue.

Governing Mayor Kai Wegner sees the fee waiver as important support for the industries, as the difficult coronavirus years are still having an impact. "By waiving this income, we want to help restaurateurs and showmen, retailers and creative people in Berlin to stabilize again," explained the CDU politician.

"With this measure, we will succeed in preserving jobs and strengthening Berlin as a business location." Berlin will benefit from lively restaurants, a diverse retail sector and colorful public festivals.

Berlin's districts had already waived special usage fees for restaurants during the coronavirus pandemic. The industry, which has been hit by coronavirus and high energy prices, is currently fearing new economic difficulties because VAT on restaurant meals will be raised to 19% again from January 1. The current VAT rate is 7 percent. It was lowered in the first few months of the coronavirus pandemic in mid-2020 to relieve the industry.

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Source: www.stern.de

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