Senate - Pensioners pay dog tax: Berlin saves a lot of money
In Berlin, pensioners cannot be exempted from the dog tax, but only those not receiving pensions. The city of Berlin saves tens of thousands of Euros annually due to this, as stated in the response of the Finance Administration to a written inquiry from the CDU faction in the Senate with the title "Is a Dog a Dog? Unequal Treatment in Dog Tax Exemptions". The background is the Dog Tax Law in the capital.
The tax exemption can be granted upon request, among other things, to dog owners who receive pensions. The exemption is independent of the level of pension benefits, as explained by the Finance Administration. However, someone who receives a pension under civil service law is not eligible for a tax exemption, as stipulated in the law.
Many pensioners are exempted from the dog tax
In the previous year, a total of 8255 applications for dog tax exemptions were submitted in Berlin, nearly half of which (4102) were from pensioners. The Finance Administration estimates that the number of pensioners who own dogs and apply for dog tax exemptions is around 1500. "The resulting tax revenue reductions would amount to approximately 200,000 Euros annually."
The Finance Administration justifies the unequal treatment by stating that expanding the tax exemption to pensioners regardless of income would contradict the purpose of the tax exemption provision. It is intended for those for whom the costs of dog ownership plus tax payments represent a significant burden. The Finance Administration refers to data from the Federal Statistical Office for 2021 in this context: The average pension was 3160 Euros gross per month.
- Despite being exempted from the dog tax in many cases, pensioners in Berlin still have to pay it if they receive a pension.
- The CDU faction in the Berlin Senate inquired about the unequal treatment in dog tax exemptions, leading to the city saving thousands of Euros annually.
- The annual savings from not exempting certain pensioners from the dog tax amount to approximately 200,000 Euros, according to the Finance Administration's estimates.
- The Finance Administration justifies the unequal treatment by considering the purpose of the tax exemption provision, which primarily aims to help those with a significant financial burden from dog ownership and taxes.
- In Berlin, where the Dog Tax Law is enforced, the average pension is 3160 Euros gross per month, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office in 2021.
