April 1, 2024 (EIRNS)—Beginning today, the full value-added tax, or VAT tax rate of 19% will again apply to gas and district heating—the reduction to 7% decided by the German government in the wake of the war in Ukraine is coming to an end. From today, consumers will once again have to pay the full VAT rate of 19% on gas and district heating.
According to an energy expert at the comparison portal Verivox, the gas price will increase “abruptly” by 11%. It can be assumed that along with other effects of the government decision to boycott gas imports from Russia and go for more expensive sources like LNG, this will lead to a significant increase in energy costs for consumers starting in April. For low-income households, gas will be less affordable.
