BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – In the debate about the abolition of spouse splitting, the Union warns that marriages would then be disadvantaged compared to non-marital partnerships. “Two unmarried life partners with 40,000 euros each would suddenly be better off than a single-earner marriage with 80,000 euros,” said financial policy spokeswoman Antje Tillmann on Tuesday in a statement. “This measure would affect families in the phase in which they are most dependent on support: when one of the partners is looking after small children and therefore does not work at all for a while.” In addition to the loss of salary suffered by this partner, the full force of tax progression will also have an impact on the other.
In an interview, SPD leader Lars Klingbeil proposed the abolition of spouse splitting for new marriages instead of saving on parental allowance. In his view, it would be good to put an end to this antiquated tax model, which favors the traditional distribution of roles between men and women. “And the state would save money,” he told the editorial network Germany.
With spouse splitting, the joint income of a couple is halved, the income tax due is calculated and the tax liability is then doubled. This is especially useful for couples where one earns a lot and the other a little./svv/DP/he