Rain tax in Germany
Rain tax in Germany
Germany is a country where even rain can be not only a reason for conversation, but also - believe it or not - payment of taxes! If you already feel like this is some kind of weird joke, then sit back, because it's true. Let's dig deeper and find out what kind of beast this rain tax is.
What is this tax and why is it needed?
Yes, you heard right: the rain tax (Niederschlagswassergebühr) is a real thing in the German financial system. Armed with an umbrella and prepared for weather swings, German citizens pay this tax to maintain drainage and sewerage infrastructure. Imagine that your umbrella is like a piece of financial assistance so that the rainwater does not flood the streets and basements.
Who pays it and what is its amount?
Rain tax is a tax paid by burghers who own a private home and live in a region where there is frequent rainfall. You have to pay for water that flows into the sewer in a “sealed” (paved) area, because it cannot be absorbed into the ground in such a place. Residents of St. Petersburg must have breathed a sigh of relief that they do not live in Germany.
The amount of the tax depends on the roof area of your home or building. The larger the roof, the higher the tax amount. But an ordinary flower bed or bed in front of the house can affect this amount, because, unlike asphalt, it absorbs water. The tax is usually included in the general receipt for payment of utilities as a separate item and varies from 70 cents to 2 euros per square meter of asphalt or roofed area per year. Accordingly, the total amount can be quite significant: up to 300 euros per year for an average-sized house.