The electronic patient file is coming and letter postage is becoming more expensive. Many reforms will come into force in 2025, which will also affect the incomes of many citizens. Where will there be more money in the future and where won’t there be?
The minimum wage will increase in 2025, and there will be new options for last names when you get married. The new year also brings some tax relief. An overview of what awaits citizens:
Higher tax allowance
The basic tax allowance, i.e. the income up to which no tax has to be paid, increases. In 2025 it will be 12,096 euros. The child allowance will be increased to 9,600 euros.
Electronic patient files for all legally insured people
By 2025, every health insurance patient should receive an electronic patient file (ePA) – unless they object. All health data such as X-rays, doctor’s letters and laboratory results should be stored in the electronic file. The introduction of the ePA is intended to make it easier to exchange documents between different doctor’s practices or with pharmacies.
The electronic patient file is to be tested in two model regions in Franconia and Hamburg from January 15th and later used nationwide.
The minimum wage will rise from 12.41 euros to 12.82 euros per hour on January 1st. There is also more for trainees: the minimum salary in the first year of training increases by 4.7 percent to 649 euros per month.
As a result of the minimum wage increase, the upper limit for so-called mini-jobs also increases. This will increase from January 538 to 556 euros per month.
Pensioners should receive higher pensions from July 1st. The official forecast for the pension increase is around 3.5 percent more. But that is not yet completely certain, because it will only be in the spring that the Federal Cabinet will determine how pensions will actually increase, depending on the current economic situation and wage developments.
Child benefit will be increased by five euros to 255 euros on January 1st. The immediate child allowance, which additionally supports families with low incomes, also increases by five euros to 25 euros per month. In addition, the child allowance increases by 60 euros per year.
Cuts in parental allowance
The parental allowance that mothers and fathers receive as a wage replacement benefit if they stay at home after the birth of a child should only go to couples who have a taxable annual income of a maximum of 175,000 euros. This new limit applies if the child is born on or after April 1st.
Comprehensive real-time transfers
Anyone who transfers money within the euro area can do so in real time at all banks nationwide from October 9th – at any time. According to the relevant EU regulation, all banks must be able to receive such real-time transfers from January 9th. They also must not be more expensive than other transfers.
From January, a standard letter in Germany will cost 95 cents, 10 cents more than before. Other types of shipments from Deutsche Post are also becoming more expensive. In addition, the post office is abolishing the priority letter: anyone who now wants to send urgent mail has to rely on the more expensive registered mail.
Letters later in the mailbox
The delivery of letters is slowing down. Starting next year, according to a government regulation, the post office will no longer have to deliver 80 percent of letters on the next working day; instead, 95 percent of standard letters will only have to arrive on the third working day after they are posted.
New possibilities for last names
From May 1st, spouses will be allowed to use a common double name with or without a hyphen. Previously, only one spouse could take such a name.
Even if their parents decide against a double name, children can have a double name under the new naming law. If the parents do not choose a family name after the birth of their child, the child automatically gets a double name. In addition, the first family name that parents set for a child also applies to other children together.
Germany ticket is becoming more expensive
The 49 euro ticket becomes the 58 euro ticket. For the around 13 million users of the Deutschlandticket so far, bus and train travel will be nine euros more expensive at the turn of the year.
Passports and ID cards with digital images
From the end of April, citizens no longer need to bring a printed photo with them when applying for a new ID card or passport. The passport photo should then be sent to the citizens’ offices in electronic form.
Health insurance could become more expensive
Those with statutory health insurance must expect higher costs for health insurance – some larger health insurance companies have already announced premium increases. The average additional contribution, which serves as a benchmark for the health insurance companies, is 2.5 percent, which is 0.8 percentage points more than in 2024. The health insurance companies themselves determine the amount of the additional contribution for 2025 for their insured persons.
Mandatory limit in private health insurance higher
The compulsory insurance limit increases to 73,800 euros in annual income. Anyone whose income is above this limit can take out private health insurance.
Rising fuel prices due to higher CO2 prices
From January 1st, the previously set increase in the CO2 price from 45 to 55 euros per ton will take effect. This potentially also increases the price of fuels such as petrol and diesel. A liter of gasoline would cost the equivalent of 2.4 cents more.
National Veterans Day
The veterans of the Bundeswehr will be honored on June 15th. The plan is to organize a big event in Berlin on the weekend before or after June 15th. A veteran of the Bundeswehr is anyone who is in active service as a soldier in the Bundeswehr or who has honorably left this service.
Dentists are no longer allowed to place new dental fillings containing mercury on their patients. Exceptions apply if a dentist considers such a filling to be absolutely necessary due to the patient’s medical needs. The export of dental amalgam is also prohibited under the EU regulation.
Stricter rules for organic waste
From May onwards, stricter rules for the disposal of organic waste will apply. If a higher proportion of contaminants – such as plastic – than three percent is found during an inspection by the garbage collector or a disposal company, the organic waste bin should be left unemptied. Fines are also possible for violations.
Old clothes must be disposed of separately
Old jeans, discarded bed linen or broken sweaters should no longer be disposed of in the residual waste bin. There is a so-called mandatory separate collection of old textiles.
Tax relief for hobby brewers
Home brewers who produce beer for their own consumption will have tax relief from January. You are allowed to brew 500 liters of beer per year tax-free, as stated in the annual tax law.
The property tax reform for property owners will take effect from January. In the future, different methods will apply in the federal states, some of which are controversial. How much a homeowner has to pay varies.
The gas storage levy, which makes up part of the natural gas price, will rise to 2.99 euros per megawatt hour (around 0.3 cents per kilowatt hour) on January 1st. So far it is 2.50 euros per megawatt hour. For a household with an annual consumption of 20,000 kilowatt hours, there are additional costs of almost ten euros per year.
Citizens with low incomes should receive higher rent subsidies from the state. The monthly housing benefit increases by an average of 30 euros or 15 percent at the turn of the year.
Higher social security contributions for high earners
High earners should pay higher social security contributions on a regular basis. In the future, contributions to statutory pension insurance will probably be due up to a monthly income of 8,050 euros. Anyone who earns more only pays pension contributions up to this limit. The contribution assessment limit for statutory health and nursing care insurance is to rise to 5,512.50 euros per month.
More money in geriatric care
Employees in geriatric care will receive more money from July 1st. The minimum wage per hour increases to 20.50 euros for nursing staff, to 17.35 euros for qualified nursing assistants and to 16.10 euros for nursing assistants.
The new Bundestag is scheduled to be elected on February 23rd. Because of the new electoral law, Parliament will be smaller – 630 seats are planned. Unlike previous elections, the so-called overhang and compensatory mandates will no longer apply; the second vote result of a party is decisive for the number of seats.
Benefit cuts for asylum seekers
Asylum seekers in Germany receive less money for their living expenses. At the turn of the year, the monthly requirement rates decrease by 13 to 19 euros, depending on age, living and family situation.
Given the rising costs of care, those insured will have to pay higher contributions. The contribution increases by 0.2 percentage points.
Duration of receipt of short-time work benefits increases
As of January 1st, the period of receipt of short-time work benefits will be extended to up to 24 months until December 31st, 2025.
More accessibility in online trading
From June 28th, online retailers must offer their portals barrier-free for people with disabilities. Then the Accessibility Strengthening Act applies. This also applies, among other things, to banking services or the apps and websites of transport companies.
Schufa removes flaws earlier
Defaulting consumers can get rid of a negative Schufa entry more quickly: In the event of a one-time late payment, such data will be deleted from January 1st after 18 months and not after 36 months as was previously the case. However, the reduction is subject to conditions, for example the unpaid invoice must be paid within 100 days of a reminder being reported to the credit agency.
Obligation to provide advice on biocidal products
Anyone who wants to buy products containing biocides, such as pesticides, will in future have to seek advice before purchasing. A so-called delivery interview is mandatory for on-site purchases. The rule also applies to online trading – information can be provided by telephone or video transmission.
Germany turns the clocks twice again, on the last Sundays in March and October – then the switch to summer and winter time respectively.
State animal husbandry logo is coming
From August 2025, anyone who buys pork in the supermarket will be able to find out about the farming method for domestic products using a mandatory logo. The system with five categories ranges from the “stable” type of housing with the legal minimum requirements to “organic”. Voluntary labeling of retail chains has been in place since 2019.
Closure of the Berlin-Hamburg railway line
The train route between Hamburg and Berlin is scheduled to be closed between August 2025 and April 2026. The railway is carrying out a general renovation during this period.
dpa
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
