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Any discrepancies in totals are due to rounding. ¹ Including government draft of a second supplementary federal budget for 2021, which was approved by the Federal Cabinet on 13 December 2021. ² As per accounts. ³ With the exception of expenditure on the repayment of debt incurred on the credit market, allocations to reserves and expenditure made to cover a cash deficit. Excluding expenditure from internal offsetting. ⁴ With the exception of revenue from loans on the credit market, withdrawals from reserves, revenue from cash surpluses and seigniorage. Excluding revenue from internal offsetting. ⁵ Negative values denote accumulation of reserves. ⁶ (-) debt repayment; (+) borrowing. Source: Federal Ministry of Finance
Federal revenue for the period from January to November 2021 totalled approximately €277.3bn, up by 5.0% (about €13.3bn) on the year, but still about €28.9bn below the figure for the same period in 2019. Tax receipts (taking into account transfers of own resources to the EU) in the first 11 months of the year were up by 7.3% (about €17.4bn) on the year. Revenue from income tax and corporation tax was up by 13.6% (about €15.4bn), while the yield from value added taxes was up by 16.3% (about €14.2bn) on the year. Revenue from the solidarity surcharge was down by 42.7% (about €6.7bn), largely due to the abolition this year of the solidarity surcharge for approximately 90% of wages tax and income tax payers. Tax revenue growth was also tempered by the trend in payments to the EU (GNI-based own resources and VAT-based own resources), which were up by about €7.4bn on the year.
The category of “other revenue” was down by 17.0% (about €4.1bn) on the year in the January–November period. This was mainly due to the fact that the Federation’s share (€2.5bn) of the Bundesbank’s net profits was not remitted. Fines collected by the Federal Cartel Office were also down by about €0.8bn on the year. Furthermore, the figures for the period reflect the absence of dividend payments by Deutsche Bahn. In 2020, Deutsche Bahn paid the Federation a dividend of €650m.
Measures to counteract the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects are having a significant impact on budget execution in 2021. Federal expenditure in the first 11 months of 2021 totalled approximately €444.9bn, up by 11.9% (about €47.3bn) on the year. A breakdown by economic category shows that higher spending in the January–November period was driven mainly by consumption spending, which was up by 8.9% (about €32.2bn). Ongoing grants to social security funds and subsidies to businesses made up most of this rise. Subsidies to businesses climbed by 53.3% (about €23.0bn) on the year. Most of this increase consisted of assistance to businesses affected by the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. About €35.7bn of the funds earmarked for this purpose were disbursed by 30 November 2021. Grants to social security funds were up by 15.1% (about €19.8bn) on the year. This includes a year-on-year increase of about €13.5bn in disbursements to the health fund to cover pandemic-related costs. These grants also include €3.0bn in disbursements to the health fund’s liquidity reserves for a programme to future-proof hospitals, which was established this year; this is the full amount that was budgeted for this purpose. Ongoing grants to public administrations fell by 24.0% (about €17.4bn) on the year. This decline was influenced by a number of factors, which to some extent offset each other. The most important ones are as follows: As part of the government stimulus package that was adopted in response to the pandemic, a €27.6bn grant was paid into the Energy and Climate Fund in November 2020. In 2021, €2.5bn has been allocated to the fund so far. In addition, pandemic-related compensation payments under section 21 of the Hospital Financing Act (Krankenhausfinanzierungsgesetz) are about €4.0bn lower so far this year than in 2020. Furthermore, a €6.1bn grant that was allocated to the Länder in 2020 to compensate local authorities for shortfalls in trade tax revenue was not repeated in 2021. These reduced expenditures in 2021 were offset to some extent by grants totalling €16.0bn to the special fund for reconstruction aid (Aufbauhilfe 2021), which was established in response to the severe flooding that occurred in July 2021.
Investment spending in the first 11 months of 2021 totalled about €52.0bn, an increase of 40.7% (about €15.0bn) over the same period last year. The main factor driving this increase was liquidity assistance provided to the Federal Employment Agency, which was booked in the form of loans and increased by approximately €10.9bn on the year. In contrast, fixed asset investment was down by 47.3% (about €4.4bn) due to a decline in spending on construction projects. The year-on-year decline in construction spending is due mainly to a special factor that is affecting the entire year: since the beginning of 2021, investments in trunk road construction have been outsourced to Autobahn GmbH des Bundes (Federal Autobahn GmbH). The necessary funds are being provided to Autobahn GmbH des Bundes in the form of investment grants, which rose by approximately €3.7bn on the year in November 2021. Approximately €5.5bn has been earmarked for these investment grants in 2021. As a result, about €4.7bn less has been budgeted for construction investment in 2021 than in 2020 (and about €4.2bn less than the amount that was actually spent on construction investment in 2020).
The federal budget recorded a deficit of €167.6bn for the period from January to November 2021.
Revenue and expenditure are subject to strong fluctuations over the course of the fiscal year and thus have an uneven effect on cash funds in individual months. Net borrowing also tends to fluctuate considerably over the course of the year. This means that the fiscal balance at any given point in the year and the corresponding net borrowing figures are not reliable indicators of the end-of-year figures for the fiscal balance and net borrowing.
Trends in federal expenditure by function
Trends in federal expenditure by function
General public services
95,479
21.6
103,911
18.1
81,034
84,971
+4.9
Economic cooperation and development
12,127
2.7
12,324
2.2
8,551
9,040
+5.7
Defence
45,471
10.3
47,019
8.2
38,540
39,813
+3.3
Government, central administration
19,199
4.3
22,707
4.0
17,925
19,090
+6.5
Revenue administration
5,342
1.2
5,922
1.0
4,795
5,302
+10.6
Education, science, research, cultural affairs
28,645
6.5
31,829
5.6
20,540
22,557
+9.8
Support for school and university students and training programme participants
6,045
1.4
5,182
0.9
3,163
4,550
+43.9
Science, research and development outside of higher education institutions
15,236
3.4
18,207
3.2
11,435
11,570
+1.2
Social security, family affairs and youth, labour market policy
218,365
49.4
284,649
49.7
207,410
259,889
+25.3
Social security funds including unemployment insurance
129,829
29.4
134,149
23.4
126,394
144,333
+14.2
of which:
General pension insurance
93,004
21.1
97,401
17.0
91,652
95,931
+4.7
Health insurance
15,884
3.6
19,010
3.3
14,518
17,440
+20.1
Unemployment insurance
6,913
1.6
3,350
0.6
6,507
17,419
+167.7
Labour market policy
40,876
9.3
45,360
7.9
37,039
38,613
+4.2
of which:
Basic income support for jobseekers under Book II of the Social Code
20,658
4.7
23,700
4.1
19,188
20,296
+5.8
Government housing and heating allowances under Book II of the Social Code
10,097
2.3
11,200
2.0
8,951
9,299
+3.9
Family assistance, welfare services, etc.
10,343
2.3
11,395
2.0
9,538
10,160
+6.5
Social benefits for the consequences of war and political events
2,039
0.5
2,269
0.4
1,842
1,855
+0.7
Other social affairs
24,149
5.5
79,621
13.9
21,932
54,121
+146.8
Health, environment, sport, recreation
19,001
4.3
25,114
4.4
17,334
15,690
-9.5
Housing, urban development, regional planning and local community services
1,783
0.4
2,972
0.5
1,288
1,691
+31.3
Housing, home ownership savings premium
893
0.2
1,675
0.3
782
1,117
+42.7
Food, agriculture and forestry
1,469
0.3
2,611
0.5
748
1,269
+69.6
Energy and water management, trade and services
5,509
1.2
14,620
2.6
4,758
4,630
-2.7
Regional support measures
1,400
0.3
2,968
0.5
1,012
1,167
+15.3
Mining, manufacturing and construction
2,316
0.5
1,491
0.3
2,263
664
-70.7
Transport and communication
22,961
5.2
33,683
5.9
18,708
25,101
+34.2
Roads
9,791
2.2
9,815
1.7
7,915
6,876
-13.1
Railways and public transport
8,156
1.8
16,321
2.8
6,459
11,970
+85.3
Financial management
48,585
11.0
73,336
12.8
45,783
29,057
-36.5
Interest expenditure and borrowing-related expenditure
6,457
1.5
10,267
1.8
4,935
4,277
-13.3
Total expenditure²
441,798
100.0
572,726
100.0
397,602
444,855
+11.9
¹ Including government draft of a second supplementary federal budget for 2021, which was approved by the Federal Cabinet on 13 December 2021. ² With the exception of expenditure on the repayment of debt incurred on the credit market, allocations to reserves and expenditure made to cover a cash deficit. Excluding expenditure from internal offsetting. Source: Federal Ministry of Finance
Trends in federal expenditure by economic category
Trends in federal expenditure by economic category
Consumption expenditure
391,450
88.6
521,191
91.0
360,611
392,827
+8.9
Human resources expenditure
35,409
8.0
35,960
6.3
33,305
34,536
+3.7
Salary payments
26,249
5.9
26,817
4.7
24,549
25,665
+4.5
Pensions
9,160
2.1
9,144
1.6
8,756
8,871
+1.3
Operating expenditure
36,370
8.2
44,823
7.8
28,656
30,521
+6.5
Maintenance of immovable property
1,801
0.4
1,164
0.2
1,527
896
-41.3
Military procurement
16,833
3.8
18,155
3.2
12,141
12,413
+2.2
Other
17,736
4.0
25,504
4.5
14,988
17,212
+14.8
Interest expenditure
6,413
1.5
10,261
1.8
4,891
4,252
-13.1
Ongoing grants and subsidies
312,053
70.6
426,125
74.4
292,695
319,919
+9.3
to public administrations
75,607
17.1
100,670
17.6
72,426
55,024
-24.0
to other areas
236,446
53.5
325,455
56.8
220,269
264,895
+20.3
of which:
Companies
49,569
11.2
104,429
18.2
43,091
66,052
+53.3
Pensions, benefits, etc.
30,735
7.0
36,535
6.4
28,557
30,333
+6.2
Social security funds
134,613
30.5
153,495
26.8
130,711
150,493
+15.1
Other asset transfers
1,205
0.3
4,022
0.7
1,064
3,599
+238.3
Investment expenditure
50,348
11.4
59,268
10.3
36,991
52,028
+40.7
Financial assistance
38,756
8.8
51,165
8.9
27,601
47,075
+70.6
Grants and subsidies
30,652
6.9
39,856
7.0
20,502
24,513
+19.6
Loans, guarantees
7,630
1.7
6,680
1.2
7,090
19,555
+175.8
Acquisition of holdings; capital contributions
473
0.1
4,628
0.8
9
3,006
X
Fixed asset investment
11,592
2.6
8,103
1.4
9,391
4,953
-47.3
Construction projects
8,192
1.9
4,554
0.8
6,702
3,104
-53.7
Acquisition of movable assets
2,816
0.6
3,412
0.6
2,183
1,785
-18.2
Acquisition of real property
585
0.1
137
0.0
506
65
-87.2
General reduction/increase in expenditure
0
0.0
-7,733
-1.4
0
0
-
Total expenditure²
441,798
100.0
572,726
100.0
397,602
444,855
+11.9
¹ Including government draft of a second supplementary federal budget for 2021, which was approved by the Federal Cabinet on 13 December 2021.
² With the exception of expenditure on the repayment of debt incurred on the credit market, allocations to reserves and expenditure made to cover a cash deficit. Excluding expenditure from internal offsetting.
Source: Federal Ministry of Finance
Income tax and corporation tax
(incl. final withholding tax on interest and capital gains)
140,012
45.0
134,358
40.4
113,736
129,171
+13.6
Includes:
Wages tax
89,075
28.6
84,651
25.5
75,687
76,429
+1.0
Assessed income tax
25,067
8.1
24,814
7.5
18,050
22,347
+23.8
Non-assessed tax on earnings
10,761
3.5
9,200
2.8
9,255
11,132
+20.3
Final withholding tax on interest and capital gains
2,976
1.0
2,794
0.8
2,648
3,904
+47.4
Corporation tax
12,134
3.9
12,899
3.9
8,095
15,360
+89.7
Value added taxes
94,391
30.3
114,323
34.4
86,850
101,011
+16.3
Trade tax apportionment paid to Federation and Länder
1,574
0.5
1,789
0.5
1,238
1,654
+33.6
Energy duty
37,635
12.1
39,850
12.0
29,805
29,137
-2.2
Tobacco duty
14,651
4.7
14,190
4.3
12,655
12,796
+1.1
Solidarity surcharge
18,676
6.0
9,950
3.0
15,650
8,968
-42.7
Insurance tax
14,553
4.7
14,890
4.5
13,836
14,250
+3.0
Electricity duty
6,561
2.1
6,880
2.1
5,990
6,080
+1.5
Motor vehicle tax
9,526
3.1
9,545
2.9
8,837
8,901
+0.7
Alcohol duty including alcopops duty
2,249
0.7
2,102
0.6
1,884
1,795
-4.7
Coffee duty
1,060
0.3
1,070
0.3
951
953
+0.2
Aviation tax
292
0.1
630
0.2
260
498
+91.5
Sparkling wine duty and intermediate products duty
428
0.1
394
0.1
356
311
-12.6
Other taxes accruing to the Federation
1
0.0
2
0.0
2
2
+0.0
Deductions
Consolidation assistance for the Länder
1,067
X
800
X
1,067
800
-25.0
Supplementary grants to Länder
8,751
X
9,179
X
6,530
7,653
+17.2
EU own resources (GNI-based)
25,616
X
33,280
X
22,739
28,386
+24.8
EU own resources (VAT-based)
2,473
X
4,430
X
2,269
4,065
+79.2
Grants to Länder for public transport
11,457
X
9,268
X
10,710
8,495
-20.7
Grants to Länder for motor vehicle tax and HGV toll
8,992
X
8,992
X
8,992
8,992
-
Other revenue
27,831
8.9
48,290
14.5
24,244
20,128
-17.0
Revenue from economic activity
7,263
2.3
5,352
1.6
5,688
2,807
-50.7
Interest revenue
364
0.1
385
0.1
300
286
-4.7
Loan repayments, holdings, privatisation proceeds
1,342
0.4
1,253
0.4
1,032
1,039
+0.7
Total revenue²
311,085
100.0
332,314
100.0
263,989
277,266
+5.0
¹ Including government draft of a second supplementary federal budget for 2021, which was approved by the Federal Cabinet on 13 December 2021. ² With the exception of revenue from loans on the credit market, withdrawals from reserves, revenue from cash surpluses and seigniorage. Excluding revenue from internal offsetting. Source: Federal Ministry of Finance
2021 trends in tax revenue (excluding local authority taxes)
2021 trends in tax revenue (excluding local authority taxes)¹
Joint taxes
Wages tax²
17,646
+7.4
190,289
+4.2
217,950
+4.1
Assessed income tax
1,129
X
52,583
+23.8
69,300
+17.5
Non-assessed taxes on earnings
1,310
-13.0
22,282
+19.5
23,950
+11.4
Final withholding tax on interest and capital gains (including the former withholding tax on interest income)
668
+24.8
8,873
+47.4
9,500
+40.5
Corporation tax
1,965
X
30,720
+89.7
38,900
+60.3
Value added taxes
20,406
+10.2
223,784
+11.7
246,500
+12.3
Trade tax apportionment paid to Federation and Länder
267
+69.0
3,917
+31.1
4,882
+28.5
Increased trade tax apportionment
-0
X
-0
X
0
X
Total joint taxes
43,391
+17.7
532,448
+13.4
610,982
+12.3
Taxes accruing to the Federation
Energy duty
3,391
-1.8
29,137
-2.2
37,050
-1.6
Tobacco duty
1,185
+12.7
12,796
+1.1
14,560
-0.6
Alcohol duty
184
+0.6
1,800
-3.9
2,000
-10.6
Insurance tax
1,002
+4.1
14,250
+3.0
14,960
+2.8
Electricity duty
565
+2.1
6,080
+1.5
6,670
+1.7
Motor vehicle tax
778
+18.5
8,901
+0.7
9,470
-0.6
Aviation tax
102
+832.9
498
+91.5
560
+91.7
Solidarity surcharge
511
-52.6
8,968
-42.7
11,500
-38.4
Other taxes accruing to the Federation
115
-12.6
1,261
-4.4
1,413
-5.8
Total taxes accruing to the Federation
7,834
-3.1
83,691
-7.2
98,183
-7.1
Taxes accruing to the Länder
Inheritance tax
1,266
+94.5
8,919
+14.6
9,100
+5.8
Real property transfer tax
1,665
+23.6
16,655
+14.5
18,150
+13.0
Betting and lottery tax
210
+18.2
2,099
+14.1
2,340
+14.5
Beer duty
49
-8.3
538
+3.4
590
+4.2
Other taxes accruing to the Länder
25
+6.2
493
+5.4
535
+5.0
Total taxes accruing to the Länder
3,215
+42.7
28,704
+14.1
30,715
+10.6
EU own resources
Customs duties
427
+27.3
4,484
+4.2
4,850
+3.1
VAT-based own resources
370
+377.2
4,065
+79.2
4,420
+78.7
GNI-based own resources
2,621
-39.7
28,386
+24.8
28,280
+10.4
Total EU own resources
3,417
-28.2
36,934
+26.0
38,870
+18.5
Federation³
21,152
+27.2
260,725
+8.2
305,431
+7.9
Länder³
26,592
+16.6
305,953
+10.9
347,128
+9.7
EU
3,417
-28.2
36,934
+26.0
38,870
+18.5
Local authorities’ share of income tax and value added tax
3,706
+10.8
45,714
+7.1
53,302
+6.4
Total tax revenue (excluding local authority taxes)
54,867
+15.4
649,326
+10.2
744,730
+9.1
¹ Methodology: Total cash income from the various taxes is recorded and allocated to the various government levels as stipulated by law. Tax amounts actually received in the current month by individual government levels may differ from the target amounts for technical reasons. ² After deduction of child benefit refunds by the Federal Central Tax Office. ³ After supplementary grants; any discrepancies with the table on trends in federal revenue are due to the methodology used (see footnote 1). ⁴ Results of the Working Party on Tax Revenue Estimates of November 2021. Source: Federal Ministry of Finance
Total tax revenue (excluding local authority taxes) was up by 15.4% on the year in November 2021. This increase was largely due to higher revenue from joint taxes, which was up by 17.7% on the year. Taxes posting year-on-year revenue gains – some of them significant – included wages tax, value added taxes, assessed income tax and corporation tax. These gains likely reflect the economic recovery in the second and third quarters of 2021, which has led to current rates of unemployment and short-time work that are much lower, and employment levels that are higher, than at any time so far during the pandemic (see the article [in Germany only] on economic trends in the current issue of the Finance Ministry’s monthly report). These positive trends have had a particularly important impact on wages tax revenue. In addition, the baseline figure for VAT revenue (in November 2020) was reduced significantly by the temporary cut in VAT rates in the second half of 2020. Revenue from taxes accruing solely to the Federation was down by 3.1% on the year in November, while receipts from taxes accruing to the Länder surged by 42.7%.
Transfers of own resources to the EU, including customs duties, were down by about €1.3bn (28.2%) on the year in November 2021, partly due to the fact that the figure for November 2020 was affected by a special factor (the retroactive settlement of Germany’s contribution to an EU amending budget). In general, monthly requisitions are based on the annual EU budget that is in force for the respective year. Such requisitions can be subject to fluctuations, however, especially when amending budgets take effect.
Cumulative overview of the January–November 2021 period
In the 11 months from January to November 2021, total tax receipts (excluding local authority taxes) were up by 10.2% over the same period in 2020. Revenue from joint taxes rose by 13.4%, while receipts from taxes accruing solely to the Federation fell by 7.2%. Revenue from taxes accruing solely to the Länder grew by 14.1%.
Distribution among the Federation, Länder and local authorities
The Federation’s tax receipts (after accounting for supplementary federal grants to the Länder) were up by 27.2% on the year in November 2021. The Federation’s take from joint taxes grew by 22.6%. This was higher than the increase in overall revenue from joint taxes, which was up by 17.7%. This discrepancy is due to the fact that the Federation’s share of VAT revenue increased by 18.1%, even though overall VAT revenue was up by just 10.2%. Under section 1 (1) of the Fiscal Equalisation Act (Finanzausgleichgesetz), the Federation receives 52.81% of overall VAT revenue. This share is reduced by annual fixed amounts that the Federation allocates to the Länder and local authorities. Because the amounts of these allocations are fixed for a given year, this means that when VAT revenue goes up, the Federation’s share of VAT revenue goes up as well. Furthermore, the fixed amount that the Federation paid to the Länder in November 2021 was lower than the amount it paid in November 2020. Other trends in November 2021: Revenue from taxes accruing solely to the Federation was down by 3.1%. Supplementary federal grants to the Länder increased. Own resources payments to the EU were lower on the year.
Länder tax receipts posted a strong year-on-year gain of 16.6% in November 2021. Due to the above-described mechanism for distributing VAT revenue, the Länder posted lower rates of year-on-year growth for VAT revenue (5.8%) and revenue from joint taxes (14.9%) than the Federation. The yield from taxes that accrue exclusively to the Länder surged by 42.7%. In addition, supplementary federal grants to the Länder increased by 8.8% on the year, and federal subsidies to the Länder for public transport rose by 3.5%.
Gross revenue from wages tax was up by 5.5% on the year in November 2021, despite the reductions in revenue caused by tax relief measures for taxpayers in the current year (i.e. the increase in the basic personal allowance and the related shift in the other tax thresholds). This upward trend reflects the marked improvement in conditions on the labour market compared with last year. Child benefit payments – which are financed from wages tax receipts – were up by 1.0% on the year (child benefit payments were increased at the beginning of 2021). Overall, cash receipts from wages tax posted a year-on-year gain of 7.4% in November. In cumulative terms, cash receipts from wages tax were up by 4.2% on the year in the first 11 months of 2021.
On balance, the gross yield from corporation tax (payments less refunds) was roughly +€2.0bn in November 2021, compared with a gross total of about €130m in November 2020. The gross figure for corporation tax revenue was then modified to account for small outgoing payments of the tax allowance for research and small incoming repayments of investment allowance. On balance, these payments totalled around €5.4m and had only a minimal impact on cash receipts from corporation tax. Cumulatively, cash receipts from corporation tax were up by 89.7% on the year in the first 11 months of 2021.
Gross receipts from assessed income tax were up by about €1.2bn on the year in November 2021. Employee refunds (which are subtracted from the gross figure) totalled €1.0bn, down by 0.4% compared with the same month last year. Investment allowance payments, research allowance payments and owner-occupied homes premiums, which are insignificant in terms of amount, are also subtracted from the gross figure. On balance, the yield from assessed income tax in November 2021 totalled approximately +€1.1bn, compared with last November’s total of roughly €128m. In cumulative terms, cash receipts from assessed income tax were up by 23.8% on the year in the first 11 months of 2021.
Gross receipts from non-assessed taxes on earnings were down by 12.9% on the year in November 2021. Refunds by the Federal Central Tax Office, which are financed from gross revenue, totalled about €68m (+12.5% on the year). Overall, cash receipts from non-assessed taxes on earnings fell by 13.0% on the year in November. Cumulatively, cash receipts from non-assessed taxes on earnings were up by 19.5% on the year in the first 11 months of 2021.
Final withholding tax on interest and capital gains
Revenue from final withholding tax on interest and capital gains grew by 24.8% on the year in November 2021. Cumulative cash receipts from this tax were up by 47.4% on the year in the first 11 months of 2021.
Revenue from value added taxes was up by 10.2% on the year in November 2021. Receipts from domestic VAT grew by 21.4%, while the yield from import VAT fell by 28.2%. Starting in 2021, the due date for paying import VAT was moved to the 26th day of the month. Depending on how many working days remain until the end of a given month, some revenue may not be posted to government accounts until the following month. This type of accounting-related revenue shift was the main reason for the year-on-year decline in import VAT receipts in November 2021.
In addition, it is important to keep in mind that cash receipts from value added taxes in November 2020 were comparatively low, particularly due to the temporary cut in VAT rates in the second half of 2020. Nevertheless, the current VAT revenue figures do also reflect the marked economic recovery that has occurred over the course of 2021: taking into account the above-mentioned revenue shift that resulted from the change in due dates, VAT receipts in November 2021 were likely even slightly higher than the total for the pre-pandemic month of November 2019. In cumulative terms, cash receipts from value added taxes were up by 11.7% in the first 11 months of 2021.
In November 2021, revenue from taxes accruing solely to the Federation was down by 3.1% compared with the same month last year, mainly due to the partial elimination of the solidarity surcharge from 1 January 2021 onwards. Revenue from the solidarity surcharge was down by 52.6% on the year. Energy duty revenue also fell slightly on the year by 1.8%. In contrast, several taxes posted robust revenue gains, including tobacco duty (+12.7%), insurance tax (+4.1%), electricity duty (+2.1%) and especially aviation tax (+832.9%). While air traffic at German airports has increased significantly following the sharp contraction caused by the onset of the pandemic, aviation tax receipts in November 2021 were still 10.5% below pre-pandemic levels (November 2019). Furthermore, the growth in air traffic has currently stalled, presumably due to the recent increase in infection rates. Trends in revenue from other taxes had only a minor impact on overall receipts from federal taxes. In cumulative terms, cash receipts from taxes accruing solely to the Federation were down by 7.2% on the year in the first 11 months of 2021.
Receipts from taxes accruing solely to the Länder were up by 42.7% on the year in November 2021. Taxes recording revenue gains included real property transfer tax (+23.6%), inheritance tax (+94.5%), fire protection tax (+6.2%) and betting and lottery tax (+18.2%). The increase in receipts from the betting and lottery tax was mainly due to the substantial proceeds from the new online poker tax and virtual slots tax, which have been levied since 1 July 2021. Receipts from beer duty fell by 8.3%. In cumulative terms, overall cash receipts from taxes accruing solely to the Länder were up by 14.1% on the year in the first 11 months of 2021.
Borrowing trends for the Federation (budget and special funds, excluding loan financing) in November 2021
Borrowing trends for the Federation (budget and special funds, excluding loan financing) in November 2021
in €m
Total
1,326,929
36,546
-15,203
1,348,272
21,343
532
broken down by purpose
Federal budget
1,284,425
37,534
-15,203
1,306,757
22,332
532
Financial Market Stabilisation Fund (loans for expenses pursuant to section 9 (1) of the Stabilisation Fund Act)
22,763
-14
-
22,749
-14
-
Investment and Redemption Fund
16,126
-
-
16,126
-
-
Economic Stabilisation Fund (loans for recapitalisation measures pursuant to section 22 of the Stabilisation Fund Act)
3,615
-975
-
2,640
-975
-
broken down by debt type
Conventional federal securities
1,230,538
35,626
-15,103
1,251,062
20,523
311
30-year federal bonds
276,276
707
-
276,983
707
-57
10-year federal bonds
573,789
5,747
-
579,536
5,747
108
Federal notes
148,913
4,785
-
153,698
4,785
116
Federal Treasury notes
83,607
5,261
-
88,868
5,261
78
Treasury discount papers issued by the Federation
147,953
19,126
-15,103
151,977
4,023
65
Inflation-linked federal securities
64,589
775
-
65,365
775
230
30-year inflation-linked federal bonds
10,403
7
-
10,410
7
6
10-year inflation-linked federal bonds
54,187
768
-
54,955
768
224
Green federal securities
21,483
144
-
21,627
144
4
30-year green federal bonds
5,575
-
-
5,575
-
-
10-year green federal bonds
11,237
-
-
11,237
-
-
Green federal notes
4,671
144
-
4,815
144
4
Securitised loans
5,845
-
-
5,845
-
-1
Loans through repurchase transactions
-
-
-
-
-
-
Other loans and ordinary debts
4,474
-
-
4,474
-
-
Additional information
Liabilities from the indexing of
inflation-linked federal securities
5,729
6,114
385
-
Reserves in accordance with the Final Payment Financing Act (Schlusszahlungsfinanzierungsgesetz)
4,294
4,318
24
-
Liabilities resulting from indexing include the amount by which the original issuance price has increased due to inflation between the start date and the specified reference date.
In contrast, reserves include only the increases that are noted on coupon payment dates (15 April of every year) (section 4 (1) of the Final Payment Financing Act) and on reopening dates for inflation-linked securities (section 4 (2) of the Final Payment Financing Act).
Borrowing trends for the Federation (loan financing) in November 2021
Borrowing trends for the Federation (loan financing) in November 2021
in €m
Total
90,413
-
-
90,413
-
-
broken down by purpose
Financial Market Stabilisation Fund (loans for resolution authorities pursuant to section 9 (5) of the Stabilisation Fund Act)
55,000
-
-
55,000
-
-
Economic Stabilisation Fund (loans for KfW pursuant to section 23 of the Stabilisation Fund Act)
35,413
-
-
35,413
-
-
Any discrepancies in totals are due to rounding.
Under section 9 (5) of the Stabilisation Fund Act, the Federal Ministry of Finance is empowered to borrow up to €60bn for the Financial Market Stabilisation Fund so that the Fund can grant loans to resolution authorities for the purpose of refinancing (as per section 8 (10) of the Stabilisation Fund Act) assets that they have taken over.
Such borrowing is neutral overall in terms of debt, because it replaces the funds that resolution authorities would otherwise have to borrow on the market. However, it does increase the debt level in federal securities.
Under section 24 (1) in conjunction with section 23 of the Stabilisation Fund Act, the Federal Ministry of Finance is authorised to borrow up to €100bn for the Economic Stabilisation Fund for the purpose of granting loans. Under section 23 of the Stabilisation Fund Act, the Economic Stabilisation Fund can grant loans to KfW for the purpose of refinancing the special programmes assigned to it by the federal government in response to the coronavirus crisis.