Tax department specifically asked
Tax officials have earned 700,000 euros on the side since the election
December 28, 2023, 10:09 a.m
In mid-December, ZDF revealed that a top official in the Federal Ministry of Finance was giving tax tips to wealthy people. The knowledge of other officials in Christian Lindner’s ministry also seems to be in demand: almost 450 secondary jobs were approved in 2022 and 2023.
Officials at the Federal Ministry of Finance followed suit Information from the “Star” has earned more than 700,000 euros on the side since the start of the legislative period. A total of 248 secondary activities were approved in 2022 and 197 in 2023, according to a response from the ministry to a request from CDU member of the Bundestag Matthias Hauer. The income from secondary activities amounted to 412,842 euros in 2022 and a total of 303,135 euros in 2023. The letter is available to “Stern”.
This adds another facet to the discussion about the work of tax officials. The officials are in focus after ZDF revealed that a head of department at the Federal Ministry of Finance presented tips on how to avoid taxes at an event. According to the report, she announced to the mostly wealthy participants at the event that a tax break on property transfer tax could be eliminated at the beginning of the year. The top official was quoted by ZDF as saying that this abolition of tax breaks for the wealthy could be solved: “We have toolboxes, at least I have a lot.” Finance Minister Christian Lindner’s office then declared that it would review the rules of conduct for secondary employment.
The secondary activities are apparently a good source of income, especially for officials in the tax department. The ministry’s information shows that since the beginning of the legislative period, by far the highest income has come from the corresponding Department IV. There, the remuneration from secondary activities totaled 159,666 euros in 2022 and a total of 98,558 euros in 2023.
CDU MP Hauer criticizes the “excessive proportions” of the secondary activities in “Stern” and calls on the Ministry of Finance to clarify the cases in more detail. “The BMF should explain in detail which secondary activities were approved, refused or revoked and which time limits, requirements or conditions the ministry has ordered.” Hauer continued: “It is high time that the rules of conduct in the Ministry of Finance were put to the test.”