Bundestag votes for bureaucracy relief

The Bundestag has passed the Bureaucracy Reduction Act IV. The skilled trades see it as a positive approach, but without any noticeable relief effects.

This article is part of the special topic Bureaucratic madness in the craft industry

With the now from German Bundestag decided Bureaucracy Reduction Act IV (BEG IV) is intended to boost the economy by 944 million euros annually The majority of the savings will be made with four measures can be achieved: 

• The draft provides for amendments to the Commercial Code, the Tax Code and the Value Added Tax Act, which will reduce the retention period for accounting documents in commercial and tax law from ten to eight years.
• A central database of powers of attorney for tax advisors in the area of ​​social security (general powers of attorney) is to be set up.
• In the future, German citizens will no longer be required to register with hotels. This will significantly ease the burden on the accommodation industry and the affected overnight guests.
• Digital transformation is to be promoted, in particular, by reducing formal requirements in civil law. This will enable many legal transactions to be processed digitally in the future without media disruption, thus significantly simplifying the daily lives of both businesses and citizens. This also includes other measures, such as the digitization of utility bills and the option of digitally scanning passports for flight check-in.

"Better regulation and reducing bureaucracy are permanent tasks of all government action. In times of multiple crises, stagnating economies and strained budgets, the elimination of unnecessary bureaucracy particularly urgent", the draft law states.

Liberation strike fails to materialize

The trade sees it the same way, but the planned law will not meet the urgent need for action. not fair"The comprehensive reduction of unnecessary bureaucracy is essential for the Competitiveness and future viability of the local craft industry elementary", says Holger Schwannecke. 

"It was urgently necessary for the Bundestag to amend the BEG IV by further relief measures enriched. The great liberation remains to be seen," said the Secretary General of the Central Association of German Crafts (ZDH).

Reducing bureaucracy too hesitant

He recognizes "correct approaches and additions" and calls the Partial abolition of the non-cause-related risk assessment under maternity protection law of jobs or the Adjustment of the de minimis limit for artists' social insurance.

However, the law will still succeed in reducing bureaucracy too hesitant to noticeable relief effects across the whole of the craft sector. "The BEG IV can also be future new burdens, such as the foreseeable sustainability reporting obligations, only a Intermediate step be."

ZDH calls for annual relief packages

The roadmap for reducing bureaucracy is clear and the trades are delivering practical suggestions for implementation. Schnwannecke demands annual relief packages with a "real net relief and more effective exemptions for crafts and small and medium-sized businesses".

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