Property tax reform: Witten warns of reminders and deadlines!

Property tax reform: Witten warns of reminders and deadlines!

On February 27, 2025, the city of Witten in North Rhine-Westphalia will be able to send the first reminders in the course of the property tax reform. As Radio Ennepe Ruhr , many citizens are faced with a new financial challenge, since the property tax reform brings changes to the payments to be paid. Most cities have already sent the relevant notices and are now dealing with the received contradictions of the citizens.

Especially in Witten, the city points out that reminders are sent to those who have not yet paid. Even if some of the citizens have lodged contradictions, they still have to pay the property tax, which can result in additional costs due to the reminders. The first due dates for the payments have already passed, and due to the high number of contradictions, the city cannot react to all inquiries in the usual speed. As a result, some citizens have so far received no feedback, which is considered unproblematic by the authorities.

background to property tax reform

The reform of property tax in Germany was launched according to a judgment of Federal Constitutional Court in 2018. A new setting was required because the previous calculations were based on outdated unit values ​​from the 20th century. In order to enable justified tax burdens, around 36 million plots of land must be re -evaluated nationwide. These new ratings were necessary for the submission of the declarations of the statement until January 31, 2023.

From January 1, 2025, the property tax is to be paid on the basis of the newly determined values. The Federal Fiscal Court ruled that taxpayers can prove a lower property value under certain conditions. The BUP municipal counseling emphasizes that the new calculation method is based on properties of land such as area and location and is multiplied by the municipalities by a specified rate.

reactions and challenges for citizens and cities

The uncertainties regarding the new property tax burdens will cause unrest in the coming months. The final tax burden from January 1, 2025 remains unclear until the municipalities are determined. It is also recommended to object to property tax notices, which often turns out to be complicated.

The cities face additional challenges. With the implementation of the new regulations, a more precise review and adaptation of the individual lifting rates will be necessary. The municipal administrations are required to modernize their services and administrative processes in order to meet the new requirements. The Cologne Finance Court has confirmed the constitutionality of the new property tax assessment, which could reduce the uncertainties in public administration. Nevertheless, according to the Haufe-Group , many questions are still open and require precise information from those affected.