Tax & budget

Wealth tax: where do Germany’s seven parties stand?

The statement in the quiz

Germany should bring back the wealth tax (Vermögensteuer).

Background

Germany has not collected a wealth tax since 1997, because in 1995 the Federal Constitutional Court ruled the old way of levying it unconstitutional. The law itself was never repealed. The parties that want it back all set high tax-free thresholds, from €1 million (Die Linke) to €25 million (BSW).

Sources for the background: Wikipedia: Wealth tax in Germany

At a glance

CDU/CSUAgainst
AfDAgainst
SPDFor
GreensLeaning for
Die LinkeFor
BSWFor
FDPAgainst

ForLeaning forNeutral / mixedLeaning againstAgainstNot in manifesto

Party by party

CDU/CSU Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU)

Against

Rejects a wealth tax.

From the manifesto „Eine Vermögensteuer lehnen wir ab.“

Source: CDU/CSU manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 34

AfD Alternative for Germany

Against

Wants to abolish both the wealth tax and inheritance tax.

From the manifesto „Die AfD will die derzeit zur Erhebung ausgesetzte Vermögensteuer sowie die Erbschaftssteuer abschaffen.“

Source: AfD manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 61

SPD Social Democratic Party

For

Wants to revive the wealth tax for very large fortunes.

From the manifesto „Die ausgesetzte Vermögensteuer wollen wir für sehr hohe Vermögen revitalisieren.“

Source: SPD manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 19

Greens Alliance 90/The Greens

Leaning for

Lists it as one possible option; its priorities are inheritance tax reform and a global tax on billionaires.

From the manifesto „und eine nationale Vermögenssteuer auf sehr hohe Vermögen“

Source: Greens manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 73

Die Linke The Left (Die Linke)

For

Wants the wealth tax back, with a €1 million tax-free allowance and rates from 1% up to 5%.

From the manifesto „Die Linke fordert, dass die Vermögensteuer wieder eingeführt wird.“

Source: Die Linke manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 10

BSW BSW (Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance)

For

Wants a 1% tax on wealth above €25 million, rising in steps to 3%.

From the manifesto „Die Vermögenssteuer wollen wir für Vermögen ab 25 Millionen Euro mit einem Steuersatz von 1 Prozent reaktivieren“

Source: BSW manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 17

FDP Free Democratic Party

Against

Rejects a wealth tax in any form.

From the manifesto „Wir lehnen jede Form einer Vermögensteuer oder Vermögensabgabe ab.“

Source: FDP manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 14

Positions are coded on five steps: for, leaning for, neutral or mixed, leaning against, against. A party whose manifesto says nothing on the statement is marked “not in manifesto”, and the quiz leaves the statement out of that party’s score. The coding method and its checks are on the method page.

Where do you stand on this one?

This is one of the statements in the German Party Spectrum Quiz. The whole quiz takes about five minutes and shows how your views split across the seven parties, plus your place on an economic and social map. No sign-up, and we never ask who you are.

Start the quiz