My latest book to read is: “Ich bin dann mal weg..” from Hape Kerkeling
A German comedian set out on the Camino de Santiago (“Jakobsweg”) and wrote about his experiences in this book. Michaela gave it to me for Christmas.
Ich bin dann mal weg…
January 4, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Changes to the license fee
January 4, 2007 By Leave a Comment
Coming from England I was used to paying a license fee for my television, but in Germany you also pay a license fee for radios. As a student this meant, that although I didn’t own a television, I still paid a license fee for my portable radio that I brought here with me.
When I moved to Germany permanently, I had a television, so I obviously paid the higher fee for that as well.
But since 1st January, a lot of other electrical equipment needs to be licensed. Take the computer, which until now only counted if it had a TV- or Radio-card in it. Now it counts as a radio if it can access the internet. The same can be true of mobile phones, if they have UMTS or a radio in them.
Now, if you already pay for your radio and television, then you don’t pay anything extra for these items. But for students living here maybe without a TV and radio, but bringing their laptop with them, they are now liable to pay the license fee for it.
Self-employed people are especially affected, because the private TV license does not cover your business PC.
If you are coming to Germany and want to be sure what you have to register, read the FAQ on www.gez.de or contact the GEZ itself to be on the safe side!
And the VAT went up…
January 4, 2007 By 1 Comment
For the last year one of the main topics for German consumers has been the planned rise in the VAT (MwSt) level from 16% to 19% from 1st January 2007.
The Government has been accused of damaging the economy, just as it was starting to get going again. In December, a lot of fuss was made to persuade consumers to spend their money fast, before the 19% took hold. Actually, unless you are buying something big, like a car, then it will only make a few cents difference and a lot of basic items such as food and books are not affected any, as they have a lower VAT rate of 7%.
Well January came and now a lot of shops are offering to “pay to VAT” for their customers in January – effectively leaving prices alone but including the 19% instead of 16%. I wonder how long this will last?
I myself have rounded up my hourly rate for IT services, but have rounded down my travel costs to try and keep the figures simple and yet not overcharge my customers.
One of the best pieces of advice I read was in our television magazine, TV14 – if you went to a party on New Year’s Eve you could pay 16% for a meal (starting before midnight), 7% for a taxi afterwards (up to 50km) and 19% the next morning for your hotel room!
