Finance

German tax revenues up 2.6% in May, finance ministry says

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on June 20, 2025

2 min read

· Last updated: January 23, 2026

Add as preferred source on Google
German tax revenues up 2.6% in May, finance ministry says
Global Banking & Finance Awards 2026 — Call for Entries

BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany's federal and state government tax revenues rose at a slower pace in May than in recent months, growing 2.6% from the same month last year, the finance ministry said on

German tax revenues up 2.6% in May, finance ministry

BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany's federal and state government tax revenues rose at a slower pace in May than in recent months, growing 2.6% from the same month last year, the finance ministry said on Friday.

That compares with rises of 10.2% in April, 11.1% in March and 8.1% in February.

Total tax revenue in May came in at 62.8 billion euros ($72.05 billion), the ministry's monthly report said.

Income and sales tax were up, it said, but there was no significant year-on-year growth in withholding tax on interest and capital gains for the first time since May 2023.

From January to May 2025, tax revenue was up 8.3% year on year at 349 billion euros.

Income tax is expected to see declining growth rates in 2025 as wage increases agreed in collective bargaining deals are increasingly included in the basis for comparison, and the labour market also remains subdued.

Earlier this month, four German institutes raised their forecasts for Europe's largest economy this year and now expect it to grow after two consecutive years of contraction.

The ministry said it does not expect any strong momentum in coming months after a surprisingly strong first quarter.

"The short-term outlook continues to be clouded primarily by the uncertainty associated with international trade policy," said the report.

($1 = 0.8716 euros)

(Reporting by Christian Kraemer, Writing by Miranda Murray, Editing by Madeline Chambers)

Key Takeaways

  • German tax revenues rose 2.6% in May year-on-year.
  • Growth was slower compared to previous months.
  • Total tax revenue for May was 62.8 billion euros.
  • Income and sales taxes increased, but withholding tax did not.
  • Economic growth forecasts have been raised for Germany.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the percentage increase in German tax revenues for May?
German tax revenues rose by 2.6% in May compared to the same month last year.
How much total tax revenue was reported for May?
The total tax revenue in May amounted to 62.8 billion euros, which is approximately $72.05 billion.
What factors are expected to affect income tax growth in 2025?
Income tax is anticipated to see declining growth rates due to wage increases from collective bargaining deals and the labor market's performance.
What is the outlook for Germany's economy according to the finance ministry?
The finance ministry does not expect strong momentum in the coming months, citing uncertainty in international trade policy as a primary concern.
How did tax revenue growth in May compare to previous months?
The growth rate of 2.6% in May was significantly slower than the increases of 10.2% in April, 11.1% in March, and 8.1% in February.

Tags

Related Articles

More from Finance

Explore more articles in the Finance category