Germany’S Tax Take to Pass €1 Trillion – and the Finance Minister Still Says There Is No Money

A trillion euros, and still nothing to spend? That is the message from Berlin after Thursday’s official tax estimate.

The working group on tax estimates expects German federal, state and local governments plus the EU share to collect €1,044.2 billion in taxes in 2027 – more than a trillion euros for the first time, and €10.9 billion more than forecast in May. For the federal government alone the gain next year is about €4.1 billion, and over the period to 2030 total revenue is expected to be about €43 billion higher than previously thought.

“Für 2027 gewinnen wir insgesamt keine neuen Spielräume hinzu, wir müssen aber auch keine neuen Lücken schließen.”

“For 2027 we gain no new room for manoeuvre overall, but we also don’t have to close any new gaps.”

— Lars Klingbeil, German finance minister, 22 October 2026

Already planned for

Finance minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) says most of the extra money is already built into the budget plans, so there is nothing left for new promises such as a broad cut in electricity tax. He told reporters the government must keep consolidating to win room for the future.

The AfD group in the Bundestag reacted on X by arguing that much of the extra revenue ends up in Brussels; its budget spokesman claims €22.9 billion of the €43 billion goes to the EU. That figure is the party’s own calculation.