Germany asks all home owners to file tax declaration

COLOGNE, Germany

For the first time since World War II, Germany has asked all home owners to fill in a property tax declaration.

Based on the new property tax system, all home owners have to submit their declaration to the Finance Department by the end of this month.

Annual tax on an estimated 36 million properties will be revised by the authorities and be applicable as of Jan. 1, 2025.

Property owners who ignore the directive will face heavy fines of up to €25,000 ($24,250), Suleyman Celik, a financial advisor, told Anadolu Agency.

He said the process is complicated and advised people to hire an expert to do the job.

*Writing by Gokhan Ergocun from Istanbul