A recent survey conducted by the polling institute Forsa reveals that a clear majority of Germans favor increasing taxes on very high earners. According to the magazine “Stern” and broadcaster RTL, who commissioned the poll, 76% of respondents believe the proposal-which involves taxing incomes exceeding €300,000 more heavily-is sensible. Conversely, 22% oppose the measure, and 2% were undecided.
This sentiment was found to be consistent across different regions and income brackets. Even higher-income earners, defined by a household income of €4,000 or more per month, support a higher tax burden on the wealthy, with 74% in favor.
Opinion varies significantly among the major political parties. The proposal receives the highest level of support from Green Party voters, with 95% in favor. The SPD follows closely behind with 89% support, while the CDU/CSU bloc shows 73% support. In stark contrast, the AfD poll supporters found the proposal undesirable, with only 38% finding it sensible. The survey, which gathered data from 1,000 citizens on April 29th and 30th, showed this overall trend.
The debate surrounding wealth taxation is complicated by recent political statements. The discussion gained traction following remarks by CSU chief Markus Söder, who stated that a form of “wealth tax” was not a taboo for him. He suggested that the additional revenue could be used to alleviate the burdens on middle or lower-income citizens. However, Söder later clarified that he also intends to abolish the Solidarity Surcharge. Since this surcharge only applied to taxable incomes exceeding €73,483 starting in 2025, its abolition is predicted to primarily benefit higher earners.
Given the current deficit-plagued budget situation, government coalition representatives are debating a stronger contribution from affluent earners. Although the SPD has long advocated for raising the top tax bracket, this effort was previously blocked by the CDU bloc. Furthermore, Söder himself had previously rejected any increase in taxes or contributions outright.
