According to recent figures from the tax authorities for 2022, supplied to the magazine “Spiegel”, there is a noticeable trend of fewer low-income commuters taking advantage of the so-called mobility premium, despite high energy prices. The data shows that in 2021, nearly 150,000 employed individuals claimed the state benefit, a number that dropped to 140,000 in 2022. This premium is intended for people who commute more than 20 kilometers to work but earn too little to qualify for the standard commuting lump sum. Currently, recipients receive 5.32 cents net per kilometer, with tax offices disbursing an average of 160 euros annually to applicants.
This information comes from a response by the Federal Ministry of Finance to the Finance Committee of the Bundestag. Initially, the number of potential recipients was estimated at over 200,000. Christian Görke, the chairman of the Finance Committee of the Left party in the Bundestag, criticized the situation, noting, “After its introduction in 2021 and the accolades from various coalition members, one would expect an increase, but the number has even declined.” Görke subsequently demanded the implementation of a mobility allowance for all commuters that is calculated independently of income. For comparison, high earners currently receive a tax relief of around 18 cents per kilometer.
