Fritz Güntzler, the finance policy spokesperson for the CDU faction in the Union parliamentary group, argues that the obligation to issue small transaction receipts should only be abolished at the same time as the planned introduction of mandatory cash registers. According to statements given to Funke-Mediengruppe newspapers, Güntzler suggests that this receipt mandate should coincide with the register machine requirement once a company exceeds €100,000 in sales-specifically, starting on January 1, 2027. He noted that the precise details of these regulations are currently under negotiation. The CDU politician stressed the need for a quick resolution, emphasizing that the solution must effectively combat tax fraud while simultaneously easing the burden on businesses. “What is crucial for us is a practical, low-bureaucracy solution that effectively fights tax evasion without unnecessarily stressing honest enterprises,” Güntzler stated.
Meanwhile, Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) is aiming to ease the controversial receipt requirement. His proposals include waiving the obligation for purchases up to €30 and allowing receipts not to be printed on paper; digital provision, such as via email or QR code, would suffice instead. The general obligation to issue proof of purchase was initially introduced on January 1, 2020. Although the regulation was technically designed to be technology-neutral, its practical implementation-particularly for small businesses like bakeries-resulted in a massive increase in printed paper receipts, drawing sharp criticism due to the administrative workload it created.
