According to a paper published by the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, the Welt am Sonntag the parties would like to introduce a new tax on online purchases. The "Pact for Inner Cities" provides for online retailers to pay the tax depending on the shipping value of an order.
The additional revenue is to go into so-called downtown funds and be used to provide stop-gap assistance to brick-and-mortar retailers that closed during the Covid 19 lockdowns. In addition, the revenues are to be used to finance tax relief and fast-track loans.
Amount of tax unknown
The policy paper, written by Andreas Jung and Christian Haase, does not name a concrete amount of the planned tax.
"We can't just stand by and watch as more and more town centres are bled dry! It's about the heart of our cities and communities and therefore also about our home."
Young
The politician therefore demands that online retailers also pay for the municipal infrastructure, because they also use it, for example, in the form of roads that parcel services use to deliver goods. According to Jung, on the other hand, there is currently an imbalance that gives online retailers a competitive advantage over retailers. According to the CDU politician, "competition on an equal footing" is therefore not possible.
Objection from the German Trade Association
The German Retail Association (HDE) objects to the planned tax. Instead, the lobby group in international online trade is calling for other measures to ensure fair competition.
"This doesn't require new taxes on packages, but better controls to ensure that even shipments from the Far East comply with our domestic regulations for product safety and tax payments."
Stefan Genth, HDE Managing Director
The HDE sees the future of retail in a combination of stationary local stores and online retail. According to the HDR, many companies that previously sold exclusively in city centres have been able to create successful internet offerings and significantly increase their online sales in recent years.
"A parcel tax would also hit many domestic online retailers who are correct and punctual taxpayers. Moreover, it would be a disservice to the one-third of brick-and-mortar retailers who have built an online foothold."
GENTH
Fair taxation of corporations instead of parcel tax
The opposition FDP calls the planned parcel tax "a new bureaucracy monster." Instead, the party demands "clear and reliable opening perspectives for the next year" and nationwide permission for all retailers to set up pick-up stations.
"Some sort of Corona levy on online retailers like. Amazon can be a building block for greater equity in the crisis and provide tangible support to local retailers."
Achim Post (SPD)
However, according to Swiss Post, a parcel tax is not a substitute for "a fundamentally fairer taxation of the internet giants".
