Black-Red postpones sugar tax - no electricity tax cut for everyone for the time being

Budget consultations sugar tax postponed - no reduction in electricity tax As of: November 12th, 2026 • 00:12 a.m

In the struggle over the budget, the coalition has agreed on a compromise. For example, the introduction of a sugar tax is to be postponed - and the electricity tax will not be reduced for the time being.

The black-red coalition agreed to compromises on several points of contention in its budget discussions. The sugar tax on heavily sweetened drinks should not come until the beginning of 2028 - and therefore a few months later than planned - announced Union parliamentary group leader Thorsten Frei (CDU) late on Wednesday evening in Berlin. A planned new tax on plastic packaging will not be levied next year for the time being. The reduction in electricity tax for everyone, which was strongly supported by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, will not materialize for the time being.

Nicole Kohnert, ARD Berlin, on the planning of the 2027 federal budget tagesthemen, Das Erste, November 11, 2026 • 10:15 p.m. The SPD and Union factions met in the evening for special meetings on the budget. While the SPD was finished after three quarters of an hour, the discussions at the Union were dragging on. The coalition is under time pressure with its negotiations, as the Bundestag's budget committee is scheduled to meet this Thursday for the so-called adjustment session on the 2027 budget.

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According to the draft originally introduced by the cabinet, the sugar tax was supposed to start on July 1, 2027. However, the Union had advocated for a later start on January 1, 2028, also to enable manufacturers of lemonade, for example, to change recipes. From the beginning of 2028, the tax will now be levied in three instead of two stages based on the sugar content.

The Union and the SPD had agreed to introduce the tax as part of the passed law for stable health insurance contributions. It should apply to colas, lemonades, iced teas, energy drinks and fruit juice drinks with added sugar.

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The Union and the SPD have not yet found any financing for the planned electricity tax cut. Theoretically, the political groups could still finance the necessary around 5.4 billion euros at the budget adjustment meeting tomorrow, but the budget is already extremely tight. So far, the householders have not found any room for maneuver.

“I can only say for our group that reducing the electricity tax is the top priority,” said Frei. “With this in mind, we will also try to implement the common goal as soon as possible.”

In the coalition agreement, the Union and the SPD agreed to reduce electricity taxes for everyone to the European minimum. However, this has so far only been implemented for the manufacturing industry and agriculture and forestry.

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The Union also wanted to completely offset the cold progression caused by inflation. According to information from the ARD capital studio, the factions were unable to reach an agreement on this - which was later officially confirmed. This is said to have dampened the mood, particularly in the Union faction.

Relief from electricity tax and cold progression is “desirable,” said SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch. "But you have to provide solid counter-financing - and that's why we'll have to see in the next few days whether there is this counter-financing that hasn't been available yet."

An agreement was reached to reverse planned cuts in social policy projects. There will be fewer savings than originally planned in areas such as parental allowance, housing benefit and maintenance advances.

The alcohol tax is to be increased as planned from January, but the sparkling wine tax is not to rise.

This topic in the program: The First | daily topics | 11/11/2026 | 10:15 p.m. Das Erste | daily news | 11/12/2026 | 8:00 p.m