Overview
- Felix Banaszak publicly disclosed Wednesday that the Berlin public prosecutor has opened an inquiry after he failed to update his second‑residence registration following moves within the city.
- Banaszak says the omission led to underpayment of Berlin's second‑residence tax from 2022 and that he has submitted documents through his lawyer and will repay any assessed amounts.
- Berlin’s Zweitwohnsitzsteuer is charged as a percentage of net cold rent — 15 percent for periods from 2019–2024 and 20 percent from 2025 — so rent changes and registration status determine possible back payments.
- The Berlin prosecutor declined to comment because of tax secrecy, and Bundestag rules require that the president be informed and that any intrusive measures against an MP be approved by the Immunitätsausschuss and the plenary.
- The case creates political sensitivity for the Greens because it involves a senior party leader, recalls earlier MP mistakes over the same tax, and could affect public trust depending on the investigation’s outcome.