Overview
- Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil and Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig unveiled the 26‑point action plan on Thursday, July 16, 2026, proposing to reclassify tax evasion as a felony and end the current automatic immunity for voluntary self‑reports.
- Reclassification would raise minimum and maximum penalties for serious cases and bar routine dismissal of prosecutions, with organised tax crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison under the proposal.
- To expand capacity the plan would create a Joint Centre against tax and financial crime inside Customs and add about 1,500 new customs posts to pool analysts, investigators and prosecutors.
- The package pushes data‑driven tools and corporate rules: plans include blockchain and AI analysis, a reformed FIU, a joint anti‑money‑laundering competence centre with the BKA, real‑time VAT reporting, 15‑year bookkeeping retention and cash‑register obligations for cash‑heavy sectors.
- Many measures still require new laws and federal–state and EU coordination, officials give a cautious revenue estimate of roughly €1 billion for the coming year, and advocates praise stronger tools while tax advisers warn of over‑criminalisation and implementation challenges.