At the beginning of the year, the Federal government reduced energy costs by providing a federal subsidy for grid fees, abolishing the gas storage levy and reducing the electricity tax for around 600,000 companies in the manufacturing, forestry and agricultural sectors. The Commission on Welfare State Reform has presented its report. The 2025 pension package, the Second Company Pension Reinforcement Act and the active pension also came into force – as did the extension of the maximum entitlement to short-time working allowance and the Parcel Carrier Protection Act. 

On 1 January 2026, the commuter allowance rose permanently to 38 cents from the first kilometre – and the statutory minimum wage to 13.90 euros gross per hour. The New Military Service also came into force. The Federal Cabinet passed the Tax Consultancy Act to reduce bureaucracy in everyday life.