• Top German court demands tax benefit for same-sex couples
    25 replies, posted
[quote][B][I]Germany's top court has ruled that homosexual couples must receive a tax benefit available to heterosexual married couples. The verdict comes as the ruling CDU debates making same-sex couples more equal in tax law.[/I][/B] Germany's Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe on Wednesday ruled that gay couples in registered civil partnerships must be treated exactly the same as married heterosexual couples with regard to land transfer tax. That is now the case in Germany, but wasn't in the past - and the court ruled that those who did not benefit from the law should be retroactively compensated. In 2010, the law was amended to allow homosexual couples to receive the same exemption on a land transfer tax in the case of a divorce as heterosexual couples do. The present ruling was prompted after two men, who divorced in 2009, asked the Constitutional Court to backdate the tax exemption. The judges ruled the difference in treatment between gay couples and heterosexual couples that existed before 2010 to be unconstitutional, saying it had no legal justification. The verdict is expected to force authorities to refund taxes to a large number of other former couples. The tax exemption means that when one member of a divorced couple buys a piece of previously jointly-owned real estate from the other, no taxes need to be paid. [B]Equality debate[/B] The verdict comes as Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative ruling party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is mired in a debate on whether homosexual couples should receive another tax benefit previously accorded only to heterosexual couples. Thirteen CDU politicians called this week for an income tax law that allows married couples to pool their tax rebates and pay less tax overall to apply to same-sex couples as well. The law mainly benefits working husbands with stay-at-home wives. Family Affairs Minister Kristina Schröder from the CDU has backed the call. In an interview, she said that civil partners "take responsibility for one another and practice conservative values." Other CDU politicians are opposed to the idea, with aides to Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble quoting him as saying there was "no need" to change the law. [B]Calls for more equality[/B] Volker Beck, a parliamentary leader of the Green party, on the other hand, has called for Germany to go further and grant homosexuals the right to marry, rather than having so-called civil partnerships. "Two separate legal tracks to achieve the same thing is too much bureaucracy," he told radio station Deutschland Radio Kultur. Economy Minister Philipp Rösler and Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, both from the junior coalition partner Free Democrats (FDP), have also supported changing tax laws to create more equality for same-sex couples. Germany has allowed homosexual civil partnerships since 2001. Their legal status differs from that of marriage on several counts, notably with regard to some aspects of income tax, and adoption.[/quote] [url=http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16151540,00.html]Source[/url] Seriously, why does it seem that Germany is the only country in the 21st century at times?
Because everyone else thinks equality is special treatment.
Why is there a tax-benefit for either type of couple anyways? [editline]8th August 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Kendra;37143638] Seriously, why does it seem that Germany is the only country in the 21st century at times?[/QUOTE] Well they did knee jerk shut down their power plants.
[QUOTE=Zambies!;37143728]Why is there a tax-benefit for either type of couple anyways? [editline]8th August 2012[/editline] Well they did knee jerk shut down their power plants.[/QUOTE] Only to check if their plants were still in good condition, and they would be rebooted later on (IIRC).
[QUOTE=maurits150;37143752]Only to check if their plants were still in good condition, and they would be rebooted later on (IIRC).[/QUOTE] There is still the absurd video game censorship law.
They still seem to have something to prove after WWII, and I think it's a good thing.
[QUOTE=valkery;37143833]They still seem to have something to prove after WWII, and I think it's a good thing.[/QUOTE] ...? Since the current government is responsible for Hitler's misdeeds, right?
[QUOTE=valkery;37143833]They still seem to have something to prove after WWII, and I think it's a good thing.[/QUOTE] modern Germany isn't even close to the same country as the third reich how does your brain work
[QUOTE=NightmareXx;37143871]modern Germany isn't even close to the same country as the third reich how does your brain work[/QUOTE] His only exposure to Germany is playing Call of Duty.
[QUOTE=valkery;37143833]They still seem to have something to prove after WWII, and I think it's a good thing.[/QUOTE] go away
[QUOTE=Kendra;37143638][URL="http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16151540,00.html"]Source[/URL] Seriously, why does it seem that Germany is the only country in the 21st century at times?[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]Same-sex marriage is legally recognized nationwide in Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden.[/QUOTE] Germany doesn't even recognize same-sex marriage, all the court has demanded is that civil unions get the same tax benefits as marriage.
For a second I thought it was going to be a gay only tax exemption, but if it was for heterosexuals as well, then i'm all for it.
[QUOTE=valkery;37143833]They still seem to have something to prove after WWII, and I think it's a good thing.[/QUOTE] WWII was so long ago, just leave it Germany has acknowledged that they fucked up majorly, apologized and have tried to provide comfort to the people affected, if anything I think everyone has forgiven them for the crime they committed. On topic: more countries should take note of this
[QUOTE=mobrockers2;37144045]Germany doesn't even recognize same-sex marriage, all the court has demanded is that civil unions get the same tax benefits as marriage.[/QUOTE] Separate but equal is dumb, but it's a huge step forward from unequal treatment.
[QUOTE=NightmareXx;37143871]modern Germany isn't even close to the same country as the third reich how does your brain work[/QUOTE] My point was that they are still trying to correct the wrongs that their ancestors did. I wasn't saying that they are Hitler's Germany. Far from it. They are still trying to dispel any possible relation that the country still has to that time.
[QUOTE=valkery;37144627]My point was that they are still trying to correct the wrongs that their ancestors did. I wasn't saying that they are Hitler's Germany. Far from it. They are still trying to dispel any possible relation that the country still has to that time.[/QUOTE] Which is exactly how bad things happen, quit while your slightly behind, not massively behind.
[QUOTE=Inspecter;37143771]There is still the absurd video game censorship law.[/QUOTE] i could willingly sacrifice gore in video games for a progressive, equal society.
[QUOTE=Bobie;37144716]i could willingly sacrifice gore in video games for a progressive, equal society.[/QUOTE] Neither censorship nor an equal society are things to compromise on
What a shithole. I can't believe Germany doesn't have gay marriage. Another country stuck in the dark ages.
[QUOTE=King Tiger;37145238]What a shithole. I can't believe Germany doesn't have gay marriage. Another country stuck in the dark ages.[/QUOTE] I thought someone named King Tiger would have a more optimistic view of the Fatherland.
[QUOTE=Raidyr;37145244]I thought someone named King Tiger would have a more optimistic view of the Fatherland.[/QUOTE] The only thing good about Germany is their tanks.
[QUOTE=Kendra;37143638] Seriously, why does it seem that Germany is the only country in the 21st century at times?[/QUOTE] Germany itself has always been known to be quite progressive, in the early 1900's they were quite tolerant on homosexuality, even had gay clubs. However Hitler had these banned and ended up killing homosexuals. [editline]9th August 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=King Tiger;37145257]The only thing good about Germany is their tanks.[/QUOTE] Every post I have seen by you is usually a shit post.
[QUOTE=Vasili;37145391]Germany itself has always been known to be quite progressive,[/QUOTE] ahahahaha
[QUOTE=King Tiger;37145412]ahahahaha[/QUOTE] Hitler was in power for 12 years. His is basically the only period in which Germany was any more or less progressive than the western world of the time.
[QUOTE=King Tiger;37145257]The only thing good about Germany is their tanks.[/QUOTE] Food dude. Food.
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