How high the property tax is depends less on the property than on the discretion of the municipalities. In Germany there are considerable differences in the calculation. A reform is intended to remedy the situation.
Property tax is part of the housing costs. However, some households have to dig deeper than others. For comparable properties, the cost differences can be quite considerable, according to a survey by the owner association Haus & Grund Germany.
Municipalities regulate the amount of the tax at their own discretion using the so-called levy rate. A four-person household in Witten (NRW), for example, pays an average of 771 euros a year - almost 450 euros more than in Gütersloh. For many, however, the level of tax is likely to change soon: a concept for reform should be available by the end of 2019.
