Changes in 2025: Laws and Regulations

The new year has barely begun, and there are already numerous changes to laws and regulations. We summarize some of the most important ones.

In addition to numerous changes, however, some matters are also on hold since the traffic light coalition dissolved. Decisions on these will only be made once a new government has been formed after the federal election.

Here are some highlights of the most significant changes for 2025 across various sectors:

Digital representation of the year 2025 with blue light streaks and blue dots symbolizing speed, technology, and future progress. Below is the sentence: What's New?

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Work and Living

Effective January, the statutory minimum wage will increase from 12.41 to 12.82 Euros gross per hour. The monthly earnings threshold for mini-jobs has been raised from 538 to 556 Euros.
The basic tax-free allowance will increase from the previous 11,604 Euros to 11,784 Euros, retroactive to January 1, 2024, and then to 12,084 Euros in 2025.

Sustainability

An EU directive aims to end cable clutter and electronic waste. From 2025, there will be only one connector: USB-C will become mandatory as the charging standard for smartphones, tablets, and other devices. For laptops, the unified charging cable will only apply from 2026.

Mobility and Finance

Effective January 1, 2025, the Deutschlandticket will cost 58 Euros per month, up from the previous 49 Euros.
Effective January 2025, the CO2 price will increase from 45 to 55 Euros per ton. This will impact the prices of gasoline, diesel, natural gas, and heating oil.

Family and Health

The tax-free child allowance will be increased by 60 Euros to 9,600 Euros per child. Families will receive 255 Euros per month for each child – 5 Euros more than before.
The contribution assessment ceilings in the statutory pension insurance have been uniformly raised for the first time to 8,050 Euros per month, from 7,450 Euros in the new federal states and 7,550 Euros in the old federal states.
For statutory health insurance, the contribution assessment ceiling will increase from 62,100 to 66,150 Euros annually (from 5,175 to 5,512.50 Euros per month).

A detailed overview, including further changes throughout 2025, can be found here..