Hey,
It's Srijith from 0049 :)
Welcome to The Blick! Each week I round up the stories, events, and opportunities that matter most if you’re living in Germany or planning a move here for work or studies.
🔹 Fuel tax cuts took effect on May 1: Diesel and gasoline taxes dropped by 14 cents per liter on May 1, translating to roughly 17 cents including VAT at the pump through the end of June. The measure addresses fuel price increases triggered by the Iran conflict.
🔹 Deutsche Bahn froze long-distance ticket prices: Starting May 1, Deutsche Bahn will hold ICE, IC, and EC base fares steady until May 2027. Dynamic pricing still applies based on demand and travel times.
🔹 Public sector salaries increased 2.8 percent: More than 2.5 million federal and municipal public sector workers received a pay rise on May 1 under the collective bargaining agreement reached in 2025.
🔹 US announced Germany troop withdrawal: On May 2, the Pentagon confirmed plans to withdraw approximately 5,000 troops from Germany, reducing its presence at the largest US military base in Europe to around 30,000 personnel.
🔹 Bundesrat vote on employee tax bonus: On May 8, the Bundesrat will vote on the Income Tax Act amendment that enables employers to pay a tax-free bonus of up to €1,000. The government expects the tobacco tax increase to cover the revenue shortfall from this measure.
🔹 EV subsidy application portal launches: Germany will launch an online portal in May for households to claim electric vehicle subsidies ranging from €1,500 to €6,000. The subsidy applies retroactively to vehicles registered since January 1, 2026.
🔹 New Video: This week I covered every major change happening in Germany in May 2026. If you're living in Germany or planning to move here, these changes affect your money directly. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CNaGrv82ng
🔹 Deutsch Deck is now live: Deutsch Deck is the German vocabulary app I built using spaced repetition and active recall. It helps you actually remember what you learn.
📱 iOS (App Store)
📱 Android (Google Play)
That is it for this week. Stay informed, stay prepared.
Until next week,
💙 Peace,
Srijith