Germany urges firms to make tax-free payments to employees
BERLIN (AP) — The German government is urging companies to make a one-off payment to their employees of up to 3,000 euros (dollars) as a way of addressing the impact of rising prices while preventing a spiral of inflation in Europe’s biggest economy.Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Thursday that the government would waive the usual salary-related taxes “if this means that employees can get through the crisis better with such a payment.” Speaking after a meeting with top employers and labor union representatives at his Berlin office, Scholz said the disbursements would be voluntary “but I am sure that employees will be happy to receive a tax- and duty-free payment in addition to the agreed wage.”