Merkel’s $8.9 Billion Tax Easing Passed by German Lower House

The German government will forgo 6.1 billion euros ($8.9 billion) in taxes per year in 2013 and 2014 under a measure passed by parliament to raise the standard deduction on income tax to help offset wage inflation.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s ruling coalition passed the step with a vote of 310 to 243 in the lower house, or Bundestag, in Berlin today, according to the parliament’s website. The upper house, where Germany’s 16 states are represented, may seek changes in the bill.

To contact the reporter on this story: Tony Czuczka in Berlin at aczuczka@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Hertling at jhertling@bloomberg.net