German government to raise VAT on food in restaurants back to 19% next year -Handelsblatt

The German government coalition agreed in negotiations on next year's budget to raise VAT on food in restaurants back to 19% from 7%, after reducing it during the energy crisis and COVID-19 pandemic, German publication Handelsblatt reported on Thursday.

The draft budget document will be reviewed in Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, this week by the budget committee and passed at the start of December to take effect from the start of 2024.