According to a poll conducted by the polling institute Forsa, a clear majority of Germans favor imposing higher taxes on the very wealthy. A survey commissioned by “Stern” magazine and the broadcaster RTL found that 76% of respondents view strengthening taxes on incomes exceeding €300,000 per year as advisable. Conversely, 22% oppose the proposal, and 2% were undecided.
This support is widespread, demonstrating agreement across different regions and income levels. Even high-income earners, defined as households with an income of €4,000 or more per month, support higher taxes on the rich, with 74% agreeing.
However, opinion differs significantly among political parties. The most enthusiastic support comes from Greens voters, with 95% in favor. Next is the SPD, where 89% support the measure, followed by the CDU/CSU, which reports 73% support. In contrast, the AfD shows considerable reservations, with only 38% finding the proposal sensible. The survey was conducted with 1,000 citizens on April 29th and 30th.
The debate is rooted in Germany’s current tight budgetary situation, prompting discussions within the governing coalition about greater financial participation from higher earners. Historically, the SPD has advocated for raising the top tax rate, a measure previously blocked by the CDU.
Adding to this complexity is the recent positioning of CSU leader Markus Söder. While Söder stated in an ARD program that a so-called wealth tax is no longer a taboo topic, he argued that additional revenue could ease the financial burden on middle and low-income groups. Yet, Söder has also emphasized his goal of abolishing the Solidarity Surcharge-a tax that, since 2025, was only applied to taxable incomes above €73,483. Abolishing this surtax means that higher earners would consequently benefit from the change.