Enough is enough – Why I’m fed up with the dividend tax hike

Note for international readers:
The German government is planning to raise the capital gains tax from the current 26.375% to over 31%.
Their reasoning? That investors supposedly lack social solidarity.
At the same time, there are talks of removing tax exemptions for night, holiday, and Sunday shifts – hitting hardest those who work long hours and invest privately for their future.

I’ve had it. The government plans to increase the capital gains tax from the current 26.375% to over 31%. Why? Because investors are supposedly “unsupportive of society.” Because people like me, who work hard and invest their money responsibly in stocks, are suddenly being painted as unfair.

Let’s get real:

I wake up early, work seven days in a row, then have two days off. Then it’s another seven days of work, followed by another two days off, then six more days of work. And I do this in rotating shifts: mornings from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., afternoons from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., and nights from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. I work Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. I bust my ass for this country. I pay my taxes, and this is what I get in return: being told I’m unsocial and lack solidarity.

I invest what little money I have left after deductions into stocks because I don’t want to rely on the state. I don’t want to live off handouts when I’m old. And now they claim it’s unfair to receive dividends?

You know what’s really unfair? That politicians, who receive luxury pensions after just a few years in office without ever paying into the pension system, have the nerve to call us investors unsupportive. These politicians don’t even pay into the system and then casually pocket €7,000 a month – and I’m the one who’s unfair?

You know what else is unfair? That there’s already talk about whether holiday, Sunday, and night shift bonuses should remain tax-free. Want to know what would truly be unfair? If I work nights, Sundays, and holidays – while others relax at home – and I don’t get any tax compensation for it anymore.

If they take that away, let me tell you exactly what’ll happen: I won’t work Sundays anymore. I won’t work nights. And I sure as hell won’t work on holidays. And I’m not the only one. People in hospitals, logistics, those who ensure you get your packages, caregivers in nursing homes – all of them will start questioning whether it’s worth putting themselves through this anymore.

Of course, there are people who fall on hard times through no fault of their own and deserve support. But why does nobody talk about those who choose not to work, who live off the system and collect benefits while doing nothing? Those people are unsupportive. They burden society – not those of us who invest responsibly.

And now they’re piling on: the financial transaction tax. In plain English, that means you’ll be taxed just for buying a stock. So not only do I pay tax on dividends, but also for simply wanting to invest? Are you serious?

This isn’t tax policy anymore – it’s milking the people at all costs. And the worst part: the average citizen – or rather, the NPCs – actually applaud this. Because they’re told it only affects the rich. They don’t get that it hits small investors the hardest. If you invest €100 in stocks, you’ll be taxed the same way. And they’re cheering for this?

They don’t think it through. Because once this tax is in place – what’s stopping the government from expanding it? Today it’s stocks. Tomorrow it could be every other financial transaction. Once the digital euro arrives – which is planned by the end of the year – every single transaction will be traceable. Every transfer, every payment, every movement. You send money to your mom? Might get taxed. You buy something on Amazon, pay for your car repairs, new tires, or your vehicle inspection – all transactions that could eventually be taxed. And who requires you to go for inspection? The state. And then you'll even pay extra for that. It’s coming. Guaranteed. This is the beginning of the end of financial freedom.

To quote Dawn of the Dead (1978): “Is there even a point in saving this country anymore? It feels like it's only idiots left.”

Germany doesn’t have a revenue problem – it has a spending problem. The state is wasting money. How is it possible that, despite over a trillion euros in annual tax income, they still can’t manage? Could it be because we’ve built a bloated, inefficient bureaucracy that requires 20 forms just to fart? That’s the real issue.

And even if they take 30% from us now, it won’t be enough. In a few years, they’ll come for 35% or 40%. At some point, I – and everyone else who works and invests – will say: You know what? F**k off!

I’m always willing to pay my fair share in taxes. But not when I feel like they’re just trying to bleed me dry – with no reason, no logic, just because they can.

I’ve seen the writing on the wall. I’m willing to work more, work longer, to build my own retirement – through stocks, through responsibility, through self-effort. And then the state comes along and calls that unfair? Everyone has the opportunity to take responsibility. Everyone can say: I want to achieve more. I want to take charge of my own life. But it’s not fair to punish the ones who do just that.

My clear message to the politicians

Stop constantly attacking those who work hard and take care of themselves. Start holding accountable the ones who deliberately ride the system. Start appreciating the people who don’t want to be a burden on the state through hard work and self-responsibility – instead of punishing them.