June 26, 2026, 6:17 am | Read time: 5 minutes
As every month, some new rules and laws will take effect in July, while others will expire. For consumers, this means they will need to adapt. TECHBOOK knows what’s coming their way.
Starting July 1, 2026, numerous changes will affect millions of consumers in Germany. While retirees will benefit from a higher statutory pension, drivers should expect rising fuel costs. Additionally, changes will occur in areas such as the air travel tax, minimum wages in nursing, the return of e-cigarettes, and regulations for orders from abroad.
More Money for Retirees and Care Workers
With the start of the new month, the statutory pension will increase nationwide by 4.24 percent. This is due to the development of gross wages in the previous year. According to the Federal Ministry of Labor, a standard pension after 45 contribution years will see a monthly increase of 77.85 euros. The current pension value will rise from 40.79 euros to 42.52 euros. A gross pension of 1,000 euros will thus increase to 1,042.40 euros.
Employees in elderly care will also receive higher minimum wages. Nursing assistants will be entitled to at least 16.52 euros per hour, qualified nursing assistants to 17.80 euros, and registered nurses to 21.03 euros.
On July 1, the gradual transition from citizen’s income to the new basic security begins. The standard rates will initially remain unchanged. However, there will be stricter cooperation obligations and a stronger focus on rapid job placement. Job centers are to be equipped with more effective tools against social benefit fraud.
Fuel Discount Ends, Air Travel Tax Decreases
At the same time, the federal government’s fuel discount will end. With the expiration of the temporary tax reduction, the energy tax will increase by about 14 cents per liter. Including VAT, gasoline and diesel will become approximately 17 cents more expensive per liter. How much prices at the pump will ultimately rise also depends on the development of oil prices.
Air travel could become cheaper for consumers starting in July. The air travel tax will be reduced to the level before the increase in 2024. However, it remains uncertain whether airlines will fully pass on the lower tax to their customers.
New Fee for Online Shopping
Consumers shopping abroad will have to dig deeper into their pockets starting in July. From this point, the EU will impose a flat customs fee of three euros per product category for shipments from non-EU countries with a value under 150 euros. This affects orders from providers such as Temu, Shein, or AliExpress. If a delivery contains products from multiple categories, the fee will be charged multiple times.
If retailers do not pre-clear the shipment, recipients must pay the fee at customs. In this case, a processing fee of 7.50 euros per package will also apply. The new regulation is initially considered a transitional solution. By 2028, the EU plans a digital customs system to centrally record and clear imports regardless of their value.
Recycling and Digital Health Services
The return of used e-cigarettes will be significantly expanded. In the future, kiosks, gas stations, and other smaller sales outlets must accept old devices free of charge. The return is not tied to the purchase of a new product and is intended to facilitate the safe disposal of battery-operated devices.
Additionally, users of older Android smartphones may experience restrictions with digital health services. Devices with Android 13 or older could lose mobile access to the electronic patient record and e-prescription. The cause is stricter security requirements and the end of support for older operating system versions.
Microsoft Ends Editing in Office 2019 for macOS
Starting July 13, consumers using Office 2019 on macOS will only be able to open documents in programs like Word, Excel, and Outlook, but not edit them. The reason is an expiring digital certificate for license verification, which will not be renewed due to the support ending in October 2023. This also affects the versions for iOS and iPadOS.
Already saved files will remain accessible. Microsoft points to the web version of Microsoft 365 or Office 2024 as alternatives. Additionally, free office packages like LibreOffice and OpenOffice are available.
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okElster to Enable Tax Filing at the Push of a Button
Starting July 1, the tax administration will introduce a new feature in the MeinElster+ app with “okElster”. For certain tax cases, existing data such as salary, pension payments, and taxes paid will be automatically compiled into a largely completed tax return. Users only need to review the information and can submit it directly to the tax office via the app.
Initially, the offer is aimed at single employees without children and individuals with retirement income. Those who wish to claim additional expenses such as advertising costs or special expenses can still supplement the automatically created return.
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Sky Expands Offering with Two Well-Known TV Channels
Starting July 1, Sky will add the channels AXN Black and AXN White to its entertainment package for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The programs will also be available through the streaming service Wow and in the film and series subscription.
In addition to the linear channels, customers will have access to more than 1,000 on-demand titles and over 50 series, including “Yellowstone,” “Chicago P.D.,” and “Gomorrah.” With this expansion, Sky is enhancing its series offering after losing numerous well-known titles following the end of its exclusive agreement with Warner and HBO.