Yesterday Germany announces that college will be TUITION FREE for all.
Scarcely 24 hrs. have passed and the MSM is now starting the drumbeat to do the same here.
Which must mean it is on the Democrats to-do agenda and the handouts have gone out to the press.
So, “higher education” is an unlimited resource?
“Everyone” can get it for “free” and there will be no degradation in quality or in availability?
These people need to be beaten with economics books.
Here's how you do it. If you're a good student, you'll have scholarships and you'll be able to commute to some decent schools. If you're super smart, you'll be able to live away at some of them.
If you're a so so student and mom and dad have no money to give you but they make too much for Pell grants, you commute to your local community college. All the money you earn goes toward your tuition and commuting costs. If you live in the boonies, and there is no public transportation and mom and dad can't help at all, you should be able to find someone with whom you can commute, either a worker at the community college or a fellow student.
At this point, some so so students who live in remote areas may want to take some loans to finish up their last two years. In the Philadelphia area, there are so many options to go to college debt free, I have begun to think that kids who take on debt in this economy and then cry about it are immature, entitled losers.
There school system is based on a totally different then our model. At the age of 11 or 12, you are tracked into a high school based on test scores, highest go to gymnasium which is university track, there are technical schools, than manual labor schools. It is very hard to change after that. That would never fly here.
“...Yet it’s also obvious that a high school education alone isn’t nearly as valuable as it used to be, ...”
And a college education is more valuable than it used to be?
Sorry, but thanks to the gubmit encouraging folks with liberal-level IQs into college to pursue marshmallow degrees in underwater m*sturbation and womyn’s studies, a college degree for most is worth just slightly more than a condom.
If this is the answer, somebody is asking the wrong question. The question and the challenge should be restoring the value of the high school education rather than expanding higher education to fill in the gaps created when choices were made that removed rigor from the HS curriculum. Add in career-oriented tracking that allow non-academic pursuits to have equal value to the college track. Those headed to technical careers with good skills that meet industry needs while showing the student the value of continued learning will result in jobs that can pay much better than many college graduates get. This is especially true when considering the college debt load.
LOL, free tuition? That is supposed to mean anyone can go to college? I see free college as being more Gov’t controlled agenda driven courses. On the bright side, my grand children can go to Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Brown, Columbia or Georgetown free. (Like those universities would give into that?) Score 1 for the Dems, the thought of free stuff gets them elected, even if they never succeed in delivering it. What we need is a candidate that promises, no more personal income tax. I see Gov’t controlled Free college education as an extension of free city public schools. More leftist indoctrination made easy.
One huge difference-
Germany requires that students meet minimum academic standards for college. In the US there are ubiquitous colleges that will take any warm body. These are both public and private.
Germany has much lower rate of university attendance than the US.
Germany Tax Rates 2014
Last partial update, September 2014
Taxation of an individual’s income is progressive. In other words, the higher the income, the higher the rate of tax payable.
In 2014 the Germany tax rates for an individual are 14% - 45%.
Singles pay on income above EUR 250,731 (couples, on income above EUR 501,462) income tax of 45% before 5.5% solidarity tax and 8%-9% church tax which are imposed on the income tax.
In addition to regular tax, there is a trade tax that is imposed on business income.
The standard rate of Germany corporate tax in 2013 is 15%. There is a reduced rate for part of a corporation’s income.
An additional tax has been imposed to help the merger of the two Germanys. This is “solidarity tax” which is 5.5% of the normal rate payable. The tax is levied on corporations and individuals, subject to the conditions specified in the law.
In 2014 the effective corporate tax rate, including trade tax and solidarity tax is about 30%-33%.
Germany Income Tax for an Individual
An individual is liable for tax on his income as an employee and on income as a self-employed person. An individual who meets the test of a “permanent resident” of Germany will have the tax calculated on his income in Germany and from overseas.
A foreign resident who is employed in Germany pays tax only on income earned in Germany.
To be considered a German citizen, a test must be met of either a life centered in Germany or a continuous stay of 6 months in Germany.
A partnership is not a separate body for tax purposes. The income from the partnership is divided between the partners who will then each pay their tax as an individual on their share according to their share in the partnership.
An employer is obligated to deduct the tax payable, income tax and social security immediately on a monthly basis from income earned as a wage.
A self-employed person must prepay income tax that will be offset on filing an annual return. The advance payment is determined on the basis of the return made for the previous year. In the event of a new business, the advance will be calculated on the basis of estimates made by the owner of the business. The advance payment is made once every three months.
Certain payments, as specified below, are deducted from taxable income.
Germany individual income tax rates, 2014
Tax % Tax Base (EUR)
0 Up to 8,354
14% 8,355-52,881
42% 52,882-250,730
45% 250,731 and over
Note: The rates are before solidarity tax,all individuals,and business tax-for business income.
Members of the church pay 8%-9% church tax.
Germany Corporate Tax
The basic 2013 corporate federal rate of tax in Germany is 15%.
A “business tax”, 14%-17% in average, payable to the municipality, is added to the tax.
A company that operates in a number of cities pays business tax according to the location of its employees in the various cities.
Taxable income for the purposes of “business tax” may be adjusted for purposes of calculating the basis on which “business tax” is payable.
“Business tax” is an allowable expense for purposes of calculating the income on which corporation tax is payable.
Germany Capital Gains
Capital Gains (Individual)
Profits from the sale of private real estate that has been held for more than 10 years, or from the sale of other assets that have been held for more than 12 months is exempt from tax. For shorter holding periods the general tax rates apply.
Sale of a shares when the percentage of the investment is less than 1% is subject to a flat 25% tax. On the other hand, when the percentage of the holding is in excess of 1%, tax is payable on 60% of the profit at normal rates.
Capital Gains (A Company)
The standard rate of tax for a company is 15%.
95% of a capital gain from the sale of shares in a foreign subsidiary or German company is exempt from tax when received by a company taxable in Germany.
Germany Dates of Reporting and Payment:
The tax year in Germany ends on December 31.
Advance payments for income tax are paid according to the following:
An individual
- An individual whose income is from a salary only does not have to file an annual return. The employer, who deducts tax from the employee, transfers the tax immediately to the tax authorities every month.
- An individual who is self employed is obligated to make 4 quarterly advance payments.
- An individual who is self employed is obligated to file a return by the end of the month of May.
A limited company
- It is compulsory to submit the financial statements by the 31st May following the tax year.
- During the year, the company must make 4 quarterly advance payments on the 10th of the months of March, June, September and December. The balance of the tax payable must be paid within 30 days of receipt of an income tax assessment.
- A fine of 1% per month is payable on arrears in payment of the tax balance.
Germany Deduction of Tax at Source
Taxation of Employees:
The employer is obligated to deduct tax at source from an employee and to make additional contributions to social security.
Social Security:
An employed person - The employer and employee each make an equal payment.
The social insurance covers pensions, unemployment and nursing insurance.
There is an upper limit of the salary on which national insurance is payable.
Income in excess of the limit is exempt from national insurance.
Germany Other deductions:
Deductions must be made from the following payments to nonresidents as follows:
Dividend - 26.375% (including solidarity tax).
Royalties - 15.825% (including solidarity tax).
Interest - 0%/25%.
Comments: Deduction at source for overseas residents is subject to the Double Taxation Prevention Treaty.
What they are not mentioning is that most high school students are not academically elgible to attend University in Germany...it’s a very elite system. They don’t build new universities or expand them in Germany to accomodate more students... it just becomes tougher to get in. There never was any real tuition charged... it was student fees of 500 to 700 euros.
Don’t pay any attention to the constant double digit unemployment numbers in those utopias!
Make-work project for liberal professors. NO THANKS! They can graduate debt free to near debt free by... wait for it..... WORKING their way thru college! Or take a break, and work a semester, then going back to school!
Imagine that, a college aged person actually working. I know, some liberals heads will explode because “the children” shouldn’t be forced to work, but you know, the kid will get over the cruelty.