In an email to large business associations, Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner promised that he would refrain from taking such measures, despite demands from business leaders for tax increases.
“Because additional burdens increase the risk of a recession and structurally weaken Germany as a business location.
Rather, the opposite is necessary, ”says the letter from last Friday, which was available to the Reuters news agency on Monday.
The mail went to the industry associations BDI and DIHK, family entrepreneurs, the trades and the employers' association, among others.
FDP leader Lindner referred in the letter to relief measures that had already been decided - in response to the high energy prices after the Russian attack on Ukraine.
The planned but so far postponed "super write-offs" would also provide a tax-based growth stimulus "at the right time".
It remained unclear when this could be.
"In addition, we are currently developing hardship regulations, especially for small and medium-sized companies that are particularly affected."
The economists who advise the federal government recently advocated raising the top tax rate for a limited period of time or alternatively introducing energy solos for higher earners.
This should cover the costs of the state in order to help companies and poorer sections of the population in the energy crisis.
Meanwhile, despite the unexpected growth in the German economy in the third quarter, the federal government is sticking to its subdued economic expectations.
The bottom line is that the image of the autumn projection is confirmed, according to which economic output is likely to grow by 1.4 percent in the current year, according to the monthly report of the Federal Ministry of Economics published on Monday.
"In the winter months of 2022/2023, the German economy is likely to slip into recession."
GDP decline expected
For the coming year 2023, an annual average decline in gross domestic product of 0.4 percent compared to the previous year is expected as a result.
The Federal Ministry of Economics wrote that the persistently high energy prices, rising inflation and the associated loss of purchasing power are increasingly burdening the German economy.
According to preliminary data from the Federal Statistical Office, Europe's largest economy grew by 0.3 percent in the period from July to September inclusive compared to the previous quarter.
Despite high inflation, which has meanwhile exceeded 10 percent, private consumer spending made a major contribution.
In view of the economic consequences of the Ukraine war, economists had expected a decline in economic output on average.