For many employees, October brings an increase in wages: the minimum wage rises to 12 euros per hour.

If you have a part-time job, you can earn more.

At the same time, consumers are faced with new obligations.

The most important changes at a glance.

New Corona rules come into force

New Corona rules will apply from October.

FFP2 masks are mandatory nationwide in clinics, nursing homes and medical practices.

Masks are still compulsory on long-distance trains, although a simple surgical mask is sufficient for children.

Masks are no longer compulsory on airplanes.

In nursing homes and clinics, a negative test must also be presented before entry.

The countries can also make masks compulsory on local trains and buses and in indoor areas such as shops and restaurants, but do not have to.

Anyone who shows a negative test must be exempted from such an obligation in the catering trade and at events.

Tests can be prescribed at schools and day-care centers.

From class five, a mask requirement is possible.

If the infection situation worsens, the federal states can make further specifications with a state parliament resolution.

These include, for example, visitor limits for events in closed rooms.

The minimum wage goes up

The statutory minimum wage will rise from 10.45 euros to 12 euros per hour on October 1st.

The minimum wage has risen by more than 40 percent since 2015.

Mini jobs get a new salary limit

Parallel to the increase in the minimum wage, the wage limit for mini-jobs for which no taxes and social security contributions are due will be raised.

The maximum monthly amount is 520 euros from October.

Deadline for filing property tax returns

Property owners have until October 31 to submit their property tax returns.

Anyone who does not comply must expect a reminder from the tax office or fines.

Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) recently emphasized that he still sees an option in extending the deadline.

The deadline is not based on a federal regulation, but on determinations by the federal states, emphasized a spokesman for the Ministry of Finance.

Whether the gas surcharge will come is uncertain

The federal government was actually planning a levy of 2.4 cents per kilowatt hour for all gas consumers from October to support importers.

Because some of them got into difficulties due to a lack of gas deliveries from Russia.

However, the measure is uncertain: coalition politicians have announced that the levy should not come.

Value-added tax on gas is to be reduced

In order to relieve consumers of the exploding energy costs, the VAT on natural gas is expected to drop from 19 to 7 percent on October 1st.

The Bundestag wants to vote on this on Friday.

Checking the heating becomes mandatory

In the future, building owners with gas heating will be obliged to check their heating in order to save energy.

The regulation comes into force on October 1 and is valid for two years.

Frankfurt Book Fair opens

What new books can we look forward to?

The Frankfurt Book Fair, which opens on October 18, promises answers to this question.

After "two very difficult years", the book fair will again take place "largely physically" this year, according to director Juergen Boos.

The book fair expects around 4000 exhibitors from around 85 countries.