OPINIONVIDEOCUSTOMS AND EXCISE DUTIES
On 12 August Klingbeil takes the Zollfinanzgerechtigkeitsgesetz, the customs finance justice act, to cabinet. But where does it apply? A case from practice
The case from the letter to the federal finance minister, in 28 slides and a good five minutes. All the figures, the sources and the assessment are in the full commentary.
By Andreas W. Herb, Founder and CEO MBG Group, Paderborn
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On 12 August 2026 the federal cabinet adopted Klingbeil’s Zollfinanzgerechtigkeitsgesetz. Klingbeil announced that it would also relieve honest companies. For a lorry load of vodka mixers that stood in a customs warehouse in Paderborn for 24 hours and was destined for Spain, customs demands 0 euros of alcohol duty but 57,942 euros of alcopop duty. That is more than 3.5 times the value of the goods. The act restructures customs; it does not change the rules on which the case turns.
The video summarises, the commentary documents: there you will find the sequence of events, the legal position, the planned 2027 budget accompanying act and the proposed legislation in full, with all the sources. To the commentary.
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CHECK
What was checked before publication
- All 28 slides of the video have been viewed and checked against the commentary: 20,880 litres, 5 per cent alcohol, 29 pallets, around 24 hours, 0 euros of alcohol duty, 57,942 euros of alcopop duty, a value of goods of around 16,300 euros, more than 3.5 times that, 29 April, 20 July, 6 and 18 August, 16 October. No figure differs. The sound track was not listened to.
- The video reproduces the announcement “Tougher on criminals. Relief for honest companies.” in substance. What Klingbeil actually said was: “We are stepping up the pace! At the same time we are relieving honest citizens and companies.” The source is in the commentary.
- Not in the video: with the 2027 budget accompanying act, the finance ministry intends to link the alcopop duty to the alcohol duty from 2027. Proposals 1 and 2 would thereby be provided for in essence, though not for cases before 2027. This appears with its source in the commentary.
- “Cost to the federal government: 0 euros” and “without loss of tax revenue” are assessments by the author. The video marks them as “costs according to Herb” and at the end as the position of MBG.
CORRECTIONS
Corrections
No corrections since publication on 19/10/2026. Every substantive change appears here with its date, reason and previous wording.
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