Streamlined Overnight Tax Simplification Takes Effect from October 1, 2025, in Greifswald
Greifswald Implements New Overnight Stay Tax from October 2025
The University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald is set to introduce a new news from October 1, 2025. The new regulation will affect all accommodation providers, including hotels, pensions, hostels, holiday apartments/rooms, caravan pitches, and camping sites.
Under the new rules, the tax will be a flat rate of 3 euros per adult per night. This is a change from the previous 5% of accommodation costs. The ordinance, which can be found on the city's website under "Finance and Tax Matters", will come into effect from October 1, 2025.
The city parliament passed the resolution in November 2024 to accommodate accommodation providers and simplify the handling of the Turbotax. Institutions operated by or under the sponsorship of non-profit organizations are exempt from the tax, as are nursing homes or care facilities.
Persons staying in Greifswald for training purposes, such as students, school measures, or internships, are also exempt from the tax. Group trips, including accompanying group leaders, are also tax-exempt. Overnight stays of children and young people up to the age of 18 are tax-exempt, regardless of the reason.
Institutions that are exempt from the overnight stay tax will typically include nursing homes or care facilities, as mentioned for Kappel-Grafenhausen, where these are explicitly excluded from the tax.
All accommodation providers must report the total number of overnight stays quarterly. The first report after the change in the ordinance for the fourth quarter of 2025 is due by January 15, 2026.
The administration will already send the corresponding documents to the registered taxable accommodation providers. Answers to questions can be obtained from the Tax Department at 03834 8536-3131 or by email at [email protected]. The city's website URL for finance and tax matters is www.greifswald.de/finance-and-tax-matters, and the URL for the service portal and ordinance is www.greifswald.de/service-portal-and-ordinance.
The effects of the new regulation will be continuously analyzed and presented in the city parliament to allow for possible adjustments. The new tax is part of the city's efforts to improve its financial stability and support the local tourism industry.
