Germany Eases Tax Requirements for Virus-Hit Businesses

Businesses affected by the coronavirus will get relief from tax filing deadlines and tax prepayment requirements, the German government said Friday.

The tax provisions are part of an expansive plan by Finance Minister Olaf Scholz and Economy Minister Peter Altmaier to provide businesses with liquidity to secure growth and employment.

Tax authorities can grant deferrals more easily and have been instructed not to impose any strict requirements and to postpone the timing of a tax payment if its collection could hurt the company, according to the plan.

The lowering of tax prepayments is also simplified. The plan states ...