For NGOs it is about the money: The dispute about the charitable status of Attac is back at the financial court in Kassel.

Rest after use: Attac-activists to an action on the financial crisis in Frankfurt, photo: Boris Roessler/picture-alliance

BERLIN taz | Still Attac has not lost its non-profit status legally. This Wednesday, the financial court in Kassel negotiated again about the case. Already four years ago, Attac was disallowed by the tax authorities in Frankfurt, the public good but because the organization is mainly engaged in political campaigns: against austerity, for the redistribution of wealth, and much more.

in Contrast, the Association complained and got the end of 2016 at the financial court in Kassel, first right. Attac is a non-profit, because his work is public education and the democratic state promotes.

However, the Bundesfinanzhof (BFH), the highest German financial court, took advantage of the Attac dispute in January 2019 for a principle of judgment. After that, the concept of political education is to be interpreted narrowly. Anyone who tries to affect policies, to his own Position to enforce, is not engaged in political education. And who is advocating for "individual interests", not to promote the "democratic state".

Since then, other organizations are already feeling the consequences. Thus, the tax authority of Berlin, the campaign organization Campact has deprived the common ützigkeit but. In addition, the same tax office, the petition platform change.org has threatened the withdrawal of.

For the NGOs it is a lot of money: The Alliance "Alliance right security for political will on the fears of education", that between 2020 and 2022 their Status and so many donations are going to lose because of the regular non-profit audits for hundreds of organizations.

To Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) grows, therefore, the pressure to reform the charity law. An obvious approach to the appointment of additional non-profit purposes in the tax code would be. The Finance Ministers of the countries proposed in September a whole new set of purposes: climate protection, protection of sexual minorities, village beautification and maintenance of cemeteries.

The "Alliance for legal certainty" calls for, among other things, the recording of the purpose of "social justice", what good would Attac. Scholz has been submitted but not yet a design.

you must First negotiate now, but once again, the financial court in Kassel. According to the BFH is still to be clarified, such as the Attac network Attac-Association hang together. If the FG Kassel is unruly, it may provide but are not yet associated with Surprises – for example, by transferring the common ützigkeit law to the Federal constitutional guideline for the examination. After all, the FG has already ruled once in favor of Attac. Whether in Kassel, Germany, this Wednesday a decision will be announced, is still open.