register now for free unlimited access to reuterscom register german finance minister christian lindner holds a news conference about tax revenue forecasts at the finance ministry in berlin germany may 12 2022 reutersannegret hilsefile photo berlin sept 22 reuters  federal and state government tax revenues fell in europes biggest economy during august for the first time this year the finance ministry said on thursday in its monthly report the ministry said the tax take was down 26 to 5421 billion euros 5352 billion yearonyear compared with a 03 increase in july only payroll tax and sales tax showed slight increases the report said in first eight months of the year federal and state tax revenues rose by 128 to 52226 billion euros especially in the first half this was partly due to the weak comparison figure for 2021 due to the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic the ministry said thanks to a near halt in gas supplies from russia and extraordinarily high energy prices the economic outlook for the second half of the year had deteriorated despite a relatively robust first half the report said earlier this month the ifo institute said it expected the german economy to shrink next year and cut its growth forecast for this year to 16 read more reporting by christian kraemer writing by madeline chambers editing by jane merriman