Where did you get your money? New law 2026 sparks debate.
The German Bundestag passed the new Customs Finance Justice Act on November 12, 2026. What does this mean for your house, your car, your bank account, and your savings?
Frankfurt am Main
November 14, 2026
House, car, cash, jewelry or savings: Can you still explain today where your wealth comes from?
A new law raises precisely this question. And the interest is enormous: Lawyer Patricia Lederer's video on TaxPro.TV already reached more than 200,000 views in the first 12 hours .
The German Bundestag will pass a new law in 2026.
On November 12, 2026, the German Bundestag passed the law for more justice through the strengthening of the customs administration and the fight against financial crime.
The aim is to combat money laundering and organized crime more effectively. To this end, state authorities will be given additional powers to investigate the origin of certain assets.
But the crucial question for property owners is: What happens if the state wants to know where their money comes from?
Your assets – and suddenly questions from the state?
A house bought decades ago. A car paid for with savings. Jewelry inherited. Cash saved up over many years.
Not everyone still has all their bank statements, purchase contracts, or other documents.
Under certain legal conditions, the new regulations allow investigations into the origin of assets.
The question of whether those affected can explain the legitimate origin of their property can also play a role.
The German Federal Bar Association strongly criticizes the new law.
It's not just affected property owners who are asking questions. The German Federal Bar Association (BRAK) also sees significant legal problems.
In its statement No. 63/2026 of October 2026, the German Federal Bar Association (BRAK) generally welcomes the goal of combating financial crime more effectively. However, it rejects the planned regulations for the investigation and confiscation of suspicious assets, despite various improvements in the outcome.
From a rule-of-law perspective, three points are particularly critical:
1. Silence with negative consequences?
According to the explanatory memorandum to the law, the lack of suitable evidence regarding the origin of the assets can be taken into account to the detriment of the person concerned.
2. No receipts – but still legally acquired!
The legislator's notion that "honest" owners could regularly prove the origin of valuable assets is explicitly open to criticism.
Examples in this context include high-quality jewelry and other valuables that have been passed down within a family for generations. The fact that no purchase receipts exist for these items does not in any way prove their illegal origin.
3. When is the state allowed to permanently confiscate property?
The BRAK also criticizes the fact that the term "illegal origin" is not clearly defined in the draft law.
This raises some fundamental questions:
Under what conditions can assets permanently revert to the state?
How far can the state go in combating financial crime without jeopardizing the rights of legitimate owners?
What happens if evidence is missing?
This is precisely where the questions begin that concern many people.
Do you have to respond to the authorities? Do you have the right to remain silent? Can silence have negative consequences?
What are the implications if documents are no longer available? And under what conditions can assets be secured or ultimately confiscated?
The answers are crucial for anyone whose property comes under state investigation.
Over 200,000 views in just 12 hours
The level of interest in these questions is demonstrated by the response to TaxPro.TV .
Lawyer Patricia Lederer's new video reached more than 200,000 views in just 12 hours .
The focus is on a question that should interest every owner:
WHERE DID YOU GET YOUR MONEY?
In the video, lawyer Patricia Lederer explains which assets may be affected, what powers the authorities are given, and why the new regulations should be critically examined from a rule-of-law perspective.
Watch the video now:
What does the new law mean for your property?
The new law 2026 was passed by the Bundestag on November 12, 2026. Key provisions will come into force on January 1, 2027.
The new rules for investigating the origin of assets raise important questions about the relationship between state control and the rights of property owners.
How far can the state go? And what rights do those affected have?
The legal classification and the answers to these questions can be found in the current video on TaxPro.TV .
Sources:
German Bundestag, November 12, 2026 - Bundestag approves law to strengthen customs administration: https://www.bundestag.de/dokumente/textarchiv/2026/kw46-de-finanzkriminalitaet-1231490
Federal Government, November 12, 2026 - Customs can take stronger action against financial crime: https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/aktuelles/zollfinanzgerechtigkeitsgesetz-2449398
Draft bill of the Federal Government: Draft of a law for greater justice through the strengthening of the customs administration and the fight against financial crime - Printed matter 21/8282, 21st legislative period, 30.09.2026: https://dserver.bundestag.de/btd/21/082/2108282.pdf
Recommendation for a resolution by the Finance Committee on November 11, 2026: https://www.bundestag.de/resource/blob/1233084/21-9136.pdf
German Federal Bar Association - Statement No. 63/2026 October 2026 on the Federal Government's draft law for greater justice through strengthening the customs administration and combating financial crime (Customs Financial Justice Act, as of August 12, 2026): https://www.brak.de/fileadmin/05_zur_rechtspolitik/stellungnahmen-pdf/stellungnahmen-deutschland/2026/stellungnahme-der-brak-2026-63.pdf
