EnBW customers in USAG Stuttgart now eligible for program
Stuttgart military community members receiving utilities through EnBW (Energie Baden-Württemberg AG) no longer need to pay the 19 percent Value Added Tax and 11 percent energy tax on their electric bills, now that EnBW has agreed to participate in the U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Utility Tax Avoidance Program.
Those who buy gas or water from EnBW can also save the 19 percent VAT, along with an additional seven percent on energy taxes and the seven percent VAT assessed on water.
“UTAP can save customers hundreds of dollars annually off their utilities,” said Stacy Perez, chief of the USAG Stuttgart Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Financial Management Division. “Now that EnBW has signed the UTAP agreements with Stuttgart, the UTAP office can make tax-free utilities available to almost everyone in the Stuttgart area.”
EnBW is the most recent company to join a list of 13 other local utility companies participating in the UTAP program, including Suewag and Sindelfingen.
The UTAP program is designed for service members assigned to Europe, U.S. civilians working for the U.S. Forces, and some contractors, provided that they fall under the Technical Expert Status Accreditation agreement.
The utility costs that qualify for the UTAP program are those that patrons pay personally, not those incorporated into the rent (Nebenkosten) or paid by the landlord. To get these costs included requires a change in the individual rental contract.
For people who own their residence in Germany, all utility costs are covered by UTAP.
To take advantage of this benefit, eligible community members must make an appointment at the UTAP office, located on Panzer Kaserne in Building 2913 (the housing office building), Room 314. Appointments can be made online at UTAP-reservation@eur.army.mil.
From Nov. 5 through Dec. 15, the Panzer office will offer extended hours Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., by appointment. Hours will be adjusted according to demand.
In addition, a temporary satellite office will be available on Kelley Barracks, by appointment only, from Nov. 5 to Dec. 15, from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Kelley Barracks office will be located in the Kelley Club (Building 3300).
Bring the following to the appointment:
• Current meter numbers and meter readings
• ID card
• Completed UTAP application, found at www.stuttgartmwr.com/taxes/UTAP
• Completed Start Form for utility company, found at www.stuttgartmwr.com/taxes/UTAP
• Additional copy of lease
If you own your home, bring copies of the purchase contract cover page with notary stamp, page with the address and page with signatures.
• Registration fee of $77, payable in cash, check or credit card at time of appointment
• Banking information, to include German routing numbers. The Community Bank routing number is 50110900, and the Service Federal Credit Union routing number is 54030011.
Note that all documents must be signed by the sponsor. If the sponsor is unavailable, a copy of the Power of Attorney must be provided to the UTAP office.