Temporary VAT reduction by 3% until 31.12.2020

We have spoken with our GU.
So far, 8 out of 11 partial payments have been made. Handover will probably be in October. We have paid 19% VAT on the previous invoices. All further partial payments will be made with 16%, and the final invoice, to which the previously paid partial payments with their respective VAT will be credited, will be made with 16% on the total price. Thus, our final installment will be lower, and we will ultimately pay 16% VAT on everything. As has already been explained here.
For us, this is really a great windfall.
We already have offers from (almost) all other trades or materials for own work (Parkett, Maler, Treppengeländer, Küche, Fliesen, Türen, Garagentor), which will consistently be changed to 16% VAT upon request. This means a saving of about 14k for us. The cost planning is very pleased about that.

I would complain

I would first suspect a typo.

It is not a typo, the total amount results from 19%.

I would simply deduct it myself from the invoice. Then they can explain why they want more tax.

The invoice amount is generally not correct anyway, I have to ask about that again. I will first ask what is going on. I just also looked at our contract, it says: - Building according to the building description, including the services blah blah for the price of XXX including the VAT valid at the time of contract conclusion. - Any possible VAT increase will be charged additionally. Then one paragraph further down: - The agreed prices are fixed prices including VAT to be shown separately. That makes no sense anyway.

Typo in the sense of accounting software not adjusted or not thought of. Just send the invoice back to him first and manually note 16% including the corresponding gross amount and ask for invoice adjustment. Then he has the ball again.

The performance date of the advance invoice is June 2020 before 01.07.2020. In this respect, the 19% is initially correct. It will then be corrected in the final invoice when it is confirmed that the service was actually completed in the 2nd half of 2020.

Hello everyone,

we have the following problem: We concluded the general contractor contract with a gross sum X including the currently applicable VAT.
The first 3 of the 10 agreed partial payments according to the payment plan were made with 19% VAT. So far, so good. Now we have received the invoice for our 4th partial payment, which refers to a service from 02.07.2020, with 16% VAT; however, the difference amount to the total gross sum was added to our contractually agreed net sum. In short: Our net purchase price was increased with the argument of rising costs of our developer (this statement came after my inquiry about the increase).
In my opinion, they are trying to take advantage of us here and we would involve a lawyer. Has anyone here had a similar case and possibly already had it checked?
We are currently extremely disappointed with our developer and feel cheated again.

Thanks for your feedback and your help!

Hello everyone, we have the following problem: We concluded the general contractor contract with a gross amount X including the currently applicable VAT. The first 3 of the 10 agreed partial payments according to the payment plan were made with 19% VAT. So far so good. Now we have received the invoice for our 4th interim payment, which relates to a service from 07/02/2020, with 16% VAT, however the difference amount to the total gross sum was added to our contractually agreed net amount. In short: Our net purchase price was increased with the argument of rising costs of our developer (statement came after my inquiry about the increase). In my opinion, they are trying to take advantage of us here and we would involve a lawyer. Does anyone here have a similar case and possibly already had it checked? We are currently extremely disappointed with our developer and feel cheated repeatedly. Thanks for feedback and your help!

When will the final acceptance take place? Before or after 12/31/2020? And what kind of partial payments are these? Are they connected with a separate acceptance? Or how is the payment plan structured?