German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck will present a reform of the companies' taxation system in the second half of next month, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday. "We will have key points for the company tax reform and heritage tax reform before the summer break," Merkel told reporters. "The finance minister will present proposals in the second half of June." Steinbrueck had previously been expected to present the reform package at the end of May or early June. The reform is controversial because it is likely to ease companies' net tax burden slightly while the government is also planning to raise the country's 16% value-added tax rate to 19% next year. The government wants to reform companies' taxation as of Jan. 1, 2008, focusing mainly on the taxation of big companies, who currently pay a 25% corporate tax rate and are subject to a local business tax which varies according to region but averages 13%. Steinbrueck has said an average tax burden of around 39% for these companies isn't attractive or competitive on an international level. edium-sized companies which are taxed under the pers