Checklist: You can deduct all of this from your taxes
Created: 09/10/2022, 06:00
By: Omer Kayali
You can save money on the tax return if you deduct costs from taxes - but what are they?
A checklist for taxpayers.
Filing the annual tax return is no fun.
For many taxpayers, the forms and associated attachments are confusing and incomprehensible, so that they have to get an overview every year.
However, if you know your way around and know which costs can be deducted from taxes, it can be quite motivating.
But easier said than done.
To give you an overview of what you can deduct from tax, we have created a checklist in this article.
This way you can check off point by point and see if you are entitled to a refund.
Tax return checklist: You can deduct this from your taxes
Below we have listed the expenses relevant to the tax return.
The links will take you to in-depth articles on each topic.
Below we also briefly address the individual points.
Advertising expenses
- study
- home office flat rate
- commuter flat rate - flat rate for
moving costs
Insurance
- health insurance, statutory and private
- statutory pension insurance
- legal protection insurance
- old-age provision
road tax
Household services
- craftsmen
private school or college costs
childcare costs
healthcare costs
Donate
Tax tricks: How to save money on your tax return
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Advertising costs: home office, study, commuter allowance
The income-related expenses are entered in the tax form in Appendix N.
Home office
: The home office flat rate was a measure after the outbreak of the corona virus.
Employees can claim five euros as income-related expenses for every day in the home office, but not more than 600 euros per year.
Study : Have you set up a study
at home?
In order to be able to deduct this from tax, a number of conditions must be met: It must be a room that is used almost exclusively for work.
In addition, it must be a lockable room.
Then you can deduct the proportionate rental costs from your taxes without a limit, provided you carry out your professional activities mainly from your office.
Up to 1,250 euros can be claimed for the office if you "partially work at home".
This means if, for example, you share a place in your employer's office and therefore have to work from home for a few days.
If you use the room for a part-time job, that is also possible.
Commuter allowance
: Employees are entitled to 30 cents per kilometer traveled on their daily commute to work.
From the 21st kilometer 35 cents are deductible.
It doesn't matter whether you come to work on foot, by public transport, by bike or by car.
Flat-rate moving fee
If you hired a company for your move or used the services of a broker, you can also claim this for tax purposes, provided at least one condition is met.
For example, if you have to move professionally or you demonstrably shorten your career path by moving.
As a single you will receive a flat rate of 886 euros.
also read
How long do Germans work in a Europe-wide comparison?
How much is left for German pensioners compared to their European neighbors?
insurance and pension schemes
Insurance is entered in the tax form in the pension expense appendix.
The self-employed can deduct up to 2,800 euros from their taxes a year, for employees it is a maximum of 1,900 euros – basic health insurance and statutory long-term care insurance are already included here.
If you have not yet reached the total amount, you can also deduct the following insurance for tax purposes:
Unemployment, employment or disability insurance
accident insurance
liability insurance
life insurance
The pension plan is also to be stated in the annex to pension expenses.
road tax
Vehicle tax can only be claimed in the income tax return if the vehicle is used for business purposes.
If the car is used less than ten percent for work, it is considered private use and is therefore not tax deductible.
This is checked on the mileage.
A logbook, for example, is required as proof of professional use.
Household-related expenses, for example for craftsmen
20 percent of household-related expenses can be offset.
The annual maximum is 4,000 euros.
This includes craft work, for which you can only deduct up to 1,200 euros per year.
Costs for private schools and colleges
Parents can claim 30 percent of the costs for private schools, but no more than 5,000 euros per year.
However, university expenses are not deductible.
childcare costs
You can claim 2/3 of the amounts for kindergarten, babysitter or other costs, up to a maximum of 4,000 euros per year.
healthcare costs
Treatments that are not covered by health insurance are considered “extraordinary burdens”.
These include, for example, medication, cures, dentures and glasses.
If these exceed a "reasonable personal contribution", they are also tax deductible.
Income and family circumstances are used to determine the reasonable personal contribution.
Donate
Donations are tax deductible up to 200 euros without a donation receipt.
For all amounts above this limit, the tax office requires proof of the transfer to the donation account and an official donation receipt from the recipient.