Working from home: How to deduct the costs for telephone and internet from your taxes
Created: 09/26/2022, 12:00 p.m
By: Andrea Stettner
Anyone who also uses their private telephone and Internet for work can deduct the costs incurred from their taxes.
We show the conditions that apply.
In the home office, the boundaries between work and private life are often blurred.
For example, many employees use their private internet to work from home.
The private landline telephone or mobile phone is also often used for professional calls.
The good news is that the costs for telephone and internet can be deducted from taxes in this case.
Anyone who also uses their private telephone and Internet for work can deduct these as income-related expenses.
© Roman Möbius/Imago
Deduct telephone and internet costs as income-related expenses
If you also use your private Internet and telephone for work, you can claim the fees (sometimes also acquisition and repair costs) as income-related expenses in your tax return.
This is generally possible as a lump sum or by individual verification:
Flat rate:
A flat rate of 20 percent of the domestic telephone and internet costs can be claimed from the tax office.
Maximum limit: 20 euros per month or 240 euros per year.
However, repair costs and acquisition costs are not included.
Itemization:
Those who provide itemization for their purely work-related communication costs can deduct these in full.
There is no maximum amount.
To do this, you must prove what percentage of your telephone and internet costs are incurred for business purposes.
With this variant, the purchase and repair costs of smartphones, landline telephones or systems can also be taken into account.
However, costs for computer accessories such as the WLAN router or a modem are not included.
What documents do I need?
However, you cannot do without documents.
"In order to be able to deduct telephone and Internet costs from tax, you must prove that you need to use your mobile phone or other private connections for professional reasons.
Your company can issue a corresponding proof”, informs the
Vereinigte Lohnsteuerhilfe eV
(VLH).
According to the VLH, invoices or a time overview can also be used as receipts.
Deduct further costs for home office from the tax
Other home office costs are also tax deductible.
For example, under certain conditions, the tax authorities will recognize the costs of a home office.
But the home office flat rate should also relieve taxpayers.
