As of: February 4, 2024, 3:26 p.m
By: Marco Blanco Ucles
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Many people don't know which work equipment they can deduct from tax.
There will definitely be one or two surprises for you too.
Do you regularly spend money to get work equipment for your home office?
You can easily deduct many of the things you buy from your taxes - this year the tax return for 2023 is due.
Expenses that are necessary to practice a profession are called business expenses.
First of all, every employee is entitled to the so-called flat rate for business expenses.
This is 1,230 euros for 2023.
This can save you a lot of money.
The good thing for employees: This flat rate does not require any proof as long as you have worked all year round.
You are entitled to the full amount even if your expenses were lower.
However, the online portal
wundertax
warns against this: “The flat-rate income tax allowance is also taken into account in the monthly income tax.
If you haven't worked all year, you'll only get the full lump sum when you file your tax return.
If your expenses were above the flat rate, you must declare them individually in your tax return for tax deductions.”
Work equipment with a value of up to 110 euros can often be deducted without proof
In addition to the common tax deduction reasons such as travel costs - 30 cents per kilometer, 38 cents from the 21st kilometer of the one-way journey - or insurance, work equipment can also be deducted from the tax.
An advantage according to “WISO Tax”: Many tax offices recognize work equipment with a value of up to 110 euros even without proof - so you are spared a lot of paperwork.
By the way, this also works for other areas in your tax return.
All kinds of accessories are also needed in the home office - which you can deduct from your taxes.
© Westend61/IMAGO
The value of the work equipment logically plays a major role.
If the purchase price is below 952 euros gross - approx. 800 euros net - it is a minor asset.
In this case, the entire purchase price can be claimed for tax purposes in the year of purchase.
However, if the working equipment exceeds the gross value of 952 euros, the purchase price must be distributed over several years in the tax return.
The same applies if you buy used work equipment and want to sell it.
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Work clothing, office supplies or IT equipment – the list of deductible work equipment is long.
The only important thing is that you need them for work.
Example: If you have a desk lamp next to your laptop in your home office for optimal lighting, this counts as work equipment.
However, the expensive picture on the wall does not count as this does not help you with your work.
An overview of (possible) deductible work equipment:
Tax-deductible office supplies
pencils
note
Paper clips
Folder
blocks
Perforator
Tax-deductible office equipment – for example in the home office
Desk
Desk lamp
file cabinet
Chair
waste paper bin
Sideboard
Tax-deductible IT supplies
Printer
Work cell phone
Computer/laptop
USB sockets
Headset
External hard drive
copier
Tax-deductible work clothing
Safety shoes
Blue man
Lab coat
Chef's coat
High visibility vest
In addition, for office jobs, work materials such as specialist literature or dictionaries can also be deducted as business expenses.
But work utensils such as hammers or wrenches and many others can also be deducted from tax in classic craftsmen's professions.
Also interesting: You can easily calculate your vehicle tax yourself.