Always file a tax return (Steuererklärung)
Even if you are not obliged to file a tax return, it is often worth doing so. You can usually get back a noticeable part of the income tax you paid – especially if:
your salary changed during the year,
you were unemployed for part of the year,
your family situation changed (marriage, separation, child, etc.).
Most employees get back around €600 to €1,200 per year.
Claim commuting costs (Pendlerpauschale)
Calculate the one-way distance from your home to your workplace and multiply it by €0.30 per kilometre.
This applies regardless of how you travel – by car, train, bike or on foot.
From 2025 onwards, from the 21st kilometre, you can claim €0.38/km.
This is a lump sum that is recognised even without individual receipts.
Deduct work-related equipment (Arbeitsmittel)
Everything you use for your job can be claimed as work-related expenses, for example:
computer / laptop,
printer, desk, office chair,
software, online learning subscriptions, professional courses.
If the net purchase price exceeds €800, the cost must usually be depreciated over several years (Abschreibung).
Home office deduction (Homeoffice-Pauschale)
If you work from home, you can claim:
€6 per home office day, up to 210 days per year, or
a full home office room with actual costs, if it is used exclusively for work (stricter rules).
Childcare costs (Kinderbetreuungskosten)
You can deduct up to two-thirds of childcare costs, for example:
kindergarten, nursery, after-school care,
childminder (Tagesmutter),
babysitter / nanny.
The maximum deductible amount is €4,000 per child per year.
Important: payments must be made via bank transfer or direct debit, not in cash.
Further training costs (Fortbildungskosten)
Any training that is related to your current job is usually deductible, for example:
courses, seminars, workshops,
textbooks, learning materials,
exam fees,
travel and accommodation related to training.
Higher education can also be deductible if it is not your first course of study.
Household-related services (Haushaltsnahe Dienstleistungen)
These include, for example:
cleaning services,
home repairs and maintenance,
gardening work (lawn mowing, hedge trimming, etc.).
You can deduct 20% of these costs, up to a maximum of €4,000 per year.
Donations (Spenden)
Donations to registered charitable organisations in Germany are tax-deductible – up to 20% of your annual income.
Always ask for and keep an official donation receipt (Spendenbescheinigung).
Keep all invoices and receipts
To prove your deductible expenses, you should keep:
travel and transport receipts, tickets, fuel receipts,
invoices for job-related purchases,
medical or dental bills, if they are not fully covered by your health insurance.
The better your documentation, the easier it is for the tax office to accept your claims.
Check your tax class (Steuerklasse)
Especially for married couples, the right tax class combination can make a big difference:
Depending on who earns how much, tax class 3/5 may be more beneficial than 4/4.
A change of tax class is done via the Finanzamt (tax office) and is usually only possible once per year.
Expert tip:
Use tax software such as WISO Steuer or Smartsteuer.
These programs can automatically suggest many potential deductions based on your input so you don’t miss out on tax advantages.
The editorial team of our website strives to provide accurate information based on extensive research and consultation of multiple sources. Nevertheless, errors may occur or some details may remain uncertain. Please consider the information in these articles as an initial point of reference and always contact the competent authorities or professional advisors for binding and up-to-date guidance.
