Changing your tax class (Steuerklasse) or correctly declaring your expenses can get you back an average of over €1,000 per year from the German state. Many Albanians working there pay more taxes than they should because they are not familiar with the local laws.
Here are the 7 main things you need to know to protect your money in Germany.
7 Things You Need to Know About Taxes
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- Tax Class (Steuerklasse): If you are married, don’t automatically stay in class 4. Switching to a combination of classes 3 and 5 can immediately increase the family’s net monthly salary if one spouse earns much more than the other.
- Commuting to Work (Pendlerpauschale): You can deduct €0.30 for each kilometer of travel (and €0.35 from the 21st kilometer) for the distance from home to work, regardless of whether you travel by car, train or bus.
- Double Household (Doppelte Haushaltsführung): If you own a home in Albania/Kosovo and live in a rental in Germany due to work, you can deduct the cost of German rent and travel to your homeland up to €1,000 per month.
- Home Office Allowance (Homeoffice-Pauschale): For every day you work from home, the state grants you a fixed deduction of €6 per day (up to a maximum of €1,260 per year), without the need for a separate work room.
- Moving Expenses (Umzugskosten): If you have moved to Germany or changed cities for a new job, save your transportation or flight company receipts, as they are tax deductible.
- Work Equipment (Werbungskosten): Anything you buy for your job—like a laptop, phone, special clothes, or German language courses—can be declared to reduce your income tax.
- Filing is Simple: You don’t need an expensive tax consultant ( Steuerberater ). You can file your tax return yourself using simple mobile apps like Taxfix , Wundertax or Smartsteuer .
Official Deadlines for Tax Filing
If you are required to file a tax return (e.g. if you had additional income or tax bracket 3/5), the official filing deadline for the previous tax year is usually September 2nd .
If you file the declaration voluntarily (to get the money back), you have up to 4 years to submit it.
Action Plan to Get Your Money Back
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- Step 1: Download an official German tax app (such as Taxfix or Wundertax) or register for free on the state portal ELSTER .
- Step 2: Collect the Ausdruck der elektronischen Lohnsteuerbescheinigung (salary and tax summary) document that your employer gives you at the beginning of each year.
- Step 3: Fill in the above expenses (travel, rent, work tools) and the app will show you exactly the amount the German state owes you.
If you would like us to calculate your benefits, please tell me:
- What is your current tax class (Steuerklasse)?
- Are you married and does your family live in Germany?
- How many kilometers is the distance from your home to your workplace?