Which documents do I need to have ready for the tax return?
September 27, 2023 | 50,00 EUR | answered by Anna Richter
Dear tax attorney,
My name is Quentin Meyer and I am facing the challenge of preparing my tax return for the current year. Since I have never submitted a tax return before, I am unsure about which documents I need to have ready for it.
The situation is as follows: I am an employee in a company and receive my monthly salary under tax class 1. Besides my main job, I have no other income from self-employment or rental. This year, I have also incurred some work-related expenses that I would like to claim for tax purposes.
My current situation is that I have no experience in preparing a tax return and therefore do not know exactly which documents I need for it. I am worried that I might forget important documents and thereby potentially miss out on tax benefits or even make mistakes that could lead to a tax payment.
Therefore, my question to you is: Which documents do I need to have ready for the tax return? Are there any specific documents I should consider due to my work-related expenses? How can I ensure that I collect all relevant documents and correctly enter them into the tax return to maximize tax benefits?
Thank you in advance for your support and advice.
Best regards,
Quentin Meyer
Dear Mr. Meyer,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the preparation of your tax return for the current year. It is understandable that as a first-time applicant, you may feel unsure and worried about forgetting important documents or making mistakes. I will explain in detail below which documents you need for your tax return and what you should consider when taking into account your business expenses.
For the preparation of your tax return as an employee in tax class 1, you will generally need the following documents:
1. Income tax certificate: This is provided by your employer and contains all important information about your salary, taxes, and social security contributions that have already been deducted.
2. Receipts for business expenses: These include, for example, travel expenses, work equipment, further education, or professional literature. Collect all receipts that can prove the costs you incurred.
3. Certificates of paid contributions to health and long-term care insurance as well as to pension insurance.
4. Receipts for extraordinary expenses if you wish to claim them.
5. Possibly other receipts, depending on your individual situation (e.g. donation certificates, pension contributions, etc.).
Since you want to claim business expenses, it is particularly important to collect all relevant receipts and evidence for them. Make sure that the receipts are complete and correct to avoid possible queries from the tax office.
To ensure that you have all the relevant documents, I recommend creating a checklist and systematically collecting all necessary documents. You can also seek the assistance of a tax advisor who can support you in preparing your tax return and help you with any questions or uncertainties.
I hope these guidelines help you prepare your tax return. If you have any further questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact me.
Best regards,
Anna Richter
Tax Lawyer
