Which special expenses can I declare in my income tax return to save taxes?
May 2, 2024 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Andreas Stricker
Dear tax advisor,
My name is Leonie Koch and I have a question regarding my income tax return. This year, I have made some expenses that could be considered as special expenses, and I would like to know which of them I can include in my tax return in order to save taxes.
The situation is as follows: I am an employee and earn an average salary. Last year, in addition to my regular income, I made some expenses that could be considered as special expenses. These include, for example, health insurance contributions, donations to non-profit organizations, and expenses for professional development.
Currently, I have already reported my income from employment as well as any additional income in my tax return. Now, I would like to know which special expenses I can additionally report in order to reduce my tax burden.
My concern is that I may have forgotten expenses that are tax deductible and could therefore increase my tax burden. I want to make sure that I fully declare all possible special expenses in order to optimize my taxes.
Therefore, my question to you as an experienced tax advisor is: Which special expenses can I include in my income tax return to save taxes? Are there specific criteria that I need to consider to ensure that the expenses are tax deductible? What documents do I need to provide to document the expenses?
Thank you in advance for your help and support.
Kind regards,
Leonie Koch
Dear Mrs. Koch,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding special expenses in your income tax return. It is important to consider all possible expenses in order to optimize your tax burden. In the following, I will explain in detail which special expenses you can claim in your tax return to save taxes.
Some common special expenses that can be considered in the income tax return include:
1. Health insurance contributions: All contributions for health and long-term care insurance can be claimed as special expenses. This includes both contributions to statutory health insurance and private health insurance contributions.
2. Donations to charitable organizations: Donations to charitable associations, foundations, or organizations can also be deducted as special expenses. It is important that the donation receipts are in proper order and the organization is recognized as charitable.
3. Costs for professional further education: Expenses for further education and training related to your professional activity can be claimed as business expenses or special expenses. This includes course fees, professional literature, or travel expenses to training events.
It is important to note that not all expenses are deductible as special expenses. For example, private insurances, cosmetic surgeries, or household expenses are not deductible as special expenses. Therefore, it is advisable to carefully review all expenses and only declare those that are actually tax-relevant.
To document the special expenses in your tax return, it is advisable to keep all relevant receipts and proofs. These include invoices, donation receipts, payment records, and certificates of professional further education. These documents should be able to be presented in case of an audit by the tax office.
Finally, I recommend seeking assistance from an experienced tax advisor when entering your special expenses in your tax return. A professional tax advisor can help you identify all relevant expenses and correctly declare them to optimize your tax burden.
I hope this information has been helpful to you. If you have any further questions or need assistance, I am at your disposal.
Sincerely,
Andreas Stricker, Tax Advisor
