How can I claim my commuting expenses for work on my taxes?
April 19, 2023 | 50,00 EUR | answered by Georg Nitsche
Dear tax advisor,
my name is Marco Peters and I have been working in a company for some time now, unfortunately not located in my immediate residential area. This results in high commuting costs for me every month, as I have to drive to work daily by car. Currently, I drive approximately 50 kilometers each way, totaling to 100 kilometers per day. Since my employer does not offer any public transportation options, I am forced to drive by car.
When I inquired with friends, I was told that it is possible to claim commuting expenses for tax purposes. As I am already financially burdened, it would be very helpful for me to be able to deduct a portion of the commuting costs from my taxes. However, I am unsure of how exactly to do this and what documents I would need for it.
I am concerned that I may be giving away money that I could potentially get back through the tax deduction of commuting expenses. Therefore, my question to you is: How can I claim my commuting expenses for tax purposes and what steps do I need to take for it? Are there specific forms that I need to fill out or documents that I need to provide?
Thank you in advance for your help and support.
Sincerely,
Marco Peters
Dear Mr. Peters,
Thank you for your inquiry and your trust in my expertise as a tax advisor. I am happy to help you in claiming your commuting expenses for work and thus potentially gaining tax benefits.
In general, it is possible to deduct commuting expenses for work from taxes. However, this is only applicable if you commute to work with your own vehicle and do not receive any reimbursement from your employer for the commuting costs. The distance allowance is currently 0.30 euros per kilometer, which can be claimed for each workday (one-way).
In your case, where you travel 100 kilometers to work daily, you could deduct 30 euros (100 km x 0.30 euros) as commuting expenses for each workday. This amounts to 150 euros per week for a five-day workweek and therefore 600 euros per month. You can then declare these amounts in your income tax return and claim them as tax deductions.
To claim your commuting expenses for work, you should fill out Annex N (Income from employment) in your income tax return. There you can specify the distance allowance and other work-related expenses, such as costs for work materials or further education. Additionally, you should keep records of your commutes to work, such as gas receipts, a mileage log, or a confirmation from your employer regarding the distance to the workplace.
It is important to carefully keep all necessary documents and correctly declare them in your tax return in order not to miss out on potential tax benefits. If you are unsure about which specific documents are needed or how to best deduct your commuting expenses, I am available for further consultation.
I hope that this information has been helpful to you and I am happy to assist you with any further questions.
Sincerely,
Georg Nitsche, Tax Advisor
