Can I also deduct expenses for my further education from taxes?
July 8, 2022 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Wolfgang Lenzner
Dear tax consultant,
My name is Claudia Mellert and I work as a Marketing Manager in a medium-sized company. In my profession, it is important to always stay up-to-date and continuously further educate oneself. Therefore, I have attended several seminars and workshops last year to expand my knowledge and skills.
Now I am wondering if I can deduct the expenses for my further education from taxes. The seminars and workshops have cost me a considerable sum in total, and it would be great if I could claim a part of it as tax-deductible.
I have heard that professional training measures are deductible as business expenses under certain conditions. However, I am uncertain whether my specific seminars and workshops meet these conditions and how exactly I should report the costs in my tax return.
Could you please help me and tell me if I can deduct the expenses for my further education from taxes? If yes, what documents do I need to provide and how exactly do I report the costs in my tax return?
Thank you in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
Claudia Mellert
Dear Mrs. Mellert,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the deductibility of further education costs in your tax return. As a Marketing Manager in a medium-sized company, it is indeed important to continuously further educate yourself in order to stay up to date in your field and expand your professional perspectives. I am pleased that you are considering the tax options to deduct the costs of your further education measures.
In principle, work-related further education costs can be deducted as business expenses for tax purposes, provided they are directly related to your professional activity and serve to expand or deepen your knowledge and skills. This includes, for example, participation in seminars, workshops, training courses, or further education programs.
To claim the costs of your further education for tax purposes, you should collect all relevant receipts that substantiate the expenses. This includes invoices, certificates of participation, program booklets, or payment receipts. It is important that the documents show the specific further education measures, when and where they took place, and how much you paid for them.
In your tax return, you can then enter the costs of your further education in the area of business expenses. You should add up the total costs of your further education measures and enter them in the appropriate fields or attachments. It is advisable to keep the receipts as evidence, as the tax office may request these documents during an audit.
Please note that the tax deductibility of further education costs is subject to certain conditions and is individually reviewed. It may be helpful to seek advice from a tax advisor or a wage tax assistance association in your specific case to ensure that you are utilizing all opportunities for tax optimization.
I hope that I was able to assist you with this information. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.
Best regards,
Wolfgang Lenzner
