Can I deduct my commuting expenses from taxes?
January 26, 2023 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Wolfgang Lenzner
Dear tax advisor,
My name is Louis Busse and I work as an employee in a company located in a different city than my place of residence. I commute to work and back daily by car, which entails a significant financial expense. Now I am wondering if I can claim the travel costs for tax purposes.
Currently, my monthly travel expenses amount to about 200 euros, which adds up to a considerable amount over the entire year. Since I, as an employee, have no way of getting these costs reimbursed by my employer, it would be very helpful for me if I could at least deduct them from my taxes.
My concern is that I may have a financial disadvantage if I cannot claim the travel costs for tax purposes. However, I am unsure if and how this is possible, as I am not particularly knowledgeable in tax matters.
Could you please explain to me if and to what extent I can deduct my commuting expenses from taxes? Are there specific requirements that I need to meet in order to claim these costs for tax purposes? What documents do I need and how should I proceed to apply for this correctly?
Thank you in advance for your help and support.
Sincerely,
Louis Busse
Dear Mr. Busse,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the tax deductibility of your commuting expenses to work. I am happy to explain to you how you can claim these costs in your tax return.
In general, it is possible to deduct commuting expenses for the journey to work from your taxes. However, there are certain requirements that must be met. Firstly, you must actually commute to work with your own car and bear the costs yourself. Additionally, it is important that it is a regular daily commute that is necessary to reach your workplace.
The amount of deductible commuting expenses depends on the distance between your place of residence and your workplace. You can either claim the actual costs per kilometer or a flat rate of 0.30 euros per kilometer. In your case, with monthly commuting expenses of around 200 euros, you should determine the exact distance between your place of residence and your workplace in order to calculate the amount of deductible costs.
To report the commuting expenses in your tax return, you will need supporting documents such as fuel receipts, invoices for car repairs and maintenance, as well as mileage records indicating that the trips are for commuting. These documents are important to substantiate possible inquiries from the tax office.
To apply for the commuting expenses in your tax return, you should use the "Anlage N" form and provide the relevant information about the costs and trips. Make sure to provide all the required information fully and accurately to avoid any potential inquiries.
I hope this information is helpful and answers your questions regarding the tax deductibility of your commuting expenses. If you need further assistance, I am happy to help.
Best regards,
Wolfgang Lenzner
