Checklist: You can deduct these tasks!

Deducting tradesmen's invoices from your taxes: Many Germans now know that this is possible. But what exactly is deductible and what formalities you need to adhere to.

This article is part of the special topic Tax bonus for tradesmen's invoices: What you should know

Labor costs for almost all Private customers can deduct renovation work on their house and yard from their taxes. You can deduct up to 1.200 euros per year from your tax liability per household. Important: Only the labor costs are deductible, not the materials. And the Invoice cannot be paid in cash.

1. Private craftsman services

The work for Renovation, maintenance and modernization measures must be provided in a taxpayer’s household located within the EU and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Customers can Attach the tradesman's invoice to your income tax return, even for new construction and renovations. The craft activities include, among others,

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• drain pipe cleaning,
• Work on interior and exterior walls,
• Work on roofs, facades, garages, or similar,
• Labour costs for erecting scaffolding (not rent and material costs),
• Gutter cleaning,
• Fees for the chimney sweep or for the inspection of lightning protection systems, house connections (e.g. cables for electricity or television),
• Garden design measures,
• piano tuner,
• Modernization of the bathroom,
• Modernisation or replacement of the fitted kitchen (only work carried out in the household),
• Paving work on the residential property,
• Repair or replacement of floor coverings (e.g. carpet, parquet, tiles),
• Repair or replacement of windows and doors (as far as provided in the household),
• Repair, maintenance or replacement of heating systems, electrical, gas and water installations,
• Repair and maintenance of items in the taxpayer's household (e.g. washing machine, dishwasher, stove, television, PC and other items that can be covered by the household contents insurance),
• Painting/varnishing doors, windows (inside and outside), wall cabinets, radiators and pipes,
• Fire extinguisher maintenance.

Residents of condominiums can also deduct tradesmen's services if they are appropriately identified in their condominium association (WEG) statement. The WEG statement, also known as the owner's statement, accounts for all costs incurred within a condominium association and allocated among the individual owners. Tenants can also claim tradesmen's services if they are appropriately identified in their utility bill.

Double funding excluded!

Payments must be made non-cash; cash payments are not eligible for tax relief. To avoid questions, a copy of the remittance slip should also be attached to the tax return.

Double funding is prohibited. This means that measures that are publicly funded through low-interest loans or tax-free grants cannot also be deducted as tradesman services.