Reduce marriage costs: This is how you save cleverly on household-related services!

Reduce marriage costs: This is how you save cleverly on household-related services!

The tax advantages surrounding household-related services are a topic that interests many people at celebrations such as weddings, as well as in everyday life. In Germany, certain costs incurred for household-related services can be deducted under certain conditions.

To be tax deductible, the celebration must take place in your own home, for example in the garden or in a party room in the house. Deductible costs include, for example, fees for a chef to prepare the food on site, as well as the costs of wait staff and cleaning staff, both before and after the event. The nursery that prepares the garden, as well as professional childcare and wedding agency services on site, also fall under these regulations. In addition, the travel costs of external service providers and consumables such as cleaning products are tax deductible, provided that the working hours of the service providers are shown separately on the invoices ( chip ).

Household-related services in detail

A variety of other services can be claimed for tax purposes. Employers or clients of household-related services, care and support services as well as craftsmen can also claim tax reductions. Tenants also benefit here, for example if they pay for renovations by a painting company.

However, the tax reduction only applies to work carried out in owner-occupied households within the EU or EEA. This also includes care and support services, even if these take place in the home of the person requiring care. When it comes to residential care, it is important that the home is located in the EU or EEA.

Another advantage is that household-related services in second, weekend and holiday apartments are also deductible as long as they are used by yourself. However, the tax reduction can only be claimed for all apartments up to a certain maximum amount.

Important requirements for deductibility

In order to be able to use the tax reduction, invoices must be issued and payments made to the service provider's account - cash payments are not permitted, except for minor employment relationships (mini-jobs). Invoices and account statements do not have to be submitted with the tax return, but should be presented to the tax office upon request.

Eligible expenses include typical household activities such as cleaning, meal preparation and garden maintenance. However, expenses for lessons or leisure activities are not eligible. Employment relationships of spouses, life partners or children living in the household are also excluded from the benefits. For childcare by parents, travel costs can be claimed as tax-privileged benefits in kind, but proof of a contractual agreement and an invoice as well as a non-cash payment must be provided beforehand ( Steer ).

Overall, household-related services offer an attractive opportunity to take advantage of tax advantages, especially on special occasions or in everyday life. However, careful planning and documentation are essential in order to benefit from these simplifications.