Doing your tax return for the first time: With these tips you can answer the questions without any problems

Almost all of us have to deal with our own tax returns sooner or later. But every beginning is difficult. Many people dread the bureaucracy and a lot of questions arise that can quickly frustrate you and make tax returns a torment.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Once you know your way around, you can complete your tax return in no time and, ideally, look forward to a large refund. We have collected the most important questions for you and will give you the appropriate answers.

1. By when does the tax return have to be submitted?

2. Where can you find the necessary forms?

3. What documents do you need?

4. What can be deducted from taxes?

   1. advertising costs

   2. Special editions

By when does the tax return have to be submitted?

One of the most important questions is the exact deadline. There is a crucial difference that you have to keep in mind, as not everyone has to submit a tax return. Anyone who is actually obliged to file a tax return must adhere to different assessment periods.

While the 2022 tax return had to be submitted by October 2, 2023, the deadline for the 2023 tax return is August 31, 2024. You can still give yourself until July 31, 2025 to file the 2024 tax return.

However, if you want to submit your tax return voluntarily in order to secure certain refunds, you can also submit it up to four years later by December 31 of the following year. So if you decide to submit your tax return for 2020, it is due by December 31, 2024.

Where can you find the necessary forms?

When filing your tax return, you must use official forms created by the tax offices. You can easily download these online from the Federal Finance Administration’s Form Management System (FMS).

If you are a pensioner or employee, you can also submit paper forms, which should be available from your local city administration or citizen’s office. However, some taxpayers, such as self-employed people and entrepreneurs, have to submit their tax returns electronically.

What documents do you need?

For employees or trainees, the main form, also known as the cover sheet, is particularly important. There you enter all your basic data such as name, address and tax number.

Many e-data (data transmitted electronically to the tax office) such as contributions to health, nursing care and pension insurance, wage replacement benefits or pension payments are already available to the tax office and therefore no longer need to be stated in paper forms since 2020. This data is also often retrieved automatically in tax software if it is equipped with this function.

In 2008, all citizens were sent their own tax ID by post. If you can no longer find this letter, you should contact the Federal Central Tax Office or your local tax office.

As an employee, you will receive an annual wage tax certificate from your employer at the end of the year or your employment relationship. This document lists, among other things, your wages paid as well as contributions to health and pension insurance. You can then transfer this information to your tax return in the same way.

In order to be able to prove your additional costs to the tax office, you should collect the necessary invoices, receipts and bank statements throughout the year. You are not always required to provide such evidence for your tax return. However, since it often involves lump sums, it is still advisable to be prepared.

What can be deducted from taxes?

When you file your tax return, you not only want to provide the tax office with information about your income, but you also want to secure a particularly high refund. But to do this, you first have to know which of your expenses can be deducted and which category they actually fall under.

For example, you differentiate between advertising costs and special expenses. Advertising costs are expenses that you incur, for example to get to work, and that you get back through a commuter allowance. Work equipment such as your computer or desk can also be stated in your tax return.

advertising costs

Your salary and possible costs, which are considered business expenses, are stated in the appendix of your paper forms. This includes all expenses that arise for your job, such as your work equipment or internet and telephone costs. For a better overview you can take a look at the following list:

• Commuter allowance
• Work equipment
• Home office flat rate
• Internet and telephone costs
• Workspace
• Training costs
• Double housekeeping
• Additional meal expenses
• Tax advice

Since a specific flat rate often applies to tax returns, you don’t have to provide detailed information for many of your expenses or provide evidence to support them. As long as these costs appear credible to the tax office based on your profession, there should be no additional questions. Nevertheless, it is advisable to collect enough receipts so that you can submit them later if the tax office wants to see proof from you.

Special editions

Unlike business expenses, special expenses are not directly related to your work, but can still be deducted from your taxes. Expenses include, for example, insurance contributions, donations or church tax, which can be counted as additional costs and reimbursed in whole or in part.

Here you can find some examples, which include the special editions:

• Healthcare
• pension insurance
• Dental treatments
• Accident and liability insurance
• Glasses and contact lenses
• Hearing aids
• Care and spa costs
• Riester contributions
• Donations and membership fees
• Church tax
• Spousal support at Realsplitting
• Child care costs
• Education costs such as private schools or university studies

If you can’t manage your tax return on your own despite tips, you can get help from various tax software. We have a selection of programs that will help you and make filling out your tax return a little easier.

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