Do you have a mini-job and wonder whether you need to include it in your tax return? Here's a clear and up-to-date explanation of how mini-jobs are taxed – and how to correctly enter them in the Taxfix app.
- Mini-jobs do not have to be declared in your tax return as they are taxed at a flat rate.
- As a rule, you do not have an income tax statement for this. Do not confuse this with pay slips.
- If your mini-job was taxed individually, it must be included in your tax return.
🚀 Your Guide
- What is a mini-job?
- Is a mini-job taxable?
- What applies to short-term jobs?
- How are short-term jobs taxed?
- Do I have to include the mini-job in my tax return?
- How do I enter the mini-job in the Taxfix app?
What is a mini-job?
A mini-job is a form of marginal employment, where you either earn no more than €520 per month on a regular basis, or the employment is limited to a short period of time (short-term job).
In the case of the so-called €520 mini-job, your regular income must not exceed €520 per month. You may earn more in some months as long as your annual average remains below the limit.
Is a mini-job taxable?
Yes, mini-jobs are generally taxable. However, there are two different ways taxes can be applied:
👉 Flat-rate taxation: Your employer pays a flat 2% income tax. The income is then tax-free for you. The employer decides on the taxation method. Flat-rate taxation is the standard.
📌 Important: If your mini-job is taxed at a flat rate, you do not need to include it in your tax return. You also cannot claim any work-related expenses.
💡 If you did not receive an income tax certificate (Lohnsteuerbescheinigung) for your mini-job, it was flat-rate taxed. In this case, you do not need to include it in your tax return.
What applies to short-term jobs?
Short-term jobs are temporary positions agreed upon in advance.
- If you work a 5-day week, the job may not exceed 3 months in total.
- If you work fewer than 5 days a week, the limit is 70 working days per year.
For short-term jobs, the amount earned does not matter. What matters is that the job is not your main professional occupation – it should only play a minor financial role for you.
How are short-term jobs taxed?
Short-term jobs are also subject to taxation. They can be taxed in two ways:
-
Flat-rate taxation at 20%, only if all of the following apply:
- The job is occasional (not regular).
- It lasts no longer than 18 consecutive days.
- The daily wage does not exceed €62 (approx. €12/hour).
- Individual taxation: Based on your personal income tax data.
Do I have to include the mini-job in the tax return?
Here's the simple answer:
- No, if your mini-job was flat-rate taxed. In this case, you did not receive an income tax certificate.
- Yes, if it was individually taxed. In this case, you received an official income tax certificate (not to be confused with a monthly payslip).
💡 Mini-job wages that were flat-rate taxed do not increase your taxable income and do not lead to a tax refund. Therefore, they are not included in the tax return.
How do I enter the mini-job in the Taxfix app?
In most cases, you do not need to enter anything in the app if your mini-job was flat-rate taxed. These earnings are already taxed and are not included in the tax return.
In the app, under the section “Job”, you will be asked whether you received an income tax certificate for your mini-job. If you answer “No”, you will be asked for the reason. In that case, select:
“Flat-rate taxed wage (mini-job/short-term)”
The app will automatically detect whether additional information is needed – and will only prompt you if relevant.
🚀 Fill out the simple question-answer flow - we'll take care of the rest!
Still have questions?
We're here to help! Contact our support team: support@taxfix.de