If you need a second home for professional reasons, you can deduct the associated costs in your tax return. Weโll explain the conditions and what amounts you can deduct.
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You can deduct up to โฌ1,000 per month for your second home โ including rent, utilities, and furnishings.
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Trips home and meal expenses for the first three months are also tax-deductible.
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Enter this information in the app under โJobโ, if your second household exists for professional reasons.
๐ Your Guide
Who can claim a double household?
You can deduct the cost of a second home if it is job-related and your main place of residence remains your primary home. These conditions must be met:
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The second home is equal in size or smaller than the main residence.
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It is closer to your workplace than your main residence.
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If your job is temporary, the tax office will more easily accept the costs.
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If youโre married, your primary home should be where your spouse or family lives.
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You travel home regularly and spend most of your free time there.
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You contribute at least 10% to the ongoing costs of the primary household (e.g., rent, electricity, water) and can prove it.
If these conditions are met, you can enter the costs as work-related expenses in your tax return.
(This video is in german. Please user caption.)
Can I claim a double household as a trainee?
Yes โ if you meet the same conditions.
However, if you still live rent-free at your parentsโ home, your main residence is not considered an independent household for tax purposes. In that case, you canโt claim a second home.
These costs can be deducted
๐ Travel costs
You can deduct travel costs between your primary and secondary residence (known as "family home trips"). You may claim โฌ0.30 per kilometer (one way) for one trip home per week.
๐ Moving-in costs
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Moving company
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Rental van
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Flight or train ticket
โ ๏ธ Important: The flat-rate moving allowance is not deductible, since your main residence doesnโt change.
๐๏ธ Accommodation costs
You can deduct up to โฌ1,000 per month for:
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Rent
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Utilities (e.g., heating, water)
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Necessary furnishings (e.g., bed, desk)
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Parking space
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Garbage collection, chimney sweep
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Broadcasting fees (TV/radio license)
๐ดMeal expenses
For the first three months after moving into the second residence, you can deduct โฌ28 per day as additional meal expenses โ for each day spent at the second residence.
Where do I enter the information in the app?
You can enter the costs of maintaining a double household in the Taxfix app under the โJobโ category.
These costs are tax-deductible if the second household exists for professional reasons, or as part of a study program or vocational training.
๐ก Tip: The tax office only recognizes a double household under certain conditions.
โน๏ธ Youโll find helpful information on these conditions in the app, next to the relevant questions โ just tap the info icon!
๐ Fill out the simple question-answer flow - we'll take care of the rest!
Still have questions?
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