If you take part in a training course for professional reasons, you can claim the resulting costs in your tax return. Here’s what you need to know and what you should watch out for.
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You can deduct training costs as job-related expenses (income-related expenses).
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This includes course fees, exam fees, materials, and travel costs.
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In the Taxfix app, enter the expenses under “Job” → “Other Costs” → “Training / Courses”.
🚀 Your Guide
What is a professional training?
Professional training is intended to expand or refresh your existing job-related skills.
It must be distinguished from initial education – an initial degree program or purely school-based education does not count as training.
Typical examples of deductible training costs:
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Courses and seminars in your learned profession
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Retraining for a career change
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A further university degree (e.g., master’s program)
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A dual study program or dual vocational training
➡️ You can claim the costs of professional training completely as job-related expenses.
Which training costs can be deducted?
All expenses directly related to your training are deductible, such as:
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Course and seminar fees
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Exam fees
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Study materials (e.g., specialist literature, stationery)
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Travel expenses (to and from the training location)
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Meal allowances (for longer trainings)
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Accommodation costs
Did your employer pay a subsidy?
Some employers cover part or all of the training costs — either directly or through a tax-free subsidy.
➡️ In your tax return, you can only declare the costs you paid yourself.
If your employer paid part of the costs, you must deduct the subsidy from the total costs.
Proof of costs through receipts
You do not need to submit receipts (like invoices and payment slips) directly with your tax return.
However, you should keep them in case the tax office asks for them later.
💡 Tip: You can also ask your employer for a short confirmation stating that the training was necessary for your job. This helps if the tax office raises questions about your training costs.
How to enter professional training in the Taxfix app
In the Taxfix app, you enter your training costs as follows:
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Go to the “Job” category.
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Under “Other Costs,” select the option “Training / Courses.”
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Enter all the relevant expenses there.
➡️ Your training does not have to be directly related to your current job. Just follow the app’s question flow – it will guide you through all necessary steps.
🚀 Fill out the simple question-answer flow - we'll take care of the rest!
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