Did you travel for work? Then you may be able to claim many of the expenses incurred on your tax return. Here’s what you need to know about the requirements and which costs you can report.
📌 Quick & Easy
- Business trips must be for professional purposes. You can enter them in the “Job” category.
- Only costs not reimbursed by your employer are deductible.
- Travel, meals, accommodation, and incidental expenses count.
- You should keep your receipts.
- The app automatically calculates applicable mileage and meal allowances.
🚀 Your Guide
Requirements for Deduction
For the tax office to accept your travel expenses, certain conditions must be met. Your trip must be job-related and you must have covered the costs yourself.
Travel expenses include:
- Transportation costs
- Additional meal expenses
- Incidental travel expenses
- Accommodation costs
You can claim these as work-related expenses if you worked outside your home and usual workplace and the costs were not or only partially reimbursed by your employer.
Important: Keep your receipts (e.g., tickets, hotel bills, tolls). If your employer reimbursed part of the costs, report only what you paid yourself.
Which Costs Are Deductible?
Transportation Costs
- Private car: €0.30/km (round trip), motorcycle: €0.20/km
- Train, bus, or flight: based on ticket price
- Company car: not deductible
Example: Business trip from Berlin to Hamburg (289 km): 2 x 289 km x €0.30 = €173.40
Additional Meal Expenses (Per Diem)
Allowances depend on how long you are away from home or your regular workplace:
| Absence Duration | Allowance |
|---|---|
| More than 8 hours | €14 |
| Arrival or departure day | €14 |
| 24 hours / with overnight stay | €28 |
Example of a 3-day business trip:
- Day 1 (arrival, >8 hrs away): €14
- Day 2 (full day, 24 hrs): €28
- Day 3 (departure, >8 hrs away): €14
Total: €56 meal allowance
Different rates may apply for international travel.
Accommodation and Incidental Costs
- Hotel costs
- Parking, tolls, taxi, and baggage fees
- Entry fees for professional events
-
Not deductible: minibar, massages, private expenses, clothing
Where to Enter Travel Expenses in the App
After you’ve indicated in the "About You" section that you were employed, the "Job" section will appear. There, after entering your income details, you can enter your travel expenses:
- Were you traveling for work (commute or business trips)?
- Choose "Other place (business trip, client, construction site)" – this includes international business trips.
👉 The app will then ask:
- Your means of transportation (vehicle, route, etc.)
- Any per diem or special absence days
- Whether your employer reimbursed any costs
- What incidental expenses (e.g., hotel, parking, tolls) occurred
💡 The app automatically calculates the valid mileage and meal allowances.
⚠️ Important: Do not enter the same travel day more than once – it only counts once for calculation. Only report unreimbursed absences. Check if you received free meals or per diem. Also note the three-month rule: You cannot claim meal allowances if you worked at the same place regularly for more than three months.
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Still have questions?
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