You can easily use our app even if you're serving in the military. Here's an overview of which costs you can deduct.
📌 Quick & Easy
- Soldiers pay taxes but no social security contributions.
- Travel costs, uniforms, relocations, and work-related expenses are deductible.
- Training, insurance, and foreign deployments may also be relevant.
- The Taxfix app automatically calculates allowances and collects all necessary details.
🚀 Your Guide
- Do Soldiers Pay Taxes?
- Travel Costs and Commuting Allowance
- Uniforms and Work Equipment
- Relocations To/From the Barracks
- Training and Educational Costs
- Insurance
- Foreign Deployments
- Special Provisions for Navy Soldiers
- Special Case: Service Dog Handlers
- How to Indicate Your Job as a Soldier in the App
Do Soldiers Pay Taxes?
Yes. Soldiers must pay income tax. Unlike other professions, they do not pay social security contributions, which means more net income. But this also means: Soldiers can save on taxes.
Travel Costs and Commuting Allowance
You can deduct commuting expenses to your barracks using the commuting allowance:
- €0.30 per km for the first 20 km
- €0.38 from the 21st km onward (one-way only)
If you travel to other sites (e.g. air base) for exercises, you can deduct the full distance (round trip). If you use public transport, you can deduct actual expenses (keep your tickets).
💡 Tip: The Taxfix app guides you through the process and automatically calculates the allowances.
Uniforms and Work Equipment
Costs for uniforms (purchase and cleaning) and other job-related items (e.g. software, laptop, phone, stationery, literature) are deductible as job expenses. Even home laundering can be considered.
Relocations To/From the Barracks
If you move due to job-related reasons (e.g. transfer, moving into or out of barracks), you can deduct relocation costs. Moving closer to your duty station also qualifies.
Training and Educational Costs
You can deduct costs for training and seminars as job-related expenses – e.g. travel, fees, and materials.
Insurance
These insurances are deductible:
- Liability insurance
- Occupational disability insurance
- Health insurance
- Legal protection or professional liability insurance
The app asks about these in the "Expenses" section.
Foreign Deployments
- Foreign deployment bonus: tax-free
-
Additional meal expenses for the first 3 months if no free catering is provided.
Special Provisions for Navy Soldiers
Navy soldiers may claim meal allowances for the entire duration aboard. Phone costs can also be deducted if the mission lasts more than 1 week.
Special Case: Service Dog Handlers
Service dog handlers can deduct expenses for leashes, food, carriers, etc., as job expenses. No dog tax applies. In the app, enter these under "Other Expenses" in the "Job" section.
How to Indicate Your Job as a Soldier in the App
To indicate that you serve in the military, first select "employed" in the "About You" section. Then the "Job" category will appear. There, choose the job category "(Professional) Soldier" and enter further details about your role.
🚀 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