Can I claim my childcare expenses in my tax return?
March 25, 2023 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Ralf Otten
Dear tax advisor,
My name is Eva Waldner and I have a question regarding my income tax return. I am a single mother of two elementary school-aged children and work full-time. To have my children taken care of during my working hours, I incur high costs for childcare. My question now is whether I can include these childcare expenses in my tax return and if I can obtain tax benefits as a result.
Currently, the high childcare costs are a significant financial burden for me, and I am concerned about whether I can claim these costs on my taxes to receive some financial relief. I am aware that there are various regulations and options for including childcare expenses in the tax return, but I am unsure if and to what extent this is possible for me.
I would like to know what requirements must be met in order for me to declare childcare costs in my tax return. Additionally, I am interested in the deductible amount and what documents I need for this purpose. Are there any other tax advantages that I, as a single working mother, can benefit from?
I look forward to your expert advice and thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely,
Eva Waldner
Dear Mrs. Waldner,
Thank you for your question regarding childcare costs in your income tax return. As a single mother of two primary school-aged children who works full-time, you surely have a high financial burden due to the childcare costs for your children. It is important to know that you can claim these costs in your tax return to benefit from tax advantages and thus receive financial relief.
In order to declare childcare costs in your tax return, certain requirements must be met. Firstly, the costs for childcare must be work-related, meaning that you need the childcare in order to pursue your professional activities. Additionally, the costs must be reasonable, meaning they must not be excessive. It is also important that the childcare costs have actually been incurred and that you can provide proof of them.
The deductible amount for childcare costs is up to 4,000 euros per child and calendar year. This means that you can claim up to 8,000 euros in total for both children. These amounts can be deducted as special expenses in your tax return, which can result in tax savings. To declare childcare costs, you will need appropriate evidence such as invoices or receipts from the childcare facility.
As a single working mother, you may also be entitled to additional tax benefits. For example, you can claim the single parent relief amount, which can provide you with an additional tax advantage. Additionally, there are other ways to receive tax relief, such as child benefit or child tax credit.
I hope this information has been helpful to you. If you have any further questions or need assistance with your tax return, I am happy to help.
Best regards,
Ralf Otten
Tax Advisor
