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Expenses

As proof, please submit the statement(s) from the specialist company carrying out the work in accordance with sect. 21 of the Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV).

This text refers to the Steuererklärung 2022. You can find the version for the Steuererklärung 2024 at:
(2024): Expenses



Which measures for energy-efficient building renovation are eligible for tax incentives?

The climate protection programme, with its expanded funding programmes, ensures that as many property owners as possible can invest in modernising their homes when needed. The following measures for energy-efficient building renovation are supported under the climate protection programme:

  • Wall insulation
  • Roof insulation
  • Ceiling insulation
  • Replacement of windows or external doors
  • Renewal or installation of a ventilation system
  • Renewal of the heating system
  • Installation of digital systems for optimising energy operation and consumption
  • Optimisation of existing heating systems.

In addition, energy-related construction supervision and specialist planning are eligible for tax incentives.

Technical minimum requirements apply to these measures, which must be met for funding. For this reason, the tax reduction under § 35c can only be claimed if a corresponding certificate is submitted with the tax return. The certificate can be confirmed by a specialist company or an energy consultant (a person authorised to issue certificates under § 21 Energy Saving Ordinance).

 

Admittedly, when thinking of energy measures, one primarily considers insulation, the renewal of windows and external doors, or the renewal of the heating system. It is somewhat less known that since 2021, "summer heat protection" is also eligible for funding. This is somewhat hidden in Appendix 4a to the ESanMV.

It specifically states: "Funding is provided for the replacement or initial installation of external sun protection systems with optimised daylight provision, for example through light guidance systems or radiation-dependent control. The requirements of DIN 4108-2:2013-02 for minimum summer heat protection must be met."

(2022): Which measures for energy-efficient building renovation are eligible for tax incentives?



What is the funding amount for energy-efficient building renovation?

The funding can be claimed for several individual measures, which can be carried out independently of each other.

For individual measures in energy-efficient building renovation, 20% of the expenses (max. 40,000 Euro per residential property) are eligible.

The funding is spread over three years. In the calendar year of completion of the energy measure and in the following calendar year, 7% of the expenses (max. 14,000 Euro annually) can be deducted from the tax liability, and in the third year, a further 6% of the expenses (max. 12,000 Euro) can be deducted.

For energy-related construction supervision and specialist planning, 50% of the costs incurred are deductible. You can find professionally qualified energy consultants for the planning and supervision of energy renovation projects throughout Germany at www.energie-effizienz-experten.de.

The funding can be claimed by a large number of homeowners. The tax incentive came into effect on 1 January 2020. The deduction is made directly from the individual tax liability.

(2022): What is the funding amount for energy-efficient building renovation?



What conditions must be met to claim the tax reduction?

You can benefit from the tax incentives for energy efficiency measures under Section 35c of the Income Tax Act if the property is used for your own residential purposes or provided free of charge to other persons.

To receive the tax incentives, the following conditions must also be met:

  • The property must be located in Germany or the EU/EEA.
  • At the start of the measures, the flat or residential building must be at least 10 years old.
  • A certificate under Section 21 of the Energy Saving Ordinance from a specialist company or energy consultant must be available.

The certificate is generally issued for the owner(s) of the residential building/flat. You must also have received an invoice showing the eligible energy efficiency measures, the work carried out by the specialist company, and the address of the subsidised property.

The tax reduction depends on the payment being made to the account of the service provider. No tax reduction is granted for cash payments, cash advances, partial cash payments, or cash cheques.

(2022): What conditions must be met to claim the tax reduction?



Which companies can issue a specialist certificate?

Any specialist company that meets the requirements of Section 2 of the "Energetische Sanierungsmaßnahmen-Verordnung ESanMV".

All companies operating in the following trades are considered "specialist companies":

  • Masonry and concrete work,
  • Plastering work,
  • Painting and varnishing work,
  • Carpentry and joinery work,
  • Thermal, cold and sound insulation work,
  • Stonemasonry and stone carving work,
  • Well construction work,
  • Roofing work,
  • Plumbing work,
  • Glazing work,
  • Installation and heating work,
  • Refrigeration engineering,
  • Electrical engineering and installation,
  • Metal construction,
  • Stove and heating construction,
  • Roller shutter and sun protection technology,
  • Chimney sweeping, tiling, slab and mosaic laying work,
  • Concrete stone and terrazzo production,
  • Window installation (with appropriate specialisation).

Until 2021: Any person authorised to issue energy performance certificates under Section 21 EnEV. This group includes:

Energy consultants, i.e. energy consultants approved by BAFA for the "Energy Consulting for Residential Buildings" funding programme.

Energy efficiency experts listed for the KfW funding programme "Energy-efficient Construction and Renovation – Residential Buildings" (KfW programmes 151/152/153 and 430).

All other persons with authorisation to issue under Section 21 EnEV (e.g. due to a university degree in a relevant field as specified in Section 21 EnEV, combined with further training in energy-efficient construction).

The condition is that a person from the above group has been commissioned by the builder or the executing specialist company to provide planning support or supervision. The energy consultant's certificate must state the client. The existence of the authorisation to issue under Section 21 EnEV must be confirmed.

From 2022: Persons with authorisation to issue under Section 88 of the Building Energy Act (GEG), who have been commissioned by the company or the taxpayer to provide planning support or supervision of the energy measure.

Note: The regulation amending the Energetische Sanierungsmaßnahmen-Verordnung of 14 June 2021, BGBl. I p. 1780, adapted the ESanMV to the new Federal Funding for Efficient Buildings.

The Federal Ministry of Finance describes in detail the requirements for issuing such certificates in a decree (BMF letter of 31.3.2020, IV C 1 - S 2296-c/20/10003).

 

The costs for the energy consultant are to be considered at 50 percent of the expenses in the year the measure is completed, deviating from the general regulation, and not spread over three years. The costs for the energy consultant as well as the costs for issuing the certificate under Section 35c paragraph 1 EStG are each included in the maximum tax reduction amount of 40,000 Euro (BMF 14.1.2021, IV C 1 - S 2296-c/20/10004 :00, BStBl 2021 I p. 103 para. 50).

 

(2022): Which companies can issue a specialist certificate?



What alternatives are there to tax incentives?

As an alternative to tax incentives, public building subsidy programmes can be used. These include, for example, low-interest loans or tax-free grants offered by the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW Bank), the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA), and state-owned development banks.

If you make use of one of these subsidy programmes, simultaneous tax incentives for the same energy renovation measure are not possible.

It is harmless if you have received grants solely for energy consulting. In this case, no tax reduction can be claimed for the costs of the energy consulting. However, for the energy measures carried out as a result of the energy consulting, for which no public subsidies were claimed, the tax reduction can be applied for.

(2022): What alternatives are there to tax incentives?



What applies to residential property owners' associations?

If energy efficiency measures are carried out on a building consisting of several owner-occupied flats, a certificate must generally be issued for each individual flat. It is acceptable for the specialist company to issue a collective certificate for simplification purposes if the renovation expenses relate to the entire building or if the expenses attributable to the private property of individual flats can be clearly and unambiguously allocated to the individual flats.

If the owners' association has appointed a manager to handle its tasks and interests, the manager should be addressed as the client. In these cases, it is sufficient for the manager to allocate the expenses attributable to the co-ownership according to the ratio of the co-ownership share and inform the individual flat owner.

For this purpose, the manager creates a number of copies of the certificate from the specialist company corresponding to the number of beneficiaries, on which they note the amount of the expenses attributable to the respective beneficiary for the entire building and allocate the expenses attributable to the private property of individual flats to the specific flat owners.

(2022): What applies to residential property owners' associations?


Field help

Start of the measure

Enter here the start date of the energy measure.

The following applies to the start date of the energy-efficiency measure:

  • for measures for which a building permit is required, the date on which the application for a building permit was submitted is considered,
  • for measures that do not require a building permit and for which construction documents must be submitted, the date on which the construction documents were submitted is considered,
  • for other measures that do not require a permit or notification, the actual start date of construction work on site is considered.
Issue of a statement

The expenses for issuing a technical certificate can also be claimed for tax purposes.

The statement of the energy measure can be confirmed by a specialist company or an energy consultant (a person authorised to issue statements in accordance with § 21 of the Energy Saving Ordinance).

Installation or replacement for summer thermal protection

The installation or replacement of roller shutters and external shading elements is considered summer thermal insulation.

The eligible expenses can generally be taken from the certificate of the specialist company.

As proof, please submit the certificate(s) from the specialist company carrying out the work in accordance with sect. 21 of the Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV).

The tax reduction cannot be claimed if the expenses have already been taken into account as business expenses, income-related expenses (e.g. in the case of double household management), special expenses or exceptional costs.

Executive specialist company

Enter the name of the specialist company that carried out the energy measure.

The specialist company or an energy consultant issues the certificate, which you must submit to your tax office.

Specialist firms that are working in the field of building renovation are entitled to issue the technical certificate. In addition, the certificate can also be issued by an energy advisor (a person authorised to issue energy performance certificates in accordance with sect. 21 of the Energy Saving Ordinance).

The certificate is always issued to the owner(s) of the residential building or flat.

Flat owners' associations: If energy measures are carried out on a building consisting of several owner-occupied flats, a separate certificate must be issued for each individual flat.

End of the measure

Enter here the end of the energy measure.

The tax reduction can only be claimed when the energy-saving measure has been completed and you have a corresponding technical certificate from a specialist company or energy consultant.

If the energy efficiency measure is only completed in the year 2023, the expenses can be claimed for tax purposes only in the next year.

Thermal insulation of walls

In the case of thermal insulation of walls, the first-time installation or the renewal of exterior building parts of existing buildings are eligible for tax incentives. This includes, among other things

  • insulation of exterior walls,
  • сore insulation for double-shell brickwork,
  • insulation of exterior walls of monuments and buildings worthy of preservation,
  • interior insulation of half-timbered exterior walls and renovation of infill walls,
  • insulation of wall surfaces against unheated rooms,
  • insulation of wall surfaces against the ground./li>

As a rule, the eligible expenses can be taken from the statement of the specialist company.

As proof, please submit the statement(s) from the specialist company carrying out the work in accordance with sect. 21 of the Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV).

The tax reduction cannot be claimed if the expenses have already been taken into account as business expenses, income-related expenses (e.g. in the case of double household maintenance), special expenses or exceptional costs.

Thermal insulation of roof surfaces

In the case of thermal insulation of roof surfaces, the first-time installation or renewal of exterior components of existing buildings is eligible for tax incentives. This includes, among other things, the insulation of

  • Pitched roofs and the related valley beams,
  • Roof surfaces of dormers,
  • dormer cheeks,
  • Flat roofs.

Tip: Since 2021, "summer thermal insulation" has also been eligible for subsidies. This is somewhat hidden in Annex 4a of the ESanMV. It specifically states: "Funding is provided for the replacement or first-time installation of external sun protection devices with optimised daylight supply, for example, via light control systems or radiation-dependent control. The requirements of DIN 4108-2:2013-02 for minimum summer heat protection must be met."

As a rule, the eligible expenses can be taken from the statement of the specialist company.

As proof, please submit the statement(s) from the specialist company carrying out the work in accordance with sect. 21 of the Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV).

The tax reduction cannot be claimed if the expenses have already been taken into account as business expenses, income-related expenses (e.g. in the case of double household maintenance), special expenses or exceptional costs.

Thermal insulation of ceilings

In the case of the thermal insulation of top floor ceilings, the first-time installation, replacement or renewal of exterior building components of existing buildings are eligible for tax incentives. This includes, among other things, the insulation of the

  • insulation of the top floor ceilings to undeveloped attics,
  • basement ceilings,
  • ceilings to unheated rooms,
  • floor ceilings downwards against outside air,
  • floor surfaces against the ground.

As a rule, the eligible expenses can be taken from the statement of the specialist company.

As proof, please submit the statement(s) from the specialist company carrying out the work in accordance with sect. 21 of the Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV).

The tax reduction cannot be claimed if the expenses have already been taken into account as business expenses, income-related expenses (e.g. in the case of double household maintenance), special expenses or exceptional costs.

Renewal of windows / external doors

As part of the windows and / or external doors renovation, the first-time installation of external doors, windows and French doors, including external sun protection devices, is eligible for tax incentives.

Renewal and replacement are eligible, provided that the minimum requirements for energy efficiency are met. This applies to the following areas:

  • windows, balcony and patio doors with multi-pane insulating glazing
  • low-barrier or burglar-resistant windows, balcony- and terrace doors
  • strengthening of windows and box-type windows as well as windows with special glazing
  • roof windows
  • replacement of windows on historical buildings or buildings worthy of preservation
  • strengthening of windows on historical buildings or buildings worthy of preservation
  • external doors of heated rooms

As a rule, the eligible expenses can be taken from the statement of the specialist company.

As proof, please submit the statement(s) from the specialist company carrying out the work in accordance with sect. 21 of the Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV).

The tax reduction cannot be claimed if the expenses have already been taken into account as business expenses, income-related expenses (e.g. in the case of double household maintenance), special expenses or exceptional costs.

Note: With the ordinance for amending the Energetic Renovation Measures Ordinance dated 14.06.2021, BGBl. I p. 1780, the ESanMV was adapted to the new federal funding for efficient buildings. The requirements for issuing the statements are described in detail by the Federal Ministry of Finance in a decree (letter of the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) dated 15.10.2021).

Renewal or installation of a ventilation system

The renewal or installation of a ventilation system is eligible for tax incentives. The following systems are eligible:

  • demand-controlled central exhaust air systems,
  • central, decentralised or room-by-room systems with heat exchangers
  • compact units for energy-efficient buildings
  • compact units with air-to-air/water heat pump

The ventilation systems must comply with the requirements of the Ecodesign Directive on the Ecodesign of Domestic Ventilation Systems applicable at the time of installation.

As a rule, the eligible expenses can be taken from the statement of the specialist company.

As proof, please submit the statement(s) from the specialist company carrying out the work in accordance with sect. 21 of the Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV).

The tax reduction cannot be claimed if the expenses have already been taken into account as business expenses, income-related expenses (e.g. in the case of double household maintenance), special expenses or exceptional costs.

Note: With the ordinance for amending the Energetic Renovation Measures Ordinance dated 14.06.2021, BGBl. I p. 1780, the ESanMV was adapted to the new federal funding for efficient buildings. The requirements for issuing the statements are described in detail by the Federal Ministry of Finance in a decree (letter of the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) dated 15.10.2021).

Renewal of the heating system

Renewal of the following heating systems is eligible for tax incentives:

  • solar collector systems
  • biomass systems
  • heat pumps
  • gas condensing technology ("Renewable Ready")
  • hybrid systems
  • fuel cells
  • mini combined heat and power (CHP) (combined heat and power plants)
  • connection to a heating network

As a rule, the eligible expenses can be taken from the statement of the specialist company.

As proof, please submit the statement(s) from the specialist company carrying out the work in accordance with sect. 21 of the Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV).

The tax reduction cannot be claimed if the expenses have already been taken into account as business expenses, income-related expenses (e.g. in the case of double household maintenance), special expenses or exceptional costs.

Note: With the ordinance for amending the Energetic Renovation Measures Ordinance dated 14.06.2021, BGBl. I p. 1780, the ESanMV was adapted to the new federal funding for efficient buildings. The requirements for issuing the statements are described in detail by the Federal Ministry of Finance in a decree (letter of the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) dated 15.10.2021).

Digital systems for energy optimisation

The implementation of measures for operational optimisation through electronically controlled systems with the aim of improving energy efficiency is eligible for tax incentives.

The following list shows typical eligible measures for optimising energy operation and consumption:

  • smart metres, measurement, control and regulation technology,
  • system technology for data exchange,
  • switching technology, door and drive systems,
  • energy management systems, regulation,
  • necessary electrical work for the implementation of the measure.

As a rule, the eligible expenses can be taken from the statement of the specialist company.

As proof, please submit the statement(s) from the specialist company carrying out the work in accordance with sect. 21 of the Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV).

The tax reduction cannot be claimed if the expenses have already been taken into account as business expenses, income-related expenses (e.g. in the case of double household maintenance), special expenses or exceptional costs.

Note: With the ordinance for amending the Energetic Renovation Measures Ordinance dated 14.06.2021, BGBl. I p. 1780, the ESanMV was adapted to the new federal funding for efficient buildings. The requirements for issuing the statements are described in detail by the Federal Ministry of Finance in a decree (letter of the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) dated 15.10.2021).

Optimisation of existing heating systems

The optimisation of existing heating systems is only eligible for tax incentives if they are more than two years old.

Among other things, the following measures are eligible:

  • the inventory and, if necessary, the analysis of the actual state,
  • the implementation of hydraulic adjustment and
  • the implementation of all necessary measures to improve energy efficiency on the entire heating system

As a rule, the eligible expenses can be taken from the statement of the specialist company.

As proof, please submit the statement(s) from the specialist company carrying out the work in accordance with sect. 21 of the Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV).

Note: With the ordinance for amending the Energetic Renovation Measures Ordinance dated 14.06.2021, BGBl. I p. 1780, the ESanMV was adapted to the new federal funding for efficient buildings. The requirements for issuing the statements are described in detail by the Federal Ministry of Finance in a decree (letter of the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) dated 15.10.2021).

The tax reduction cannot be claimed if the expenses have already been taken into account as business expenses, income-related expenses (e.g. in the case of double household maintenance), special expenses or exceptional costs.

Was the planning / supervision carried out by an energy consultant?
Costs for the energy consultant

Enter the expenses that you incurred because an energy consultant was commissioned with the planning or supervision of the energy measure.

The expenses for energy consultants who are approved by the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) as professionally qualified for the incentive programme "Energy Consulting for Residential Buildings" and the expenses for energy efficiency experts who are listed for the KfW incentive programme "Energy-efficient Construction and Refurbishment - Residential Buildings" (KfW programmes no. 151 / 152 / 153 and 430) will be taken into account.

Has a gas condensing boiler been installed?
Expenses
Is there evidence of hybridisation?
Is the proof of hybridisation submitted?

When installing a gas condensing boiler that is prepared for the integration of renewable energies, a tax reduction can only be taken into account once proof of hybridisation has been provided.

Proof of the implementation of hybridisation must be provided in accordance with the requirements of annex 6.4 of the Energetic Renovation Measures Ordinance.

Can you claim a deduction for the expenses as an extraordinary burden?
Exceptional costs included in the expenses for energy-efficiency measures
Exceptional costs included in the expenses for the energy consultant

Please enter your own expenses resulting from natural disasters (e.g. earthquakes, floods, storms, hail, etc.) as well as expenses due to care costs that can be taken into account as exceptional costs here.

These amounts may then not be additionally claimed in the exceptional costs section.

The tax office will then take these amounts into account accordingly.


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