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Second household



What conditions must I meet to deduct the costs of a second household?

Wenn your place of work is far from your home and you therefore need to take a second home, this constitutes a dual household. Certain costs incurred as a result can be deducted from your taxes.

However, certain conditions must be met: Firstly, you must have a main home with your own household at your place of residence. You must also take a second home at your place of work for professional reasons. A new condition for "own household" since 2014 is the financial contribution to living expenses.

Professional reasons exist, for example, if you have been transferred to an external place of work or if you take up a job that is far away from your own home. The dual household is also considered to be for professional reasons if you move your main residence away from your workplace for private reasons and use a flat at your place of work as a second household.

Any accommodation where you have the possibility to stay overnight is recognised as a second home. How often you use this possibility is irrelevant. Accommodations can include:

  • a rented flat,
  • your own house,
  • a hotel room,
  • overnight stays with friends, or
  • a barrack on a construction site.

If you drive home several times a week, you can choose whether to deduct costs due to dual household or travel costs for all home trips. In the second case, travel costs can be deducted using the distance allowance. However, you cannot then deduct overnight costs and meal allowances as business expenses in the first three months. The second option is advisable if you frequently travel home and have low overnight costs at your second home.

What conditions must I meet to deduct the costs of a second household?



What is the three-month period?

What does the three-month period mean?

If you temporarily live in another location due to your job (maintaining two households), you will incur additional meal expenses there – for example, because you need to provide for yourself at lunchtime or in the evening.

You can claim a flat rate for these additional costs, known as meal allowances – but only for the first three months from the start of the second residence.

This is the so-called three-month period.

Example:

You move into a second residence in Berlin on 1 March 2024 due to a new job.
You can claim meal allowances from 1 March to 31 May 2024:

  • 28 Euro per day for each full day of absence
  • 14 Euro on arrival or departure days

From 1 June 2024, the entitlement to these allowances ends – unless the period starts again for certain reasons.

When does the period start again?

The three-month period starts again if:

  • You change your second residence (e.g. by moving at the work location), or
  • You interrupt your work at the external location for at least 4 weeks – e.g. due to:
    • Holiday
    • Illness
    • Parental leave
    • Company-related breaks

Legal basis: § 9 para. 4a sentence 8 EStG, BFH ruling: of 28.02.2013, VI R 90/10

Important:
  • The period applies per work location or second residence.
  • With multiple interruptions, it can start anew multiple times.
  • The allowances apply for a maximum of three consecutive months, even for longer employment.

What is the three-month period?



What can I deduct for second homes?

What can I deduct for second homes?

The tax office does not impose strict requirements for a second home at the place of work. It can be a flat, a hotel room, or a furnished room. The important thing is that the accommodation is available and does not become your new main residence. If this is the case, various business expenses can be claimed for tax purposes as part of the double household management.

Deductible business expenses:
  • House hunting: Travel expenses for viewings, telephone or postage costs.
  • Relocation: Transport costs (removal company, rental van), travel expenses on the day of the move.
  • Meal allowance: In the first three months, flat rates for meals can be claimed:
    • 24 hours absence: 28 Euro
    • 8 to 24 hours absence: 14 Euro
  • Travel expenses: The first outward journey and last return journey are fully recognised, e.g. by ticket or with the kilometre allowance (30 cents per kilometre). Weekly journeys home can be deducted with the distance allowance (30 cents per kilometre, from the 21st kilometre 38 cents).
  • Accommodation costs: Proven costs up to a maximum of 1,000 Euro per month are recognised. These include:
    • Rent including service charges
    • Costs for necessary furnishings
    • Second home tax
    • Renovation costs
Maximum amount of 1,000 Euro:

The maximum amount is considered an average value for the entire year. Amounts that are less than 1,000 Euro in individual months can be offset against higher expenses in other months.

Expenditure on furnishings:

According to the BFH ruling of 4.4.2019 (VI R 18/17), the costs for furnishings and household items are not part of the accommodation costs and are therefore additionally deductible.

Tip: If the second home is owned by the employee, the actual expenses (e.g. depreciation, interest on loans, service charges) up to 1,000 Euro per month are deductible. Costs for furnishings can be deducted in addition.

Special features:
  • For furnished flats where the rent is not divided between the flat and furniture, the rent can be divided using an estimation procedure (§ 162 AO). The costs for furniture use are additionally deductible.
  • Parking space costs: A rented parking space or garage is not considered part of the accommodation costs and can be deducted additionally (FG Saarland, 20.5.2020, 2 K 1251/17).
Simplification rule:

Purchase costs for furnishings and equipment up to 5,000 Euro are recognised as necessary and can be deducted as business expenses without further examination (BMF letter of 25.11.2020).

Second home tax:

The second home tax is subject to the deduction limit of 1,000 Euro per month, as decided by the Federal Fiscal Court (BFH ruling of 13.12.2023, VI R 30/21).

Costs abroad:

For double household management abroad, the 1,000 Euro limit does not apply. Instead, the actual rental costs are deductible as business expenses, provided they are "necessary and reasonable". The upper limit is the local average rent for a 60-square-metre flat.

What can I deduct for second homes?



Which accommodation expenses can I deduct?

As part of the dual household management, you can deduct the costs for overnight stays in your second home. Only proven costs are recognised, not flat rates. A second home can be a rented flat, a hotel room, or your own house.

Rented flat:

If you use a rented flat, you can claim the rent, additional costs (e.g. heating, electricity), and expenses for necessary furnishings (e.g. table, bed, wardrobe). Items up to 800 Euro net can be deducted immediately; more expensive items must be depreciated over their useful life (e.g. 13 years for furniture).

Hotel:

If you use a hotel, you can deduct the actual proven accommodation costs. If the accommodation price includes meal costs, the deductible amount is reduced by 20% for breakfast and 40% for lunch/dinner of the meal allowance.

Owner-occupied flat:

If you use an owner-occupied flat, you can deduct the additional costs, interest on loans, and depreciation up to the amount of the comparable rent for a reasonable flat.

Maximum amount of 1.000 Euro per month:

There is a cap of 1.000 Euro per month for accommodation costs. This amount includes rent including operating costs, costs for furnishings, second home tax, and renovation. The maximum amount is considered an average value for the year – amounts exceeding this can be offset against lower amounts in other months.

Judgements and deviations:
  • BFH judgement of 4.4.2019 (VI R 18/17): The Federal Fiscal Court ruled that costs for furnishings and household items do not count as accommodation costs and can be deducted in addition to the maximum amount of 1.000 Euro. These expenses only concern the use of the furnishings, not the accommodation itself.
  • Court order of the FG Saarland of 20.5.2020 (2 K 1251/17): Costs for a rented parking space or garage are also not considered accommodation costs. They can be deducted in addition, even if the rental costs for the flat exceed the maximum amount of 1.000 Euro.
  • BFH judgement of 13.12.2023 (VI R 30/21): The Federal Fiscal Court ruled that the second home tax cannot be deducted in addition to the maximum amount of 1.000 Euro, as it is considered a cost of using the accommodation and thus falls under the deduction restriction.
Additional tips:
  • Tip 1: If the second home is owned by the employee, the actual expenses such as depreciation, interest on loans, and operating costs can be deducted up to the maximum amount of 1.000 Euro. Furnishings can be deducted additionally (BMF letter of 24.10.2014).
  • Tip 2: A furnished flat usually incurs higher rent. If the rental contract does not include a breakdown of the rent for the flat and furniture, the rent can be apportioned using the estimation procedure under § 162 AO. The use of furniture can then be deducted additionally (BFH judgement of 4.4.2019).
  • Tip 3: If the purchase costs for the furnishings and equipment of the second home do not exceed 5.000 Euro, these costs can be recognised as necessary on a flat-rate basis without further examination (BMF letter of 25.11.2020).

Which accommodation expenses can I deduct?



Which relocation expenses can I deduct?

In connection with the occupancy of the second home, you can deduct the actual costs incurred for tax purposes. This already begins with the house hunting: Expenses incurred in connection with house hunting, such as travel expenses for viewing properties, telephone or postage costs, are deductible as business expenses.

The tax office also recognises the costs for the move. You can deduct the costs of the removal company, expenses for a rental vehicle, helper wages or moving boxes. The estate agent's fee for obtaining the new rental property is also deductible, but not the estate agent's fee for purchasing a home at the place of employment. Please note that you must provide individual proof of your moving costs as part of the double household, as the moving expense allowance is not granted because you are not relocating your main residence. The deductibility of moving costs also applies to your return move to your main residence. If you need to carry out redecoration work when moving out of your second home, you can also include these in your tax return.

Which relocation expenses can I deduct?



When is a second household recognised?

To have a second household recognised for tax purposes, you must have your own household at your home location. A household is your main residence, where you have your centre of life and for which you bear the costs, whether as an owner, tenant, or through a right of use (e.g., if you use your partner's flat).

Another condition is that you contribute financially to the costs of the main household. For married couples or families, this is usually not a problem, as the spouse or family lives at home and bears the costs. For single people, the financial contribution is often more strictly checked. The question is when a sufficient financial contribution is made.

In 2019, the Lower Saxony Tax Court ruled that the financial contribution can be made directly or indirectly. This means you can pay money directly or contribute to the costs, for example by purchasing household items or making repairs. Regular payments are not mandatory, and the timing of the payment does not matter. Payments made at the end of the year may be sufficient.

The Federal Fiscal Court has now confirmed the ruling of the Lower Saxony Tax Court and rejected the excessive demands of the tax authorities (BFH ruling of 12.1.2023, VI R 39/19).

The case: A claimant rented a flat at his place of work and lived in a non-self-contained flat in his parents' house with his brother. There was no rental agreement for this flat. The claimant stated that he had contributed a total of 3,160.47 Euro to the household costs in 2015. He provided credit card statements showing continuous grocery purchases throughout the year. He also submitted bank statements for transfers to his father, including 1,200 Euro for utilities/telecommunications and 550 Euro for new windows in 2015. Both bank statements were dated December 2015. The tax office did not accept this as sufficient proof of financial participation and refused to deduct the costs for the second household. The claimant's appeal was successful; the tax office's appeal was dismissed.

Reasoning: To recognise a second household for tax purposes, there must be a financial contribution to the costs of the main household. Living expenses mainly include household and living costs (e.g. rent, operating costs, costs for household items, renovations and maintenance), as well as household management costs (e.g. food, hygiene, telecommunications). Costs for clothing, holidays, leisure and health care are not included. The law does not specify a specific financial limit, and the contribution does not have to be made monthly. The taxpayer must prove the actual costs incurred.

Tip: If the tax office rejects the second household due to a lack of cost sharing, you should appeal and refer to the BFH decision. It is advisable to transfer monthly contributions for rent and household costs to avoid disputes. Note the ten per cent limit of the tax authorities, which states that more than ten per cent of the monthly costs should be covered.

Further notes:

  • The BFH and the lower court also dealt with issues such as the independence of the brothers' household and the situation of younger children using a room in their parents' house.
  • The BFH ruling does not apply to cases where younger children go home at weekends and only use their youth room (FG Münster, ruling of 7.10.2020, 13 K 1756/18 E).

When is a second household recognised?



How far may the second home be from the place of work?

A second household is established if you are employed away from your main residence and maintain a second home at the place of employment. It is permissible for the second home to be located outside the immediate place of work, as long as it is still within the commuter area of the primary workplace. This means it must be possible to commute daily to work.

Distance of the second home from the workplace

The question of how far the second home may be located has been clarified in various court rulings. The decisive factor is whether daily commuting is still reasonable:

  • BFH ruling (2012): A distance of 141 km to the workplace was deemed permissible because the employee could cover the distance in one hour by ICE train. According to the Federal Fiscal Court (BFH), such a time expenditure is within the usual range (BFH ruling of 19.4.2012, VI R 59/11).
  • BFH ruling (2014): A distance of 83 km, which could be covered in less than an hour, was also recognised. Here, the route was considered a usual commuting route and thus reasonable (BFH ruling of 26.6.2014, VI R 59/13).
Regulation from 2014

Since 2014, the following applies: The second home is still within the commuter area of the workplace if the distance to the workplace is less than half the distance between the main residence and the workplace. This regulation was established by the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF letter of 25.11.2020).

Example: If the distance from the main residence to the primary workplace is 100 km, the second home may be a maximum of 50 km from the workplace.

Reasonable travel time

Travel time also plays a role. A travel time of up to one hour each way is generally considered reasonable. If the second home is further away, a second household can still be recognised if the travel time is significantly reduced.

Practice and special cases

In practice, many employees seek a compromise: they want to move closer to the workplace but not so far from home that trips home would be time-consuming. A common solution is to choose a second home located between home and the workplace.

Example A: Mr Steuerle lives in B and works in C. The distance from the main residence in B to the primary workplace in C is 100 km. His second home in Z is 30 km from the primary workplace. Since the second home is less than half the distance between the main residence and the workplace (50 km), the second household is recognised.

Example B: The distance from the main residence in B to the primary workplace is 56 km. The second home in Z is 30 km away, but the travel time to work from the second home is only 25 minutes. Since the travel time is significantly reduced, a second household can be recognised despite the distance being more than half the route.

Current case law

The Finance Court Münster ruled in 2024 that a second household is not recognised if the main residence and the primary workplace are only 30 km apart and the travel time to work is less than one hour. In this case, the commuting distance is considered reasonable (FG Münster, ruling of 6.2.2024, 1 K 1448/22 E).

Conclusion: The distance of the second home from the workplace should generally be less than half the distance between the main residence and the workplace, or the travel time must be significantly reduced. A daily commuting time of up to one hour is considered reasonable. It is advisable to check the regulations carefully or seek tax advice to claim possible deductions.

How far may the second home be from the place of work?



What can be deducted when moving away from your place of work?

It is not uncommon for employees to move away from their place of work. Some build or buy a home in the countryside, others move to a more attractive area with better leisure opportunities. Others move out of the marital home and in with a new partner. Single people move to live with their partner in another location. In these cases, you may claim business expenses for additional meal allowances.

If you then keep your previous accommodation as a second home at your place of work or rent a smaller flat, you could not previously claim any tax deductions for double housekeeping. This was because the move was for private reasons, and the double housekeeping was therefore privately motivated.

  • In 2009, the Federal Fiscal Court fortunately changed its previous case law in favour of employees: Double housekeeping is now considered work-related even if the main residence is moved away from the place of work for private reasons and a flat at the place of work is used as a second home. It does not matter whether the previous flat is kept as a second home or a new flat is rented (BFH rulings of 5.3.2009, BStBl. 2009 II p. 1012 and 1016).
  • The tax authorities accept the BFH's generous new view – but with one restriction: After moving the main residence and taking up a second home, meal allowances are not recognised for the first three months if you had already lived at or near the place of work for at least three months beforehand (BMF letter of 10.12.2009, BStBl. 2009 I p. 1599).

Current ruling: The Federal Fiscal Court has decided against the tax authorities and in favour of employees that meal allowances may also be deducted for tax purposes for the first three months in cases of relocation. This is because double housekeeping is established when the previous flat is converted into a second home. Therefore, the three-month period begins when the previous flat is converted into a second home (BFH ruling of 8.10.2014, VI R 7/13).

The case: The employee lived and worked in Düsseldorf. After meeting his current wife, he moved to a small town on the Lower Rhine and relocated his main residence there. He kept the flat in Düsseldorf as a second home. In his tax return, he claimed meal allowances for the first three months after his move. The tax office refused to recognise them, but the tax court and the BFH granted them.

If you move your residence away from your place of work to another location and designate your previous flat as a second home, you can now claim meal allowances, even though your meal situation at the place of work has not actually changed. According to the BFH, it is irrelevant for the tax consideration of meal allowances whether there was actually an increased need for additional meals and whether the employee is familiar with the meal situation at the place of work.

What can be deducted when moving away from your place of work?



When can single people claim dual household maintenance?

Single individuals can also claim the costs of maintaining a second household as business expenses. One of the requirements is that they maintain their own household.

An own household is a furnished apartment,

  • which represents the centre of your life interests,
  • which you use by your own right or derived right,
  • in which you "maintain" or co-maintain a household, i.e. determine or significantly co-determine the household management,
  • and financially contribute to the household costs (new from 2014).

Of particular importance is the question of whether you use the apartment free of charge or for a fee and whether you financially contribute to the household management. An "own household" in the case of a second household is only recognised if the single employee financially contributes to the household costs (§ 9 Abs. 1 Nr. 5 EStG 2014).

It is not sufficient if the employee, for example, only occupies one or more rooms in their parents' household or if the employee is given a flat in their parents' house for free use. It is required that the financial contribution to the household management costs is not merely trivial amounts (BMF letter dated 24.10.2014, BStBl. 2014 I p. 1412, para. 100).

  • If the cash payments exceed 10% of the regularly incurred monthly running costs of the household management (e.g. rent, ancillary rental costs, costs for food and other daily necessities), a financial contribution above the trivial limit is assumed.
  • If the cash payments are less than 10% of the running household costs, the employee can demonstrate sufficient financial participation in other ways, e.g. financing joint holidays, car costs or major purchases.
  • How should a single person demonstrate their financial contribution to the household management in the tax return? As there is no query line for this in the tax form, they should simply wait for a possible inquiry from the tax office.

The Lower Saxony Finance Court ruled in 2019 that an employee's financial contribution to the main household is sufficient to recognise a second household for tax purposes (judgment of 18.9.2019, 9 K 209/18). A financial contribution can be made directly (e.g., cash payments to parents) or indirectly (e.g., costs for household items or renovations). The contribution does not have to be regular, and one-off payments are acceptable.

Recently, the Federal Finance Court confirmed the judgment of the Lower Saxony Finance Court and rejected the excessive requirements of the tax authorities (BFH judgment of 12.1.2023, VI R 39/19).

A case was described: The claimant had rented a flat at the place of work and lived in a non-self-contained flat in his parents' house together with his brother. A missing rental contract was not considered a problem. The claimant stated that he had contributed a total of 3,160.47 Euro to the household costs in 2015. The tax office rejected the deduction because the claimant did not prove that regular monthly costs had been incurred. The claimant's action was successful.

The law requires a financial contribution to the costs of the main household, including the costs of living space and living expenses. One-off payments and irregular costs are sufficient. A financial contribution should be reasonable compared to the actual household costs. However, the amount cannot be determined as a flat rate and depends on the circumstances of the individual case.

It is recommended to lodge an objection if the tax office rejects the claim and to set up monthly payments to avoid disputes. It is advisable to take into account the ten percent limit of the tax authorities by covering more than ten percent of the monthly regular household management costs.

Note that the Federal Finance Court's ruling cannot be applied to cases where younger children go home at weekends and only use their youth room (BFH judgment of 12.1.2023, VI R 39/19 and Lower Saxony Finance Court, judgment of 18.9.2019, 9 K 209/18).

When can single people claim dual household maintenance?



What is deductible if I live with my partner in the second home?

It is not uncommon for spouses to work at the same secondary place of employment and live together in a second home during the week. They maintain their home at the main residence and return there regularly. Tax offices often assume that the centre of life is at the place of employment and refuse to recognise dual housekeeping.

However, the decisive factor is whether the main residence is still considered the centre of life or whether the second home has become the centre of life as a result of living together. Living together in the second home does not affect the recognition of dual housekeeping as long as the second home does not become the new centre of life.

The Federal Fiscal Court has recently ruled that for both spouses who are employed and live with their children in family accommodation at the place of employment, the centre of life interests is determined as part of an overall assessment of the individual circumstances based on certain criteria. Although there is a presumption that the centre of life interests is usually at the place of employment, the taxpayer can rebut this presumption (BFH ruling of 1.10.2019, VIII R 29/16).

For childless spouses who jointly maintain family accommodation at the place of employment, it is "usually" assumed that the centre of life is at the place of employment (standard presumption). This applies even more so if the spouses live with their children in family accommodation at the place of employment, even if the former family home is retained and still used occasionally. However, in this case, the "overall assessment of all individual circumstances" must also be taken into account.

In the "overall assessment of all individual circumstances", it is important to consider how often and for how long the taxpayer stays in each home, how both homes are equipped and their size. The duration of the stay at the place of employment, the distance between the two homes, and the number of trips home are also important. Significant weight is also given to the location to which closer personal ties, such as the nature and intensity of social contacts, club memberships, and other activities, exist.

 

It cannot simply be assumed that spouses who both live with their school-age children in family accommodation at the place of employment "necessarily" have their centre of life at the place of employment. Rather, an overall assessment of the individual circumstances is always required. Although there is a standard presumption for the overall assessment that the centre of life is at the place of employment, the taxpayer can present individual circumstances that indicate a centre of life for both working spouses at the home location.

If both spouses/partners are employed at the secondary place of employment and live together in the second home, each has a dual household for tax purposes. Each can deduct half of the accommodation costs - and since 2014, each up to a maximum of 1.000 Euro per month. Each can also claim the full meal allowances for the first three months.

What is deductible if I live with my partner in the second home?



Is the relocation allowance also deductible for a second household?

As part of maintaining a second household, various costs can be deducted as business expenses. Deductible costs include the move to the second home at the place of employment and the termination of the second home after the end of the external work.

You can claim the following as moving expenses: transport costs (removal company, rental van, helper wages, moving boxes), travel expenses on the moving day and for viewing properties, estate agent fees. The question is whether the "lump sum for other moving expenses" is also deductible.

Currently, the Thuringia Finance Court has ruled that, as part of maintaining a second household, the costs for moving to the second home at the place of employment are only deductible with proof and the moving expense allowance is not considered. According to income tax guidelines, the moving expense allowance is explicitly excluded for maintaining a second household (R 9.11 para. 9 sentence 2 LStR). In the case of a "small" move to the place of employment, the main residence is not relocated (FG Thuringia of 29.6.2015, 2 K 698/14).

Moving expenses as part of maintaining a second household include not only the move to the second home but also the return move from the second home to the main home. The moving expense allowance is also not deductible for the return move, as the main residence is not relocated.

The situation is different if you end the second household by relocating the family household and main residence to your external place of employment with a "large" move. In this case, the moving expenses are not deductible as costs of maintaining a second household but as general business expenses (according to § 9 para. 1 sentence 1 EStG). And in this case, you can also claim the moving expense allowance.

Is the relocation allowance also deductible for a second household?



Can the costs for furnishing the flat be deducted additionally?

In the context of an occupationally related second household, accommodation costs or second home costs can also be deducted as business expenses or reimbursed tax-free by the employer. Only proven costs are recognised, not flat rates. But what about newly purchased furnishings?

The Federal Fiscal Court has recently ruled against the tax authorities, stating that the costs for the necessary furnishing of the second home in the context of an occupationally related second household are not part of the accommodation costs, the deduction of which is limited to 1.000 Euro per month. Rather, expenses for furnishings and household items - insofar as they are necessary - are fully deductible as other necessary additional expenses due to a second household in accordance with § 9 para. 1 sentence 3 no. 5 EStG (BFH ruling of 4.4.2019, VI R 18/17).

  • According to the BFH, expenses for furnishings and household items are not covered by the maximum amount, as these are incurred only for their use and not for the use of the accommodation. The use of furnishings is not the same as the use of the accommodation itself. The legislative aim of the new regulation is to limit only the costs for the accommodation to 1.000 Euro per month, not other necessary expenses.
  • The maximum deductible amount of 1.000 Euro per month includes, according to the legislative reasoning, "all expenses incurred for the accommodation or apartment, e.g. rent including operating costs, rental or lease fees for parking spaces, also in underground garages, expenses for special use (such as garden etc.) borne by the employee". The amount of 1.000 Euro is based "on an average apartment of approx. 60 sqm, as previously always used by case law, depending on location and equipment".

 

(1) If the second home is owned by the employee, the actual expenses, e.g. depreciation, interest on loans, operating costs, repair costs, are deductible as business expenses up to the maximum amount of 1.000 Euro per month. Here too, the costs for necessary furnishings and household items are deductible in addition to the maximum amount (BMF letter of 24.10.2014, BStBl. 2014 I p. 1412, para. 103).

(2) When using a furnished or partly furnished apartment, a higher rent is generally payable. If the rental contract does not specify a breakdown of the rent for the use of the apartment and the use of the furniture - as is usually the case - the rent paid can be apportioned on an estimated basis according to § 162 AO. The use of the apartment is then deductible up to 1.000 Euro per month and the use of the furniture is deductible beyond that (BFH ruling of 4.4.2019, VI R 18/17).

(3) If the purchase costs for an individual item do not exceed 800 Euro (excluding VAT), they are immediately and fully deductible. This applies to purchases from 1.1.2018. Previously, the limit was 410 Euro. Higher costs must be spread over the expected useful life and are only deductible with the annual amount as "depreciation for wear and tear". The useful life for furniture is 13 years.

Currently, the tax authorities have announced a welcome simplification: If the purchase costs for the furnishings and equipment of the second home - excluding work equipment - do not exceed a total of 5.000 Euro including VAT, it is assumed for simplification purposes that these costs are considered "necessary" or not excessive and are recognised as business expenses without further examination (BMF letter of 25.11.2020, BStBl 2020 I p. 1228, para. 108).

Can the costs for furnishing the flat be deducted additionally?


Field help

Place of employment (postcode, city)

Please enter the location of your off-site workplace where you maintain a second home for work reasons.

After entering the details, you can provide all information related to each instance of maintaining a second household – e.g. accommodation costs, trips home, or additional meal expenses.

Note: For multiple assignments in a year (e.g. project work or transfer), please enter each place of employment with the associated second home and period separately.

When is more than one entry required?

If your situation changes during the year, a single entry is not sufficient. Please enter a separate place of employment for each period with different conditions.

Typical cases:

  • Move of main residence: New main residence = new household management.
  • Move at place of employment: New second home = new period (important for meal allowances).
  • Change of place of employment: New place of work = new case.
  • Long interruption: From four weeks (e.g. holiday, illness) the three-month period starts anew.
  • Overseas assignment: Different rules, e.g. no rent cap, but proof required.

Tip: Each entry should be assigned to a clear period and a specific second home – this makes it easier for the tax office to review.

Additional expenses for the second household
Refunds from the employer in the case of double household (according to employment tax statement)
Excess refunds
Should the excess refunds be treated as taxable wages?

If the tax-free reimbursements from your employer exceed your expenses for a second household, you can decide here whether the reimbursements should be treated as taxable income in the calculation by Lohnsteuer kompakt.

Note: Most tax offices do not add the excess reimbursements to the taxable income.


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