Steuer & Sozialabgaben
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Getting money back: Werbungskosten, church tax, freelancing and foreign income.
Work-related deductions that grow your tax refundEvery employee automatically gets a €1,230 flat allowance for work expenses — but commuters, home-office workers, and people who moved for a job usually beat it easily by itemising.
Kirchensteuer: the tax many newcomers pay by accidentIf you declare a religious affiliation at your Anmeldung, 8–9% of your income tax is added as church tax and collected automatically through payroll. Leaving the church is a formal legal act, not a tick-box.
Freiberufler vs Gewerbe: tax setup for the self-employedBefore invoicing anyone in Germany you must register with the Finanzamt via the Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung on ELSTER. Whether you are a Freiberufler or a Gewerbetreibender changes which taxes apply.
Double taxation agreements and your foreign incomeOnce you are tax-resident in Germany, your worldwide income is in scope. Double taxation agreements (DBA) decide which country taxes what — and even exempt foreign income can raise your German rate.