What tax breaks are available for students?
March 5, 2023 | 50,00 EUR | answered by Ralf Otten
Dear tax advisor,
my name is Mia Schneider and I am currently a student at the university. This year, I have submitted an income tax return for the first time and I am a bit overwhelmed by the various options for tax relief for students.
Currently, I work part-time as a student worker alongside my studies and earn an income from it. Additionally, I have various study expenses, such as for educational materials, travel costs to the university, and possibly for a semester abroad. I am also wondering if I can claim the costs of my health insurance for tax purposes.
I am concerned that I may not be taking advantage of potential tax benefits or relief that I am entitled to. Therefore, I would like to know from you what specific tax relief options are available for students and how I can claim them in my income tax return. Are there specific forms I need to fill out or documents I should attach?
I would be very grateful if you could assist me in clarifying these questions so that I can complete my tax return correctly and efficiently. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Mia Schneider
Dear Mrs. Schneider,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding tax benefits for students in your income tax return. It is understandable that you may feel overwhelmed, as tax law can often be complex and confusing. I will do my best to help clarify your questions.
First and foremost, I want to assure you that there are indeed a number of tax advantages and benefits specifically available to students like yourself. As a working student, you likely have study-related expenses that you can claim on your taxes. These may include costs for educational materials, transportation to university, and possibly even for a semester abroad. These expenses can be included in your tax return as part of your business expenses.
Furthermore, under certain conditions, you may also be able to deduct the costs of your health insurance. If you are insured in the statutory health insurance as a student and pay your contributions yourself, these can be declared as special expenses in your tax return.
To take advantage of these tax benefits and deductions, you will need to provide the relevant information in your income tax return. For business expenses, you typically need a detailed breakdown of expenses as well as receipts and invoices as proof. For health insurance costs, you should be able to provide a certificate from your health insurance provider.
In your tax return, you can enter business expenses and special expenses in the appropriate forms, such as Annex N (for employees) and Annex Pension Provisions. These forms must be submitted to your tax office along with the main form (form ESt 1A).
I recommend seeking assistance from a tax advisor in preparing your tax return to ensure that all relevant tax benefits for students are taken into account. I am also available for online consultations to help clarify any further questions and support you in completing your income tax return.
I hope that this information has been helpful to you. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I wish you success in completing your tax return.
Sincerely,
Ralf Otten
Tax Advisor
