Self-finance your studies with your tax returns in Germany!
If you are studying on our Full Stack Software Development Programme, you could claim back up to 100% of the total cost of paying for the course. The Finanzamt is the revenue and taxation authority in Germany. They recognise that training is an investment in your professional future and, therefore, will let you write off taxes or get a tax rebate on future earnings – it all depends on your situation when you file your tax return.
How the Finanzamt will pay for your education
Whether or not you are entitled to a write-off or tax rebate is determined by the Finanzamt and is made on a case-by-case basis, so you may be able to get all the money back and, in some cases, only a partial amount.*
Are you employed?
If you are employed whilst taking the course and wish to file for a write-off or a tax rebate, you should:
Arrange a meeting with the Finanzamt to speak with them about your tax arrangements. This is called Steuererstattung der Weiterbildungskosten. They may even be able to tell you how much money to expect back.
To receive money back, you must file your tax return the same year you begin the Full Stack course. If your course started before 31st July, you must try to get the tax return filed before then. You must file the tax return retrospectively if you started after that date.
As you are earning, you must fill out the yearly ‘Steuererklärung – Werbungskosten N-form’ on the ELSTER account and then forward it to the Finanzamt.
Once you have filed your tax return, the Finanzamt will process the documentation and determine if you are entitled to money back.
Because you are employed, you will get money back as a tax rebate, and will get that money paid back to you.
Are you unemployed?
If you are unemployed whilst taking the course and wish to file for a write-off or a tax rebate, you should:
Arrange a meeting with the Finanzamt to speak with them about your tax arrangements. This is called Steuererstattung der Weiterbildungskosten. They may even be able to tell you how much money to expect back.
To receive a tax write-off, you must file your tax return the same year you begin the Full Stack course. If your course started before 31st July, you must try to get the tax return in before then. You must file the tax return retrospectively if you started after that date.
As you have yet to earn, you will need to fill out a yearly Verlustvortrag and then forward it to the Finanzamt.
Once you have filed your tax return, the Finanzamt will process the documentation and determine how much money will be ‘written off’.
Because you are unemployed, you may be entitled to money back as a ‘tax write-off’, which means that the Finanzamt may write off taxes from your future earnings, which means a bigger paycheck every month.
Useful Links:
Below are some third-party websites that will give you more information about taxes and learning in Germany. Please note that these websites are in German.
* Code Institute is not a tax advisory service and cannot advise you on tax matters. By sharing this information, we are informing you that you may be entitled to money back for your education. We recommend contacting your tax consultant or the Fananzamt directly for more information.
