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Hinweis: Unterstützungszahlungen werden erst ab der ersten Zahlung steuerlich berücksichtigt. Eine rückwirkende Ansetzung für vorherige Monate ist nicht möglich. Zahlungen im Januar können folglich in voller Höhe - bis zum Unterhaltshöchstbetrag - abgesetzt werden. Im Dezember jedoch wird nur ein Zwölftel der Zahlung berücksichtigt, also gekürzt.

Tipp: Es ist empfehlenswert, im Januar mit der ersten Zahlung zu beginnen, um den größtmöglichen steuerlichen Vorteil zu erzielen.

Dieser Text bezieht sich auf die Steuererklärung 2023. Die Version die für die Steuererklärung 2025 finden Sie unter:
(2025): Unterhaltszahlungen



Avoid retroactive payments

Retroactive payments are not possible, i.e. an amount transferred in August can only be intended for maintenance in August or the following months. If the support payments do not cover the entire calendar year but only individual months, the maximum amount for support payments will be reduced accordingly.

(2023): Avoid retroactive payments



Can I also declare one-off payments?

Occasional or one-off maintenance payments are also tax deductible as part of maintenance payments to dependants.

For a one-off maintenance payment, the tax office always assumes that it is intended to cover maintenance needs until the end of the year. The maximum maintenance amount is then reduced by one twelfth for each preceding month. If you make a payment in September, the maximum maintenance amount is reduced by 8/12. However, if you make the one-off payment in January, the maximum maintenance amount is not reduced. A maintenance payment in January thus secures the full maximum maintenance amount for the whole year, provided the supported person is in need for the entire year. The maintenance payment should always cover living expenses until the next payment. It does not matter whether these payments reach the pro rata maximum amount.

Exception

Maintenance payments to a spouse can always be deducted up to the maximum maintenance amount, regardless of when the payment is made.

(2023): Can I also declare one-off payments?

Field help

Were the maintenance payments made entirely by bank transfer?

If the maintenance payments were all paid to the supported person by bank transfer, please select "yes". In this case, the corresponding transfer voucher from your bank is sufficient as proof.

If some or all of the payments were made in cash during trips home to the family, please select "no". In this case, the tax office imposes strict requirements on the proof to be provided. When asked by the tax office, you should be able to provide the following supporting documents:

  • Withdrawal proof from the bank
  • (Detailed) confirmation of the supported person about the receipt of the money
  • Travel documents as proof of the trip home to the family
Amount

Indicate here maintenance payments you have made to the supported person. Payments should be made by post or bank transfer so that they can be proven to the tax office.

In 2023, a maximum of 10.908 Euro can be claimed for each supported person. For each month in which the necessary requirements are not met, the amount is reduced by one-twelfth.

Do not enter here contributions to the basic health and nursing care insurance. You must declare these expenses for the supported person for whom the contributions were paid. The insurance contributions are deductible in addition to the maintenance payments.

Payments in foreign currency must be converted into euros according to the euro reference rate of the European Central Bank. The monthly conversion rates are also published by the Federal Ministry of Finance.