What is the care allowance?

Many people care for a relative in need of care, either in their home or in their own home. They are often supported by outpatient care services. This selfless care service deserves the highest recognition. It is also honoured for tax purposes:

• The carer can claim the care allowance (§ 33b para. 6 EStG) and additionally deduct the expenses for the care service as extraordinary expenses, with the tax office applying a reasonable burden (§ 33 EStG).
• Alternatively, the carer can claim all expenses as general extraordinary expenses, subject to a reasonable burden, upon proof (§ 33 EStG).

The allowance is

• for care level 2: 600 Euro
• for care level 3: 1.100 Euro
• for care level 4 or 5 or helplessness: 1.800 Euro

The care allowance is based on the personal care and support of persons in need of care who are classified in care levels 2 to 5 in a home environment. Care includes, for example, assistance with daily activities where the person in need of care requires help.

• Activities in this sense include those in the area of personal hygiene (washing, showering, bathing, dental care, combing, shaving, bowel or bladder evacuation), nutrition (preparing food, eating), mobility (getting up and going to bed independently, dressing and undressing, walking, standing, climbing stairs, leaving and returning to the home) and household management (shopping, cooking, cleaning the home, washing up, changing and washing laundry and clothing, heating).
• Supportive or instructive services are also included. As the regulation focuses on personal care, personal care and support in the home of the person in need of care also leads to tax relief.
• The allowance does not exclude the possibility of claiming higher expenses as extraordinary expenses under § 33 EStG with individual proof.
• For the first time, care allowances are also introduced for care levels 2 and 3, without the criterion of "helplessness" being relevant. However, it cannot be ruled out that the legal requirements for "helplessness" may also generally apply to care levels 2 and 3.
• If the person in need of care meets the requirements for "helplessness", there is an entitlement to the highest allowance. However, another allowance cannot be claimed in addition.
• A condition for the granting of the care allowance is the provision of the tax identification number of the person in need of care in the carer's income tax return. This is to ensure that the allowance cannot be claimed in full more than once for the care of the same person in need of care.
• If a person in need of care is cared for by several carers, the care allowance is divided according to the number of carers.
• A condition for the granting of the care allowance is that the carer does not receive any income for their care. Income is generally any payments received by the carer as a result of the care, whether as care remuneration or as reimbursement for the carer's own expenses. BUT: In the case of parents of a disabled child, the care allowance received by the parents for the care of the child is not considered income.

What is the care allowance?

Wer kann den Pflege-Pauschbetrag beantragen?

Den Pflege-Pauschbetrag kann beantragen, wer eine pflegebedürftige Person in deren oder in der eigenen Wohnung betreut. Der Pauschbetrag wird gewährt, um pauschal für die Belastungen bei der Pflege zu entschädigen, ohne dass Einzelbelege erforderlich sind. Die Voraussetzungen müssen jedoch nachweislich erfüllt sein.

Höhe des Pflege-Pauschbetrags:

• Pflegegrad 2: 600 Euro
• Pflegegrad 3: 1.100 Euro
• Pflegegrad 4 oder 5 bzw. Hilflosigkeit: 1.800 Euro

Voraussetzungen:

Die Pflege muss in der Wohnung der pflegebedürftigen Person oder der eigenen Wohnung erfolgen. Die zu pflegende Person muss ein naher Angehöriger sein (z.B. Ehegatte, Kind, Eltern, Schwiegereltern) oder eine Person mit einem persönlichen Verhältnis wie ein Lebensgefährte, Freund oder Nachbar.

Aufteilung des Pauschbetrags

Wenn sich mehrere Personen die Pflege teilen, wird der Pflege-Pauschbetrag gleichmäßig aufgeteilt. Es spielt keine Rolle, wer mehr Pflegearbeit leistet. Beispiel: Betreuen Sie und Ihre Mutter gemeinsam Ihren pflegebedürftigen Vater (Pflegegrad 4 oder 5), so erhalten beide jeweils 900 Euro Pauschbetrag.

Zusätzliche Steuervergünstigungen

Wenn Sie neben der Pflege auch finanziell unterstützen, können Sie bis zu 12.096 Euro Unterhaltskosten als außergewöhnliche Belastungen absetzen (2025). Das gilt jedoch nur, wenn für die gepflegte Person kein Anspruch auf Kindergeld oder den Kinderfreibetrag besteht.

Wer kann den Pflege-Pauschbetrag beantragen?

How can I claim additional care costs?

Costs for a carer or costs related to illness and disability can be claimed as general extraordinary expenses instead of taking the care allowance. In this case, the deduction is not limited to the care allowance but is possible in unlimited amounts, although the tax office will apply a reasonable burden. The reasonable burden depends on your income, marital status, and the number of children you have, and amounts to one to seven percent of your total income.

How can I claim additional care costs?

Should I declare the actual costs or use the care allowance?

If you provide unpaid care for a person in need, you can claim the care allowance. The care allowance is

• for care level 2: 600 Euro
• for care level 3: 1.100 Euro
• for care level 4 or 5 or if the person is helpless: 1.800 Euro.

If you do not have higher expenses than a maximum of 1.800 Euro, this is also the best solution for you.

It is different if you have higher expenses, need to co-finance an additional carer or accommodation in a care home. In that case, it is more worthwhile to forgo the care allowance (also the disability allowance) and claim the actual expenses as extraordinary burdens.

These costs are then listed in the "Extraordinary Burdens" section as care costs (expenses due to care needs, expenses for caring for a relative or for accommodation in a care home).

This can include various expenses such as food, laundry, cleaning or rent.

In your tax return, you can enter the actual expenses. However, these are not recognised in full. Your reasonable personal burden is deducted from this. This depends on your income, marital status and the number of your children and is calculated by the tax office. The reasonable personal burden is one to seven percent of the total income.

Should I declare the actual costs or use the care allowance?

Which new care levels correspond to the condition of being helpless?

Disabled individuals are entitled to a disability allowance, which varies according to the degree of disability. In cases of helplessness (mark "H") and blindness (mark "Bl"), the disability allowance is 7,400 Euro regardless of the degree of disability (§ 33b EStG).

Until 2016, the classification as a person in need of severe care in care level III according to the notice from the care insurance fund was equivalent to the mark "H" (§ 65 Abs. 2 EStDV).

Carers who look after a person in need of care at home are entitled to the carer's allowance. The allowance is:

• for care level 2: 600 Euro
• for care level 3: 1.100 Euro
• for care level 4 or 5 or helplessness: 1.800 Euro

Since 2017, the assessment of care needs has been much more differentiated into five care levels instead of the previous three care levels. The focus is on the actual support needs, measured by the degree of independence - regardless of whether someone has a mental or physical impairment. Physical, mental, and psychological impairments are recorded and included in the assessment of care needs.

All individuals previously receiving care insurance benefits have been transferred to the new system without a new assessment since 1 January 2017. They do not need to apply for classification into a new care level. Previously, for tax purposes, care level III was equivalent to the mark "H" (helpless) in the severely disabled pass.

Since 2017, the mark "H" is equivalent to care levels 4 and 5. Therefore, if the person in need of care has care level 4 or 5,

• the person in need of care receives the increased disability allowance of 7,400 Euro and
• the carer receives the carer's allowance for home care (BMF letter dated 19.8.2016).

The new care level 4 applies to the previous care level III and the previous care level II with significantly reduced everyday competence. The new care level 5 applies to the previous care level III with significantly reduced everyday competence and the hardship cases of care level III.

Which new care levels correspond to the condition of being helpless?

Welche Besonderheiten gelten bei Pflege- und Betreuungsleistungen?

Zu den haushaltsnahen Dienstleistungen im Sinne des § 35a Einkommensteuergesetz (EStG) gehören auch Pflege- und Betreuungsleistungen für pflegebedürftige Personen. Begünstigt sind sowohl Leistungen durch mobile Pflegedienste als auch durch selbstständige Pflegekräfte, sofern sie im Haushalt der gepflegten oder betreuten Person oder im Haushalt des Steuerpflichtigen erbracht werden.

Steuerliche Begünstigung

Pflege- und Betreuungsleistungen können im Rahmen der haushaltsnahen Dienstleistungen bis zu 20.000 Euro jährlich mit 20 Prozent, also höchstens 4.000 Euro pro Jahr, direkt von der Steuerschuld abgezogen werden.

Eine Pflegebedürftigkeitsfeststellung oder die Angabe eines Pflegegrades ist nicht erforderlich. Es genügt, wenn die Leistungen der Grundpflege oder Betreuung dienen, z. B.:

• Körperpflege
• Ernährung
• Mobilität
• Alltagsbegleitung und Beaufsichtigung

Pflege im eigenen oder im fremden Haushalt

Nach der Rechtsprechung des Bundesfinanzhofs wird unterschieden zwischen:

• Eigener Pflege oder Betreuung: Steuerermäßigung möglich, wenn die Aufwendungen für die eigene Pflege anfallen.
• Pflege von Angehörigen: Auch Kinder können Kosten für die ambulante Pflege ihrer Eltern absetzen – unter bestimmten Voraussetzungen.

Rechtsprechung im Überblick

BFH-Urteil vom 3. April 2019 (VI R 19/17): Keine Steuerermäßigung, wenn Kinder die Heimkosten ihrer Eltern übernehmen, da diese nicht im eigenen Haushalt anfallen.

FG Berlin-Brandenburg, Urteil vom 11. Dezember 2019 (3 K 3210/19): Zunächst Ablehnung der Steuerermäßigung für Pflegeleistungen im Haushalt des Angehörigen; Revision wurde zugelassen.

BFH-Urteil vom 12. April 2022 (VI R 2/20): Die Steuerermäßigung nach § 35a Abs. 2 Satz 2 EStG gilt auch dann, wenn Kinder die Kosten für die ambulante Pflege ihrer Eltern tragen – selbst wenn die Pflege im Haushalt der Eltern erfolgt.

Wichtiger Unterschied: Ambulante vs. stationäre Pflege

• Ambulante Pflege: Steuerermäßigung möglich, wenn der Steuerpflichtige selbst Vertragspartner des Pflegedienstes ist.
• Stationäre Pflege: Keine Steuerermäßigung, da die Leistung außerhalb eines privaten Haushalts erbracht wird.

Hinweis: Die Steuerermäßigung kann nur gewährt werden, wenn der Steuerpflichtige die Pflegeleistung auf eigene Rechnung bezieht. Wird lediglich die Rechnung eines Angehörigen beglichen, liegt steuerlich Drittaufwand vor, der nicht absetzbar ist.

Welche Besonderheiten gelten bei Pflege- und Betreuungsleistungen?

What applies to people with dementia?

Dementia is the most common and consequential psychiatric illness in old age. It is estimated that over 1.1 million people in Germany currently suffer from moderate to severe dementia, about two-thirds of them from Alzheimer's disease. Approximately 11,000 people are newly diagnosed each year. Since a cure for dementia is not yet possible, the focus of care for these individuals is on support and nursing.

About 60 per cent of all people with dementia are cared for at home by their relatives. Families are often supported by home care services. However, family and outpatient care are often overwhelmed, as caring for people with dementia involves special challenges. It requires a great deal of time, attention, and energy.

The diagnosis of dementia is by far the most common reason for admission to a care home. Well over half of the people living in nursing homes suffer from dementia.

What applies to people with dementia?

What is the difference between requiring care and being helpless?

Tax law distinguishes between "in need of care" and "helpless":

a)    In need of care

Persons are considered in need of care if they "require significant or greater assistance for ordinary and regularly recurring activities in daily life due to a physical, mental, or emotional illness or disability, on a long-term basis, expected to last at least six months" (§ 14 SGB XI).

The following persons are considered in need of care:

• Persons classified in one of the three care levels (until 2016) or one of the five care grades (from 2017) according to the Care Insurance Act §§ 14, 15 SGB XI.
• Persons with a significant impairment of everyday competence, so-called dementia patients (according to § 45a SGB XI).
• Persons with a severely disabled pass with the mark "H" or "Bl".
• Other persons receiving outpatient care with care costs invoiced separately by a recognised care service.
• Persons in a retirement or nursing home for whom care services of care rate level 0 are invoiced separately (BFH ruling of 10.5.2007, BStBl. 2007 II p. 764).

Proof is provided by the notice from the social care insurance fund or a private insurance company, the notice from the pension office or comparable authority with the relevant determinations, or the severely disabled pass with the mark "H" or "Bl".

b)    Helplessness
Helpless are "persons who permanently require external help for a number of frequently and regularly recurring activities to secure their personal existence in the course of each day" (§ 33b para. 6 EStG).

Helpless persons possess a severely disabled pass with the mark "H" (helpless) or "Bl" (blind). The mark "H" was equivalent to care level III until 2016. Proof is provided by the severely disabled pass with the marks "H" or "Bl" and the notice from the pension office with the relevant determination or the notice from the social care insurance fund or insurance company (§ 65 para. 2 EStDV).

Since 2017, the classification of care needs has been much more differentiated into five care grades instead of the previous three care levels. The focus is on the actual support needs, measured by the degree of independence, regardless of whether someone has a mental or physical impairment. Physical, mental, and psychological impairments are recorded and included in the assessment of care needs (§ 14 SGB XI).

All persons in need of care who have previously received care insurance benefits will be transferred to the new system from 1.1.2017 without a new assessment. They do not need to apply for classification in a new care grade.

Since 2017, the classification in care grades 4 and 5 is equivalent to the mark "H". Persons in need of care with care grade 4 or 5 are therefore entitled to the increased disability allowance of 7.400 Euro (BMF letter of 19.8.2016, IV C 8-S 2286/07/10004).

Note: The new care grade 4 applies to the previous care level III and care level II with significantly impaired everyday competence. The new care grade 5 applies to the previous care level III with significantly impaired everyday competence and the hardship cases of care level III.

Conclusion: Persons in care level III (until 2016) or from 2017 with care grade 4 or 5 are both "in need of care" and "helpless". Persons in care levels I and II or with care grades 1 to 3 are only "in need of care", not "helpless".

• Expenses due to care needs in care level I, II or 0 are deductible as general extraordinary expenses according to § 33 EStG, insofar as they exceed the care allowance received from statutory or private care insurance. The expenses must be proven and will be reduced by the reasonable burden by the tax office. In this case, the carer cannot receive the care allowance according to § 33b para. 6 EStG.

• Expenses due to helplessness or care needs in care level III are also deductible as general extraordinary expenses according to § 33 EStG, insofar as they exceed the care allowance received. Instead, the increased disability allowance of 7.400 Euro can be claimed. The carer can receive the care allowance according to § 33b para. 6 EStG if they do not receive any income for the care.

What is the difference between requiring care and being helpless?