Job-related move: which costs you can claim for tax purposes
Guide for working people · Part 8
Moving for your job: what the tax office recognises
Income-related expenses
If you move for a new job, you can usually declare the costs as income-related expenses (Werbungskosten) in your tax return. The condition is that the move is job-related – for example because of a change of employer, a transfer or because your daily commute becomes at least one hour shorter. A fixed-price move with a proper invoice makes it easy to provide proof.
Our invoice lists the services individually – transport, packing, assembly. Through our private move services you can see what we take on. Pay by bank transfer, as this is mandatory for the tax deduction under § 35a EStG. Keep the quote, invoice and transfer receipt together with your employment contract or transfer letter. Your belongings are covered by liability under the German Commercial Code (HGB); additional insurance is available on request.
Fixed price with an invoice for the tax office
Services itemised individually
After the survey you receive a fixed-price quote, and later an invoice listing the individual services – important for income-related expenses or § 35a EStG. Call us on 01625978461 and arrange an appointment. We do not provide tax advice.
Offers available individually, depending on effort, scheduling and the scope of services required.
What we provide for your tax return
An invoice instead of a receipt
For tax purposes, the receipt is what counts. That is why you receive a written quote from us and an invoice on which transport, packing, assembly and materials are listed individually. Payment by bank transfer is a requirement for the deduction under § 35a EStG. Your belongings are covered by liability under the German Commercial Code (HGB). We do not provide tax advice – for your individual case it is best to ask a tax adviser or an income tax assistance association (Lohnsteuerhilfeverein).
Packing service
Written quote
Assembly service
Furniture transport
Six points for your tax return
Whether the move was job-related or private determines how it goes into your tax return. Working people should know these six points – a tax adviser takes care of checking the individual case.
Job-related reason
Direct costs
Flat rate
Double rent
Reimbursement by the employer
Private move
Part load – documented for tax purposes too
For small quantities, for example to a second flat at your new place of work, a part load is a good option. You receive an invoice for this too – for a job-related move it counts as income-related expenses like any other transport.
Tax
and moving – the most important questions
The eighth part of our series is about money after the move: when is a move job-related, which costs are income-related expenses, what applies if your employer reimburses you, and what remains for a private move? If you are changing city for a new job, you will find more on long-distance moves under long-distance moves. Destinations with their own page are listed under locations.
Job-related or private?
What belongs on the invoice
When the company moves
Frequently asked questions about tax and moving
When is a move considered job-related?
The tax office recognises moving costs as income-related expenses if the move is almost exclusively job-related. Typical cases are a new employer, a transfer or the first job after training. Even if your daily commute (there and back) becomes at least one hour shorter, under the case law of the Federal Fiscal Court (BFH) this usually counts as a job-related reason; if private reasons predominate, it can still fail.
Record the reason in writing: employment contract, transfer letter or a route plan showing the old and new travel time. With a fixed-price moving service you also have a clear invoice.
Which costs count – and which receipts you need
For a job-related move, the removal firm, packing materials, travel costs to the new flat, estate agent fees for a rented flat and double rent for a transitional period all count; for other expenses there is a lump sum under the Federal Removal Costs Act, the amount of which is set by the BMF. If your employer reimburses anything, this is tax-free up to the amount of the deductible costs (§ 3 Nr. 16 EStG). All the details are in the article Deducting moving costs from your taxes.
If the move was private, you can deduct 20% of the moving company's labour costs under § 35a EStG – only with an invoice and bank transfer. We list the services individually on the invoice.
Moving costs: what to expect
| Type of flat | Price |
|---|---|
| 1-room flat | from €369 |
| 2-room flat | from €589 |
| 3-room flat | from €889 |
| 4-room flat | from €1,279 |
| House/villa | individual quote |
| Long-distance move | from €4.20/km |
Would you like to find out more? Arrange a free survey now.
What determines the invoice amount
Larger volumes mean more effort, as does a long distance (from €4.20/km). Without a lift, carrying to higher floors takes more work. A reserved no-parking zone (Halteverbotszone) makes things easier on site. With furniture assembly and part load the service can be extended.
Services that appear on the invoice
Each of these services appears individually on the quote and the invoice – important for your tax return.
- Company move
- Your office move without long downtimes. Company move
- Furniture transport
- Safe transport of valuable furnishings. Furniture transport
- Private move
- The move to your new home – relaxed and planned. Private move
- House clearance
- Quick clearance of unwanted items. House clearance
- Part load
- Cost-efficient thanks to a shared load. Part load
- Move with assembly
- We assemble your furniture professionally. Move with assembly
From Berlin nationwide – for your new job
Whether it is a local or long-distance move for your new job: we are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and drive nationwide. Destinations with their own page are in the locations overview; for longer distances, read our page on long-distance moves.
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