Here’s the deal
- § 35a EStG: you deduct 20 % of the cost of your household help directly from your tax bill, not just from your income. So a rebate of 500 € means 500 € less tax.
- Mini-job in a private household (Haushaltsscheck): up to 510 € per year.
- Employment subject to social security in a private household: up to 4,000 € per year.
- Conditions: registered, wage transferred (no cash payment), proof. Childcare has its own, often better rule.
Part of what you pay for household help comes back through tax, and directly from the tax bill, not just as a deduction from your income. The catch: it only works if the household help is registered. We show how much there is and how to claim it.
What is the tax rebate for household help?
The rebate is set out in § 35a EStG. It deducts 20 % of the cost of household help directly from your tax bill. That is worth more than an allowance: an allowance only lowers your taxable income, while § 35a lowers the tax itself. So a rebate of 500 € is 500 € less tax.
You are entitled to it if you legally employ someone in your private household. Undeclared work is excluded: no registration, no rebate.
How much can I deduct?
Always 20 % of the cost, but with different maximums depending on the form of employment:
- Mini-job in a private household (Haushaltsscheck): 20 %, up to 510 €/year
- Employment subject to social security in a private household: 20 %, up to 4,000 €/year
The same maximum of 4,000 € also applies to household-related services you commission from a company. Tradesperson services have their own pot: 20 %, up to 1,200 € per year.
Two examples:
- Cleaner as a mini-job, 2,000 € in costs per year: 400 € back. You reach the maximum of 510 € from around 2,550 € in annual costs.
- Household help subject to social security for 10,000 € a year: 2,000 € back. The 4,000 € cap kicks in from 20,000 € in annual costs.
For how the cost of a cleaner breaks down, see What does a cleaner cost?. For what counts as a household-related service, see What are household-related services?
How do I claim the tax rebate in my tax return?
You enter the costs in the „Anlage Haushaltsnahe Aufwendungen“ of your income tax return. Two conditions must be met: you transfer the wage (cash does not count) and you can prove the costs. For a mini-job via the Haushaltsscheck you get the statement from the Minijob-Zentrale; for employment via quitt we produce the annual statement automatically.
The most common mistake is paying cash. Anyone who pays the wage in cash loses the rebate entirely, even with a registered worker. So always transfer the money.
Does the rebate also apply to childcare?
For pure childcare there is a separate rule that usually gives you more: 80 % of the costs as special expenses (Sonderausgaben), up to 4,800 € per child per year (§ 10 EStG). You cannot claim both for the same costs. If a nanny also does housework, that part can be deducted via § 35a. Details under What does a nanny or babysitter cost?
What does quitt take care of for me?
quitt registers your household help, handles the payroll, and produces the year-end statement for the tax office that you need for the rebate. You enter the key details, and quitt takes care of registration, payroll, and insurance. You remain the employer and decide whom you hire and what you pay.
Found a household helper? Start the registration and quitt handles the rest. You can see what the service costs on the pricing page.
Work out your costs in 30 seconds
The free wage cost calculator shows you gross, net and employer costs for your household help, with no obligation and right away.
