Here’s the deal
- The Haushaltsscheck is the simplified procedure for registering a domestic helper as a mini-job (up to 603 €/month) with the Minijob-Zentrale.
- As an employer you pay around 14.6 % in contributions by SEPA direct debit, collected twice a year (31 July and 31 January).
- The Minijob-Zentrale sorts out the employer number (Betriebsnummer), calculates the contributions, and issues the annual statement for your taxes.
- Included are accident insurance and access to the § 35a tax rebate.
For mini-jobs in a private household there is a separate, much simpler registration procedure than in the commercial world. Instead of complex filings, you fill in a single form and the Minijob-Zentrale does the rest. We explain how it works.
What is the Haushaltsscheck?
The Haushaltsscheck is the simplified way for a private household to report itself as an employer. You use it to register a domestic helper who does a mini-job for you, that is who earns up to 603 € a month. The Minijob-Zentrale, a body of the German pension insurance, then handles the calculation and collection of the contributions.
The Haushaltsscheck only applies to mini-jobs. If your domestic helper earns more than 603 € a month, the job is subject to social security and runs through the regular procedure. We explain the difference in the post Mini-job or midi-job.
How does the Haushaltsscheck procedure work?
The procedure consists of a few steps:
- Employer number (Betriebsnummer): as an employer you need one. If you do not have one yet, the Minijob-Zentrale assigns it automatically.
- Fill in the Haushaltsscheck: at the start of the employment you submit the Haushaltsscheck online or on paper, with your details, those of your domestic helper, and the agreed wage.
- Set up a SEPA direct debit: the contributions are debited from your account, you do not have to transfer anything yourself.
- Contributions are collected twice a year: for January to June on 31 July, for July to December on 31 January of the following year.
- Report changes and the end: if the wage changes or the employment ends, you submit a new Haushaltsscheck.
- Annual statement: once a year you receive a statement for your tax return.
What does the Haushaltsscheck cost?
Through the Haushaltsscheck you pay around 14.6 % of the wage in contributions as an employer. For 2026 they break down like this:
- Flat-rate health insurance: 5 %
- Flat-rate pension insurance: 5 %
- Statutory accident insurance: 1.6 %
- Levy U1 (illness): 0.8 %
- Levy U2 (maternity): 0.22 %
- Flat-rate tax: 2 %
- Total: around 14.6 %
An example: at 400 € wage a month you pay 58.40 € in contributions on top, making 458.40 € in total costs. For how the costs break down overall, see What does a cleaner cost?
What are the advantages of the Haushaltsscheck?
The biggest advantage is how little effort it takes: one form instead of monthly filings, and the contributions are calculated and debited automatically. On top of that come three concrete benefits:
- Accident insurance: through the registration, your domestic helper is automatically covered by statutory accident insurance, including on the way to work. More under Do I have to insure my domestic helper?
- Tax rebate: you get 20 % of the costs back through § 35a, up to 510 € a year. Details under Tax rebate for household help.
- Legal certainty: your helper is registered and insured, and the risk of undeclared work is gone.
What does quitt take care of for me?
quitt fills in the Haushaltsscheck for you, registers your domestic helper with the Minijob-Zentrale, and handles the payroll. 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.
We handle the Haushaltsscheck for you
Enter the key details, and quitt registers your domestic helper and runs the payroll. Done in a few minutes.
