Overview

• With one week left before July 31, unaided filers must submit their 2024 returns or face fines for delays
• Taxpayers can deduct 20 percent of labor costs for recurring household services up to €4,000 and 20 percent of craftsmen work up to €1,200, excluding materials
• All deductions must be recorded in the Anlage Haushaltsnahe Aufwendungen with proper invoices and bank transfers to qualify
• ELSTER and the newly launched einfachELSTERplus portal are guiding users step-by-step through simple filings since July 8
• The Deutsche Steuer-Gewerkschaft is urging the replacement of employee returns with pre-filled declarations while professional advisers retain an April 30, 2026 deadline