June 13, 2023, 12:06 pm | Read time: 8 minutes
Taxes are a topic few people enjoy dealing with in their free time. Yet, there’s a lot of interesting information to know—especially in the tech sector.
It comes around every year: the tax return. And whether you’re required to file one or not, everyone should do it. Because for many things, especially when it comes to smartphones, laptops, and the like, you can get money back from the government. Taxes can not only help you get money back but also garner a lot of clicks. At least that’s the case for Fabian Walter, also known as “Steuerfabi.” Through his social channels and in his book, he explains what to watch out for with taxes, what can be deducted, which rules currently apply, and much more. TECHBOOK spoke with “Steuerfabi” about tax apps and what you can actually deduct from your taxes.
Steuerfabi in the TECHBOOK Interview
TECHBOOK: You’ve managed to get people interested in taxes on TikTok. How did you do it?
Steuerfabi: It was more of a coincidence. A friend of mine, Philipp, once said that I was pretty good at explaining taxes and suggested I try it on this platform. I didn’t think you could be successful with taxes on TikTok, so I uploaded a video just to humor him—”Can you deduct coffee from your taxes?”—also because I’m a passionate espresso drinker. The video quickly gained a lot of views, and I stuck with it. Apparently, Germany had a bit of a hunger for tax knowledge.
And how do you make taxes sound appealing?
I think you have to break it down into small units to reduce the complexity and show people that it’s an important topic. No one really likes dealing with it, but it’s important in everyday life, so you should know a few things to avoid metaphorically hitting the guardrail.
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What Tech You Can Deduct from Taxes
It affects everyone in Germany somehow. So let’s dive into the content questions. Regarding tech deductions: It’s possible now; I believe there was a legal change in 2020. Are there things to consider? What tech can be deducted?
Basically, you can only deduct items used for work, studies, or training. If your employer provides a laptop, so you incur no costs, you can’t deduct that tech. You can only claim what you’ve paid for and have a receipt for. But let’s stick with this example: If you buy a laptop and use it 50% for work, you can deduct 50% of the cost from your taxes.
And as mentioned, due to a BMF letter from the Federal Ministry of Finance dated February 22, 2022, you can now fully deduct the laptop in the same year. Previously, you had to depreciate it over several years. Laptops, tablets with a screen diagonal of nine inches or more with input devices, and other computers and peripherals—like printers, keyboards, mice, etc.—can now be immediately deducted. That’s new.
Also interesting: When and how can a smartphone be deducted from taxes?
But I probably have to prove that I use my devices for work. How do I do that best?
It sounds funny, but there’s something like a laptop logbook where you note the percentage of work use. Laptops usually pass easily. As a rule of thumb—not stated in law but often accepted by tax offices—if you use a laptop for work, you can deduct 50% of the price. The other 50% is assumed to be personal use.
Smartphones are a bit more complicated. It helps, in both cases (also for laptops, editor’s note), to have employer confirmation of work use. Then you can deduct these items from taxes. Smartphones don’t fall under this new rule. They must still be depreciated over five years if they cost over 800 euros net.
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That’s interesting because the cycles have changed. I don’t know anyone who uses their smartphone for five years; they have a shorter lifespan.
Absolutely. I’m curious if that will change. It’s a bit paradoxical that you can fully deduct a laptop bought in December 2022 in your tax return. But if you bought a smartphone in December 2022, you can only deduct one-sixtieth—one month of five years. Maybe this will change. I mentioned it to Finance Minister Christian Lindner in Berlin, and he sees it similarly.
Mobility and Tax Apps
Sounds like a sensible adjustment. What about e-mobility, like e-bikes or e-scooters? Can they be deducted in any way?
If you commute with an e-bike or e-scooter, there’s a distance allowance. It doesn’t matter if you walk, drive, or carpool. You can claim 30 cents per kilometer for the first 20 kilometers and 38 cents per kilometer from the 21st kilometer. Whether you walk, use an e-bike, e-scooter, or e-car, it’s the same. You can only deduct the distance allowance, even if you’re a passenger.
I think more people are doing that. It’s spreading, and e-bikes are great. Do you have one, or don’t you ride bikes?
I occasionally use rental bikes here in Freiburg. But I don’t own an e-bike or bicycle.
You should consider it—I’ve heard you can partially deduct it from taxes.
Absolutely (laughs).
What about the internet, especially with many working from home? My internet is expensive because I need a fast connection for video calls and uploads.
Most people have internet flat rates now. It’s hard to prove work use, but you can deduct 20% of the total cost, up to 20 euros per month. That’s 240 euros per year.
Let’s talk about tax apps—a topic I like—and Elster. Do you have opinions or tips?
I personally like tax apps, whether it’s Taxfix, Steuerbot, or others. They’re a good option because they simplify things. With Elster, there’s no comprehensive state app, but you can use the MeinELSTER+ app to store receipts. Unfortunately, you can’t fully file taxes via an app in 2023. But maybe that will change.
Apps are good, but they’re usually only suitable if you don’t have a side business or real estate. In that case, using Smartsteuer or similar providers, or the state format Elster.de, makes sense.
As an employee without additional business income, tax apps are useful. They simplify tax filing and help you remember things so you don’t forget anything.
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May I ask how Steuerfabi handles his taxes? Do you use a tax app?
Unfortunately, I can’t use a tax app because I’m involved in three LLCs and a corporation (laughs). So tax apps are out for me. I used to file taxes with a tax app. But since I have business income, tax apps no longer cover my needs. I still use Elster for some things. I even described in my book how to file taxes with Elster.
You probably don’t need those apps (laughs).
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What Sellers on eBay and Co. Need to Know
Let’s discuss the platform tax law—a nice term. The law was passed at the start of 2023 and affects reporting requirements for sellers on platforms like eBay and classifieds. Should I worry about high taxes if I sell on these platforms?
No. First, items for daily use, like an old phone or laptop, have never been taxable when sold on these platforms—unless you’re selling in bulk. If you’re buying and selling phones on a large scale, you must register a business and pay taxes. But selling your old phone or laptop isn’t taxable.
Even if you sell items for a profit that don’t fall under this rule—like artworks—you don’t pay taxes if your total private sales don’t exceed 600 euros. It’s about the profit, not the sale price, which can be much higher. So this reporting requirement doesn’t mean automatic taxes.
It’s about identifying commercial sellers who buy and sell large items. The current 2,000-euro reporting threshold is a bit low, in my opinion, but that’s how it is. Selling daily items on eBay occasionally doesn’t make you taxable. So, no worries.
What Does the Tax Office Know About Me?
When I file my tax return, all this data ends up with the tax office. I’m starting to wonder: What does the tax office actually know about me? Can anything be inferred from this data? How do they handle it?
I hope the data is secure. So far, nothing else is known (laughs). They know quite a bit about you, from your tax ID, tax number, personal data, address, birth date, marital status, and occupation. They also know your religion due to church tax. Insurance companies report contributions, like health and long-term care insurance, Rürup and Riester pensions. Employers report wage data, and banks report capital income subject to withholding tax. And now, as we discussed, platforms report too. So the tax office knows quite a lot. It can be a bit unsettling.
On the other hand, it can be beneficial. Why? There’s the pre-filled tax return, available through apps or Elster, called data retrieval. You can automatically pull this data into forms, so you don’t have to type it yourself. You can see what the tax office knows through the pre-filled tax return, if you file one—and I think everyone should. In this case, it’s helpful to automatically pull this data.
Thank you for your time and the knowledge you’ve shared with us.