Important: From 1 January 2018, you can only claim for 6 months German Childcare Benefit.

File your application with Taxback.com before 1 December 2017, so we can proceed while the old rules still apply.

You may be entitled to claim the benefit if:

• You worked in Germany
• You are an EU/EEA citizen
• You have a permanent residence permit

Working in Germany gives you the right to a wide range of benefits.

One type of such benefit is Kindergeld or German Childcare Benefit.

If you are a parent, adoptive parent or spouse who provides a home for a step or stepchild or a grandparent who provides a home for grandchildren or you provide a home to foster kids you may be entitled to childcare tax benefits.

Foreigners living and working in Germany can also receive such benefits.

Even if the child was not with you in Germany you can still be entitled to it.

Who can receive these allowances?

Residents of an EU or EEA country, as well as residents in Switzerland are entitled to claim child benefits even when the child is not living in Germany.

Why are you telling me this right now?

Well, the thing is there are some law changes which will come into effect from 1 January 2018.

Now, that we got your attention, it is time to learn some more about it!

Up to this date, you can claim Kindergeld as far as 4 years back in time.

This means that if you’re working in Germany or have worked in Germany in the last 4 years, you can claim your childcare allowances back in time from 2013 onwards (of course, you have to be working and living in Germany for that time period).

You will be entitled to these benefits, If you submit your claim before 01.01.2018

Let’s look at the following example:

John Doe started working in Germany in 2013 and his wife Jane Doe gives birth to their child in 2014.

Jane is living in her home country, while her husband is working in Germany.

John and Jane find out they are entitled to Kindergeld from their friends.

They apply for these allowances from 2014 till 2017 under the current rules before 01.01.2018.

However in the New Year, there will be changes to childcare benefits which will affect everyone who is entitled to it.

What will happen to the Doe family?

They can still claim their childcare allowance, but… starting 1 January 2018, they can only claim their childcare allowances from a total of 6 months.

So, let’s look at another example:

John has a friend James. James is working in Germany too. His wife is back in their home country with their daughter.

James decides that after working in Germany for 3 years it is time for him to go home. He leaves Germany in February 2018, but submits his application for Childcare benefits in July 2018.

If the old rules applied he would have received the benefit for 3 years, but it is 2018 now. As he submitted his application in July he can only get the benefit for period January -June 2018.

James was working only in January in this period so he can only get it for January.

Instead of getting nearly 7000 Euro he will only get about 200 Euro.

What should I do to avoid this James’s situation?

Apply for your childcare benefits using the short form now!