Cheating on The Tax Return: Tricks and Risks

Many taxpayers dream of a big, unexpected tax refund. The possibility of getting more money back if you leave something out or invent something out of thin air is very tempting. Moreover, you need to send your receipts to the tax office only if the receipts are explicitly requested. No wonder it’s easy to assume that you can get away. But beware! The risk of getting caught is equally high!

For the way to work and back, the state reimburses you with 0.30 euros per kilometre (0.38 euros from the 21st km) as part of your income-related expenses ( Werbungskosten ). It doesn’t matter whether you commute by car, skateboard, or train—the only thing that counts is the distance to the workplace. This distance can vary. For example, a longer route might have less traffic and save you time. So, why not enter a few extra kilometres? However, checking this information is very easy. You can find more about the commuter flat rate in the guide on Taxfix.
The tax officer who checks your tax return can use Google Maps in seconds to see whether your information makes sense.

You can deduct specialist literature, a new computer, or laundry charges for your work clothes as income-related expenses. Your crime thriller can turn into a marketing textbook, the tablet can mutate into a work-horse for the woman, or the cleaning costs for the uniform can be a receipt for cleaning your favourite coat!
Tax officials know many of these textbook-tricks and can easily check ISBNs and invoices. Again, make sure your information is verifiable.

If you have incurred costs during your training, you can also claim these as advertising costs. This applies to both the travel costs and the seminar costs themselves. However, the tax office often assumes that training is paid for by the employer and cross-checks the exact costs you have stated.
It can so happen that the tax officer calls your employer and verifies whether the employer has paid the costs.

If you have a second home for professional reasons, you can claim income-related expenses here as well. The possibilities to save taxes are immense, but since this point in the tax return is a bit more complex, it undergoes higher scrutiny. Read more about Doppelte Haushaltsführung in German here .

Have you ever considered deducting your workspace from tax? Depending on the area of ​​activity and the tax officials, this is possible in a handful of cases. It can bring you back one or two euros, but it’s worth a try if you really have a workspace!
However, if an employee from the tax authorities arrives on a surprise visit only to find a children’s room or a laundry room, then you will have a lot of explaining to do.

Read all you need to know about deducting your expenses for working from home here (in German).

Earning a little extra besides the job is not unusual for most employees. This additional income must be declared in the tax return, or else it’s considered as tax evasion. This immediately catches the eye if your additional income exceeds a certain threshold amount. You can find out more about this in this article (in German) .
Of course, there are numerous other ways to work around your tax return. For instance, as a landlord during renovation work or when you gain shares from your own children’s accounts. But remember: submitting a manipulated tax return makes you liable to prosecution.

If you notice a mistake in your own tax return and report it to the tax office, you’ll be exempt from punishment. If the tax office notices an error in your tax return (such as unreasonably high income-related expenses or withholding additional income) and this error is in your favour, then you may be accused of tax fraud.
In the case of tax evasion of less than 50,000 Euros, you have to pay a fine: the embezzled taxes and 6% interest on evasion. If you exceed 50,000 Euros, you receive either a prison sentence or a fine, depending on the severity. Tax evasion of more than 100,000 euros is punishable with imprisonment of up to 5 years. In serious cases, one can receive a 10-year prison sentence, sometimes on probation. Tax evaders who evade taxes of more than 1 million Euros are sentenced to prison without parole. Aiding and abetting tax evasion is also a criminal offence.

Tax fraud is a criminal offence. However, there are some legal tricks you can use on your tax return.
With the distance flat-rate, the shortest route does not always have to be the best. Medical expenses for prescribed medication or prescribed glasses that you have to pay for yourself can be deducted as an extraordinary burden.
Not just monetary donations, but also donations in kind can be stated in the tax return. As a household service, it is not only the cleaning staff that counts but also the pet sitter. Under certain conditions, you could issue your own receipts in the event of missing receipts, and of course you can save taxes if the timing of your payments is well planned.