For single and permanently separated spouses, these contributions are halved. „

more on the subject

Modern fathers: New understanding of roles is increasingly gaining ground Careers: Family is still holding back women from parental leave: How men can argue with the boss More on the subject of family & job

Career break for childcare

According to the study, 84 percent of all mothers under the age of 45 have interrupted their work to look after their own children. In the case of fathers, it was only ten percent, which is considerable compared to the past, said Allensbach managing director Renate Köcher. More than 70 percent of fathers who stopped working after the birth of their child found this parental leave to be an enrichment. Upbringing is still mostly a woman’s business, said Köcher. According to the respondents, many companies would not like to see fathers take parental leave. Often this would cause them professional disadvantages. In addition, families usually have to limit themselves financially when the father takes a break.

Germany’s first representative for fathers

The men who turn to Jakob Hein are worried about their careers and the uncertainty as to whether a break for the sake of the baby is the right thing to do. The 38-year-old is Germany’s first father representative. Since he took over this post at the Berlin Charité a year ago, he has advised several hundred men – although the specialist in psychiatry only works on a voluntary basis. The establishment of the post is more likely "as a gesture" thought, says Hein: "It was not foreseeable that there would be such a high level of actual interest."

Typical male questions

Initially, he received around 30 calls and emails a week. In the meantime, Hein has set up his own page on the clinic’s intranet, where people looking for advice can find numerous answers. Where do I have to apply for parental leave? What is necessary for this? How far in advance do I have to plan? – these are typical questions from men.

"Decision between boss and child"

The Charité Father Commissioner Hein can confirm that men are increasingly interested in a few months off for the family. But most men do not find it easy to leave the operating table or the hallways of the clinic. At the university clinic, it is often doctors who are given the choice. Older bosses in particular still showed their rejection of the idea that a man could stay at home. "And then it is often a felt decision between the boss and the child" says Hein. But the feared "Deprivation of love" because of the boss, I often end up staying away.

Arguments from fathers

When men discussed parental leave, Hein observed, they put different arguments in the foreground than women. It is often about numbers that prove that men are after parental leave "work more efficiently" "are more loyal to the company" and "celebrated less sick". With women, on the other hand, the social is emphasized. "You can’t say that it’s nice to be there for your child" says Hein. He himself took parental leave voluntarily in 2003 when the legal regulation did not yet exist and enjoyed the five months very much.

Family is the most important area of ​​life

The urgent political tasks are still determined by the economic crisis. Nevertheless, according to the Allensbach study, the family is still the most important area of ​​life for 78 percent of the population. Schröder explained: "My goal is therefore to create better conditions for a good work-life balance." According to the study, 63 percent of Germans find that a good compatibility has still been difficult. In the case of mothers of children under the age of 18, as many as 72 percent are dissatisfied, said Köcher.

More flexible working hours required

Schröder therefore wants to advocate more flexible working hours and a corporate culture that asks about the quality of the work done and not about the presence of employees. So far there has been one in companies "family-hostile presence culture" said the Minister. The person who knows that he has to pick up his child from daycare at 5 p.m. on the dot is often the more efficient worker. In order to promote more family awareness in companies, the Ministry wants to launch the initiative together with the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in October "Flexible working hours" start.

Compatibility of work and care

Quiver explained: "In addition to a better compatibility of family and work, the compatibility of work and care is also becoming more and more important." 74 percent of those in employment who expect a nursing case rate this compatibility as difficult. Schröder is therefore planning to introduce family care leave. According to this, employees can reduce their working hours to 50 percent over a maximum period of two years, but still receive a salary of 75 percent. To compensate, they later have to work full for three quarters of their salary again until the time account is balanced.

The new rules for the tax deduction of debt payments can already be applied in the tax return for 2008. The Association of Taxpayers in Berlin points this out.

Entitlement to child benefit or child allowance are a prerequisite

The prerequisite for the deduction as a special expense is that the child is entitled to child benefit or a child allowance. Then expenses for privately owned schools or predominantly privately financed schools can be taken into account at 30 percent. However, there are plans to limit the deduction to 5000 euros per child per year.

School must lead to graduation or prepare for it

According to the taxpayers‘ association, what is new is that it is also granted if the school is not in Germany but in another country of the European Union. Another prerequisite is that the school leads to a recognized school leaving certificate or prepares for a recognized school leaving certificate or year-end certificate. If all requirements are met, the new regulation now also applies to vocational schools.

Singles have it easy – at least with their tax returns. You can usually not sell much. It is different with parents and spouses: There are numerous allowances and expenses that can be entered in the forms. But the effort is often worth it. Many costs, for example for childcare or education, can be claimed.

From au-pair to private school

Married parents with a joint assessment can deduct a child allowance of 3864 euros for each child they share. In addition, there is another allowance for care and education needs of 2160 euros, as Jörg Schwenker, managing director of the Federal Chamber of Tax Advisors in Berlin, explains. "For single and permanently separated spouses, these contributions are halved."

Child allowance against child benefit

The right to the child allowance is weighed against the child benefit. First of all, all parents receive monthly child benefit for their underage children. "When assessing income tax, the tax office examines ex officio whether the tax exemptions for children should be deducted instead of the child benefit entitlement for the individual child" explains Schwenker. If the tax savings due to the deduction of the exemptions are higher than the entitlement to child benefit, these exemptions are deducted from income: "At the same time, the determined income tax is then increased by the amount of the child benefit entitlement."

Flat rate for children in training

There is another flat rate for all parents who support an adult child in education who is housed away from home. "However, this exemption of 924 euros is reduced by the child’s own income and earnings, provided that they are over 1848 euros per year" explains Schwenker. Single mothers or fathers are entitled to an additional allowance: You can apply the so-called relief amount of 1308 euros. However, there are quite strict requirements for this: "The relief amount does not apply if there is only one other child in the household who is of legal age" says Uwe Rauhöft, managing director of the New Association of Wage Tax Aid Associations (NVL) in Berlin.

Actual costs

In addition to these flat-rate deductions, parents can also enter various actual costs in their income tax return. "Childcare costs incurred due to the employment or employment of the parents or single parents are deductible like business expenses or business expenses" explains Anita Käding, tax consultant at the Taxpayers Association in Berlin. The prerequisite for this, however, is that the children are younger than 14 years or are unable to look after themselves because of a disability.

Special expenses for care

In addition to these employment-related childcare costs, costs for childcare are also deductible as special expenses. This comes into question in two cases: either as care costs due to illness, disability or education of the parents – or as care costs for children between three and six years of age. However, the care costs could not be set in unlimited amounts, explains Käding: "For all types of childcare costs, two thirds of the expenses are deductible annually, up to a maximum of 4,000 euros per child." Not only the fees for the kindergarten can be deducted, but also, for example, the expenses for day mothers or a neighbor who takes care of the children for a fee, explains Rauhöft. Parents who have claimed childcare costs on their tax return should carefully check the decision from the tax office, he advises: "Often mistakes are made."

Au-pair and domestic help

Costs for an au pair can also be claimed from the tax office, says Käding: "However, the expenses incurred must be divided into childcare costs and costs incurred for household chores." Accordingly, 50 percent of the total au pair costs are generally considered to be care costs, the rest as household costs. The expenses would have to be proven by a contract with the au pair, she explains: "Another division of childcare and domestic help can also be stipulated in the contract."

Private schools claim

If you send your child to a private, privately owned school, you can partially deduct the school fees from tax. 30 percent of this expenditure, but not more than 5000 euros, can be used: "This has recently also been the case if the school is located in another European country and leads to a general or vocational qualification that is recognized as being equivalent to a qualification from a German public school" explains Schwenker.

Common disposition

Spouses can save by being assessed together for income tax and thus having a higher basic tax allowance. In some cases, however, it could also make sense to be invested separately at least for a certain time, explains NVL managing director Rauhöft: "This can apply if a spouse has received high tax-free wage replacement benefits, for example from money earned abroad." The taxpayer has to calculate for himself whether the separate assessment is worthwhile, explains Rauhöft: "The tax office does not check this by itself."

ratgeber.t-online.de: Income tax return: Why it is almost always worthwhile

From minor spitefulness to serious bodily harm: aggression and violence are often part of the agenda in vocational training. Instructors are also feeling this more and more. There are now prevention programs that aim to prevent violence and aggression at https://topadultreview.com vocational schools and in training companies.