Apply for relief amount for single parents
The tax office deducts a relief amount for single parents from the taxable income before applying the tax rate, so it remains tax-free.
Amount:
- eUR 4,260 for the first child
- it increases by EUR 240.00 for each additional child.
If you are in tax class II, the relief amount is already included in your income tax during the year and has reduced it.
Details
Prerequisite
- You are a single parent. There are no other adults living in your household who contribute to the running of the household.
- At least one child for whom you are entitled to child benefit or a child allowance belongs to your household and is registered with you.
- You live in Germany or have your usual place of residence here.
The relief amount is reduced by one twelfth for each month in which the conditions were not met.
You must have your tax class II changed if you no longer fulfil the requirements in the current year. You can notify the tax office of the discontinuation of the requirements for tax class 2 via the application for income tax reduction and the income tax deduction features (main form attachment and tax class change attachment).
Non-marital partnerships and registered partnerships with children are not entitled to the relief amount for single parents because in these cases other adults who share the household management live in your household.
Procedure
The relief amount for single parents has been incorporated into the income tax table for tax class II.
If you were previously in a different tax bracket and now fulfil the requirements for the relief amount during the year, you must apply for a change of tax bracket.
To do this, use the "Application for income tax reduction and for income tax deduction features". You will find the link in the notes. You will need the main form and the children's annex for the application.
You can submit the "Application for income tax reduction and income tax deduction features" including attachments to the tax office via the online portal "My Elster". You must register for electronic transmission. Please note that the registration process can take up to two weeks.
The employer will be provided with tax class 2 as ELStAM (electronic wage tax deduction feature).
If you do not have income tax class II, you can also apply for the relief amount for single parents in your income tax return on the child annex.
Deadlines
for the current calendar year: by 30 November
Required documents
- at the birth of a child: Birth certificate
- Proof of initial education of adult children
Costs
There are no fees or other costs.
Legal basis
Einkommensteuergesetz (EStG):
- § 24b Entlastungsbetrag für Alleinerziehende
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Finanzministerium Baden-Württemberg, 31.10.2025