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Deduct tax consulting costs: 5 tips for 2025
Whether for accounting, annual financial statements or tax returns: Anyone who outsources tasks to the tax advisor quickly pays several hundred or thousands of euros per year. However, you can deduct many of these tax advice costs and thus significantly reduce your tax burden.
We'll show you which costs are deductible, how to enter them correctly and what you should pay attention to when doing so.
Book a free consultation nowWe'll show you which costs are deductible, how to enter them correctly and what you should pay attention to when doing so.
All tax advisory services are provided by Integral Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH, Zionskirchstraße 75, 10119 Berlin.
Key takeaways
Tax consulting costs: This includes costs for advice, tax returns, annual financial statements and start-up
Registration: Tax consulting costs are entered in Appendix N in the private sector and in Annex EUER in the operational sector
Tax advice:
The exchange with experts helps you get the most out of your tax
The exchange with experts helps you get the most out of your tax
Input tax:
If you are subject to sales tax, you can claim the input tax on your tax consulting costs
If you are subject to sales tax, you can claim the input tax on your tax consulting costs
Documentation:
Keep all documents and ensure that everything remains comprehensible.
Keep all documents and ensure that everything remains comprehensible.
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What are tax consulting costs?
Tax advice costs include the costs that are directly related to your tax advice stand. At first glance, these are expenses that reduce your profit. On the other hand, you can, for example, many of your Tax advisor costs Set off and save money.
Tax advice costs that you can deduct include:
· Tax return costs: For example, when your tax advisor prepares your income tax, business tax or sales tax return.
· General tax advice: Many seek regular advice on possible tax optimizations. These consulting costs are also considered deductible.
· Current accounting and financial statements: Anyone who outsources accounting or annual financial statements can usually claim the costs incurred for this for tax purposes.
· Support during tax audits: If your company is audited, your tax advisor often takes over the communication with the tax office. The costs incurred for this are also deductible tax advice costs.
· Advice on setting up a company: Tax advice before and during incorporation, for example on choosing the legal form, is also deductible in many cases, provided that there is a specific connection to the subsequent company.
Tax advice costs that you can deduct include:
· Tax return costs: For example, when your tax advisor prepares your income tax, business tax or sales tax return.
· General tax advice: Many seek regular advice on possible tax optimizations. These consulting costs are also considered deductible.
· Current accounting and financial statements: Anyone who outsources accounting or annual financial statements can usually claim the costs incurred for this for tax purposes.
· Support during tax audits: If your company is audited, your tax advisor often takes over the communication with the tax office. The costs incurred for this are also deductible tax advice costs.
· Advice on setting up a company: Tax advice before and during incorporation, for example on choosing the legal form, is also deductible in many cases, provided that there is a specific connection to the subsequent company.
Hire a tax advisor: These costs can be deducted
Are tax consulting expenses deductible? Yes, but not as a general rule. Only certain services are actually covered by the deductible costs. Anyone who wants to deduct tax advisor fees should carefully check Which expenses are initiated by the company — and where they are correctly entered in the tax return. In this section, we'll show you which tax consulting costs you can claim for tax purposes.
The costs of preparing the tax return
This is one of the most important tasks of a tax advisor: Preparing the tax return. Here are the Tax advisor costs usually deductible. For example, if you ask your tax advisor to prepare your income tax return, you can deduct the corresponding amount.
Tax advice on topics such as “tax optimization” and more
If you're wondering whether you might still be able to save taxes, it may be worthwhile to sit down with your tax advisor. This type of tax consulting expenses is also deductible. On the basis of sound advice, you can optimize your tax burden in many cases.
Costs incurred as part of ongoing bookkeeping and annual financial statements
You can also deduct these costs as expenses. This is an important detail that is particularly relevant for self-employed people, freelancers and companies who regularly seek support from a tax advisor and questions for all areas of accounting.
Costs of accompanying a tax audit
A tax advisor can help you go to a tax audit more relaxed. He answers the auditing authority's questions and serves as the first point of contact when it comes to preparing everything properly. You can also deduct the additional costs that become relevant as a result of the said tax audit.
Advice on the topic of “starting a business”
The topic of “taxes” becomes relevant early on, often before the actual founding of a company. To ensure that you are well positioned here, it is often recommended to work with a tax advisor early on. The costs arising from this include deductible costs, for example for advice on the choice of legal form or tax registration. You can find more information about this here: Tax advisor for setting up a business.
Costs of tax advice as part of criminal tax proceedings
Costs of defense in criminal tax proceedings may be deductible if the allegation is operationally caused, for example, during a tax audit or a reduction in turnover in the company. In the case of purely private matters, deductibility does not apply.
Costs for tax programs and software
Accounting and tax programs are deductible operating expenses — provided that they are used exclusively for business purposes. This applies, for example, to tools for income surplus accounting, document management or digital accounting. General software solutions with mixed use can only be deducted proportionally.
Make sure to clearly document professional use and all relevant documents to upload.
Note: We show the specific benefits and service offerings of our Tax advice for GmbH or UG for you on.
The costs of preparing the tax return
This is one of the most important tasks of a tax advisor: Preparing the tax return. Here are the Tax advisor costs usually deductible. For example, if you ask your tax advisor to prepare your income tax return, you can deduct the corresponding amount.
Tax advice on topics such as “tax optimization” and more
If you're wondering whether you might still be able to save taxes, it may be worthwhile to sit down with your tax advisor. This type of tax consulting expenses is also deductible. On the basis of sound advice, you can optimize your tax burden in many cases.
Costs incurred as part of ongoing bookkeeping and annual financial statements
You can also deduct these costs as expenses. This is an important detail that is particularly relevant for self-employed people, freelancers and companies who regularly seek support from a tax advisor and questions for all areas of accounting.
Costs of accompanying a tax audit
A tax advisor can help you go to a tax audit more relaxed. He answers the auditing authority's questions and serves as the first point of contact when it comes to preparing everything properly. You can also deduct the additional costs that become relevant as a result of the said tax audit.
Advice on the topic of “starting a business”
The topic of “taxes” becomes relevant early on, often before the actual founding of a company. To ensure that you are well positioned here, it is often recommended to work with a tax advisor early on. The costs arising from this include deductible costs, for example for advice on the choice of legal form or tax registration. You can find more information about this here: Tax advisor for setting up a business.
Costs of tax advice as part of criminal tax proceedings
Costs of defense in criminal tax proceedings may be deductible if the allegation is operationally caused, for example, during a tax audit or a reduction in turnover in the company. In the case of purely private matters, deductibility does not apply.
Costs for tax programs and software
Accounting and tax programs are deductible operating expenses — provided that they are used exclusively for business purposes. This applies, for example, to tools for income surplus accounting, document management or digital accounting. General software solutions with mixed use can only be deducted proportionally.
Make sure to clearly document professional use and all relevant documents to upload.
Note: We show the specific benefits and service offerings of our Tax advice for GmbH or UG for you on.
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Where and how are tax costs entered?
In order for you to be able to claim your tax consulting costs, you must of course enter them in your tax return as a first step. Depending on whether you pay your tax as a private person or as a trader, these fall within the range of advertising costs or business expenses.
Tax advisor deduct costs: What applies to the income tax return?
As a private person, you wear your Tax consulting costs usually in the area”advertising costs“or “other advertising costs” if they are related to income from non-self-employed work.
· Form: Appendix N
You enter the relevant expenditure in Appendix N. Advertising costs relating to income from non-self-employed work are listed there.
· Line 46: Other advertising costs
In line 46, for example, you can enter costs for tax advice if they relate to your salary or other professional topics.
Note: Costs for purely private advice, such as asset management, are not deductible. Only the professionally initiated share counts as advertising costs.
Claim tax consulting costs as operating expenses
If you are self-employed or run a company, you can pay tax advice costs as Operating expenses Deduct — provided that they are related to your entrepreneurial activity.
· Form: EUER attachment
If your company submits a surplus income statement, enter the tax consulting costs in the EUER attachment.
· Line 47: Operating Expenses
In line 47, you enter the costs that have been incurred, for example, for ongoing bookkeeping, annual financial statements or company tax returns.
Tax consulting costs in the sales tax return
When you go to Input tax deduction eligible Are, can you the sales tax shown in the tax advisor bill as Claim input tax.
· form: Sales tax return
You pay the corresponding input tax in line 66 one — provided that the service is related to your company and that you have a proper invoice.
Important: As Small business owners in accordance with § 19 UStG You are excluded from deducting input tax. In this case, you cannot claim sales tax.
In any case, it is important that an independent auditor can understand exactly why you have claimed which costs. Therefore, keep all documents that document your tax consulting costs. The tax office could request the documents retrospectively. Of course, the invoice that your tax advisor writes to you is particularly important. Or in other words: Only with reckoning Can you your Deduct tax advisor costs.
Tax advisor deduct costs: What applies to the income tax return?
As a private person, you wear your Tax consulting costs usually in the area”advertising costs“or “other advertising costs” if they are related to income from non-self-employed work.
· Form: Appendix N
You enter the relevant expenditure in Appendix N. Advertising costs relating to income from non-self-employed work are listed there.
· Line 46: Other advertising costs
In line 46, for example, you can enter costs for tax advice if they relate to your salary or other professional topics.
Note: Costs for purely private advice, such as asset management, are not deductible. Only the professionally initiated share counts as advertising costs.
Claim tax consulting costs as operating expenses
If you are self-employed or run a company, you can pay tax advice costs as Operating expenses Deduct — provided that they are related to your entrepreneurial activity.
· Form: EUER attachment
If your company submits a surplus income statement, enter the tax consulting costs in the EUER attachment.
· Line 47: Operating Expenses
In line 47, you enter the costs that have been incurred, for example, for ongoing bookkeeping, annual financial statements or company tax returns.
Tax consulting costs in the sales tax return
When you go to Input tax deduction eligible Are, can you the sales tax shown in the tax advisor bill as Claim input tax.
· form: Sales tax return
You pay the corresponding input tax in line 66 one — provided that the service is related to your company and that you have a proper invoice.
Important: As Small business owners in accordance with § 19 UStG You are excluded from deducting input tax. In this case, you cannot claim sales tax.
In any case, it is important that an independent auditor can understand exactly why you have claimed which costs. Therefore, keep all documents that document your tax consulting costs. The tax office could request the documents retrospectively. Of course, the invoice that your tax advisor writes to you is particularly important. Or in other words: Only with reckoning Can you your Deduct tax advisor costs.
These are the benefits of a tax advisor
Working with a tax advisor offers many benefits. Most are likely to find the following factors particularly compelling:
On the one hand, this means that a tax advisor costs money, on the other hand, he offers you professional support, which in turn allows you to save money and is on the safe side for tax purposes.
Integral services at a glance
Regardless of whether you are a start-up or an established company — with Integral, our partner tax advisors provide you with a tax advisor service that covers accounting, tax returns and annual financial statements.
Tax advice
Bookkeeping
Payroll
Financial statements & tax return
All tax consulting services are provided by Integral Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH, Zionskirchstraße 75, 10119 Berlin.
An example:
General accounting:
· Accounting documents (digital or on paper)
· Documents
· Totals and Balance Lists (SuSa)
· Business Analyses (BWA)
Tax documents:
· Submitted and pending tax returns
· Tax assessments
· Correspondence with the tax office
Digital data:
· DATEV data (client inventory, account framework, etc.)
· Login data or access rights for accounting tools
Payroll (if applicable):
· Payslips
· Payroll accounts
· Social security reports
A change of tax advisor is often the logical consequence — for example in the case of poor advice, lack of digitization or non-transparent costs. The reasons for this are manifold, but almost always relate to the quality and efficiency of cooperation.auf den Seiten der Bundessteuerberaterkammer.
Still looking for the right tax advice?
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Statutory regulations and limits
Whether and to what extent tax consulting costs can be deducted is clearly regulated by law. Even though you may not completely take care of your tax yourself, it is important to know the appropriate framework conditions. With the necessary background knowledge, you can do everything correctly. The following are some of the most important legal requirements.
Section 4 paragraph 5 EStG
If you are self-employed or entrepreneurial, your tax consulting costs are considered as Operating expenses, as long as they serve to run your company. This includes, for example, costs for accounting, annual financial statements or company tax returns.
Section 9 EStG
Private individuals can pay tax advice fees only then Discontinue when you are using the Generating income correlations — for example, in the case of expenditure relating to the preparation of an income tax return with professional relevance. This expenditure is considered to be advertising costs.
Tax Code (AO)
According to the tax code, you are required to provide evidence of tax-relevant expenditure. In order for tax advice costs to be recognized, you definitely need a proper invoice. If it is not available, the tax office can refuse to deduct it.
In tax law, we speak of a so-called “mixed cause” when tax consulting costs include both professional and private shares. In such cases, only the professional or business share is tax deductible — either as advertising costs or as operating expenses. The prerequisite is a comprehensible distribution of benefits, for example through an itemized invoice.
Important: Tax consulting fees that are exclusively for private purposes are not deductible. These include, for example, costs for advice in connection with private asset management or for preparing gift tax returns.
Important: Tax consulting fees that are exclusively for private purposes are not deductible. These include, for example, costs for advice in connection with private asset management or for preparing gift tax returns.
How to optimally deduct tax consulting costs: 5 tips
Would you like to deduct your tax consulting costs and get the most out of your options? Then consider the following tips:
1. Collect all relevant costs and document the corresponding processes.
This includes keeping all invoices from your tax advisor, even smaller amounts. Anything that has to do with tax advice can be relevant. Anything that has to do with your tax advice can be relevant here.
2. Distinguish between private and commercial tax consulting costs.
As a rule, you can only deduct your tax consulting costs as operating expenses if they are related to your business activity. However, if private shares are also involved, you can usually still sell a certain commercial share. Your tax advisor can help you make a clean separation.
3. Get tax advice.
Your tax advisor certainly still has ideas on how you can optimize the deductibility of your costs. It can be useful to consult regularly in order to identify new potential.
4. Ask your tax advisor to address the invoices they send to you directly to your company.
In this way, you ensure that it is clear from the outset that the services relate to business purposes.
5. (if available) Check whether you can also deduct consulting costs abroad
Working abroad? International consulting costs can also be deductible under certain conditions, for example if they are directly related to your company or a double taxation agreement.
You are not satisfied with your tax advisor and want to terminate and alternate? No problem! You are not bound to a specific service provider. Switching is usually very straightforward. A lot of information on taxes and accounting can also be found on the website of the Federal Chamber of Tax Advisors, among others.
Free information sessionThis includes keeping all invoices from your tax advisor, even smaller amounts. Anything that has to do with tax advice can be relevant. Anything that has to do with your tax advice can be relevant here.
2. Distinguish between private and commercial tax consulting costs.
As a rule, you can only deduct your tax consulting costs as operating expenses if they are related to your business activity. However, if private shares are also involved, you can usually still sell a certain commercial share. Your tax advisor can help you make a clean separation.
3. Get tax advice.
Your tax advisor certainly still has ideas on how you can optimize the deductibility of your costs. It can be useful to consult regularly in order to identify new potential.
4. Ask your tax advisor to address the invoices they send to you directly to your company.
In this way, you ensure that it is clear from the outset that the services relate to business purposes.
5. (if available) Check whether you can also deduct consulting costs abroad
Working abroad? International consulting costs can also be deductible under certain conditions, for example if they are directly related to your company or a double taxation agreement.
You are not satisfied with your tax advisor and want to terminate and alternate? No problem! You are not bound to a specific service provider. Switching is usually very straightforward. A lot of information on taxes and accounting can also be found on the website of the Federal Chamber of Tax Advisors, among others.
Conclusion: Use and deduct tax consulting costs in a targeted manner
By deducting your tax consulting costs, you can sometimes significantly reduce your tax burden. In any case, make sure to collect all relevant costs (and the associated documents) and differentiate precisely between private and commercial costs.
The costs incurred as part of income tax returns, start-up advice and investment advice are deductible in many cases. In addition, you can often claim additional services, such as tax returns for company start-ups or international advice, and thus get the most out of your tax options.
Set off your tax consulting costs — optimize now with a tax advisor!
The costs incurred as part of income tax returns, start-up advice and investment advice are deductible in many cases. In addition, you can often claim additional services, such as tax returns for company start-ups or international advice, and thus get the most out of your tax options.
Set off your tax consulting costs — optimize now with a tax advisor!
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