How can you deduct your laptop and PC from your taxes?

In this article we explain how you can deduct a PC and laptop from your tax and what you need to bear in mind.

How to deduct a PC and laptop from your tax

In this section, we go into more detail about your rights and obligations when it comes to PC and laptop tax deductions.

• You can deduct an item from tax if you can prove that you need it for work.

• If you work from a home office, for example, you can deduct new purchases from your tax. In general, we recommend that you always deduct everything business-related from your tax.
  • As with all tax matters, you must of course take care to provide sufficient evidence of everything. This includes not only the receipt, but also an explanation of why this purchase was necessary for your profession.
    • If you buy an expensive gaming PC and want to deduct it from your tax bill as a work PC, this will probably not work. The rule is – the device must be able to perform the necessary work steps and should be as cheap as possible.
    • As a rule, everyone benefits from being able to deduct the study and also the work equipment from tax. This includes books, desks, lamps and just about everything you need to work.
    • If you use your PC for business purposes, it is already tax deductible. You can also do this if you use it to answer business emails.
    • Keep in mind, however, that you will not get the entire value back or deducted from your tax. You can fully deduct everything that cost a maximum of €952 including VAT. This means that the amount will be deducted in full. Everything above this amount must be depreciated over its useful life. If your laptop or PC cost more than € 952, you must provide evidence of its use over 3 years.
      As a rule, a type of logbook for daily use is sufficient as evidence for the laptop and PC. In this, you note all professional activities with date and time.

      Other work utensils tax deductible

      You can also deduct other work utensils such as printers, office chairs or specialist reading material from tax under certain conditions.

      • The same applies to other utensils: if you don’t deduct them, you are missing out on money. However, you must always prove what absolute purpose the purchase serves for your profession.
      • For example, teachers can justify an armchair in the study by using it to think about new teaching topics or to read and prepare readings for class.
      • If you want to deduct a printer and print cartridges, then you must provide comprehensible evidence of why it is important to you that they need to print in your job.
      • If you are now forced to make purchases for your home office due to the Corona crisis or other circumstances, then you should submit an extra document with your tax return. On this document you write a short explanation that you were forced to work in a home office and that the purchase was therefore necessary.
        
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