Sending Money to Family Abroad: Tax Deductions in Germany

If you live and pay taxes in Germany and regularly send money to support your family abroad, some of those payments may be deductible from your taxable income. To become eligible you will need to file an Anlage Unterhalt claim alongside your usual tax returns, covering support payments made in the calendar year that you are filing your tax returns for.

But there are important rules around who qualifies, how you send the money, and what records you keep. Here’s what to know—including how your Remitly transfer history can help you document eligible payments.

Note: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. Eligibility depends on your individual circumstances and those of the person you support. Consider consulting a qualified tax advisor (Steuerberater) or income tax assistance association (Lohnsteuerhilfeverein) before filing a claim.

Who can qualify for the deduction?

Under §33a of Germany’s Income Tax Act (EStG), certain maintenance payments (Unterhaltsleistungen) may be deductible when you’re supporting someone you’re legally obligated to support and that person meets the applicable financial-need requirements.

That distinction is important: the deduction doesn’t generally apply simply because someone is a relative or relies on your financial help.

Eligible relationships can include:

Parents and children
Grandparents and grandchildren
Spouses
Registered life partners

Payments to siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, or unmarried partners generally don’t qualify under this rule.

For 2026, the maximum deduction is €12,348 per eligible person per year. However, the amount you can actually deduct may be lower depending on factors including the recipient’s income, financial circumstances, and country of residence.

Your deduction may also be limited by the Opfergrenze (“sacrifice limit”), which is designed to ensure that your support payments are reasonable in relation to your own income. As a general rule, the deductible amount is capped at roughly 1% of your net income for every full €500 you earn, up to a maximum of 50%. This limit is reduced if you have a spouse or children to support.

Where your family member lives can affect the deduction

If the person you support lives outside Germany, the maximum deduction may be adjusted based on the cost of living in their country.

Germany’s Federal Ministry of Finance groups countries into different categories (Ländergruppen). Depending on the recipient’s country, the maximum deductible amount may be reduced to 75%, 50%, or 25% of the full amount.

For example, this can affect people in Germany who financially support family members in countries such as Turkey or India. The applicable country group determines what percentage of the standard maximum deduction you can claim, so it’s important to check the classification for the relevant tax year.

That means two people sending the same amount of financial support to eligible family members in different countries may have different deduction limits.

An important change for 2026: payments need to be traceable

Since January 1, 2025, cash payments generally no longer qualify for this deduction. Monetary maintenance payments must generally be transferred to the eligible recipient’s account.

This makes keeping clear records of when, to whom, and how much you sent especially important.

Using your Remitly transfer history for your records

If you use Remitly to support eligible family members abroad, your Remitly remittance transfer history can help document the payments you’ve made.

You can download your transfer history from the Remitly app and filter it to make your records easier to organize.

For example, you can filter your transfer history by:

Date range: Choose the calendar year you’re claiming.
Recipient: Create a separate record for each person you support.
Receive country: Helpful if you send money to family members in different countries.
Transfer status: Select Delivered so your records show transfers that were successfully completed.

You can then export your filtered transfer history as a PDF or CSV file.

If you’re preparing records for an Unterhalt claim, consider creating one export per recipient for the relevant calendar year. This can make it easier to see the individual transfers you made to that person.

What your Remitly transfer history can—and can’t—show

Your Remitly transfer history can help provide a record of your transfers, including when you sent money and the status of those transfers.

But transfer records are only one part of the documentation you may need.

The German tax authorities may also ask for an Unterhaltserklärung (maintenance declaration), information about your recipient’s income and financial circumstances, and other evidence establishing that they qualify for the deduction.

In other words, your Remitly transfer history can help document the payments you made, but it doesn’t determine whether those payments are tax deductible.

What other records should you keep?

Depending on your circumstances, supporting documentation may include:

An Unterhaltserklärung describing the recipient’s financial situation
Evidence of the recipient’s income, pension, or other financial resources
Proof of the transfers you made
Additional documents requested by the Finanzamt

Requirements can vary, particularly when supporting someone outside Germany. Consider keeping your records throughout the year rather than trying to reconstruct them when it’s time to file your tax return.

The bottom line

If you regularly send money from Germany to support an eligible family member abroad, it may be worth checking whether those payments qualify for a tax deduction under §33a EStG.

Three things are especially important: who you support, whether they meet the financial requirements, and whether your payments are traceable.

If you send money with Remitly, downloading and organizing your transfer history can give you a useful record of your remittance payments. You’ll still need to determine your eligibility and gather any other documentation required by the Finanzamt.

For advice about your individual situation, speak with a qualified German tax professional.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I deduct money I send to family abroad from my taxes in Germany?

Potentially. Under §33a EStG, certain maintenance payments to an eligible person may be deducted from taxable income. The person generally needs to be someone you’re legally obligated to support and must meet the applicable financial-need requirements.

Which family members can qualify?

Eligible relationships can include parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, spouses, and registered life partners. Other relatives, such as siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles, generally don’t qualify under this rule.

How much can I deduct for 2026?

The maximum for 2026 is €12,348 per eligible person, but that doesn’t mean everyone can deduct the full amount. The applicable limit may be reduced based on factors including the recipient’s income and country of residence.

Can I deduct cash I give to my family abroad?

Since January 1, 2025, cash payments generally no longer qualify for this deduction. Instead, maintenance payments must generally be transferred to the recipient’s account.

Can I use my Remitly transfer history as proof of my payments?

Your Remitly transfer history can form part of your payment records. You can filter your history by recipient, date range, receive country, and transfer status, then export it as a PDF or CSV.

However, your transfer history alone doesn’t establish that you or your recipient meet the requirements for a tax deduction. Additional documentation may be required.

Do I need to claim the deduction every year?

Yes. The deduction relates to support provided during a particular tax year, so the relevant Anlage Unterhalt is filed with the tax return for that year.