When Mrs. M. returned home after hip surgery, she quickly realized that it wasn’t just shopping and cleaning that had suddenly become too much for her. The small garden behind the house had also become overgrown within a few weeks. This was distressing for the 82-year-old, as the daily view of the greenery had always been a part of her daily routine.
Her daughter therefore wondered:
Can the tax credit also be used for gardening work?
The answer is: It depends on what kind of work is involved, who is doing it, and which state you live in. This is exactly where confusion often arises.
What exactly is the tax credit?
People with care levels 1 through 5 are entitled to the so-called carerelief allowance. Currently, 131 euros per month is available for this purpose, amounting to up to 1,572 euros per year.
This amount is primarily intended to provide relief to family members and make daily life at home easier for those in need of care.
Many families don't find out until it's too late.
Take Mr. M., for example, who cared for his mother, who required nursing care, on his own for years. It wasn’t until he spoke with a care counselor that he learned certain everyday services could be reimbursed by the long-term care insurance fund. Since then, his mother has been receiving regular help with household chores, and Mr. M. has finally been able to catch his breath.
That's exactly what it's all about:
So that staying at home remains an option.
Can gardening services be paid for using the tax deduction?
Here's the most important information first:
Traditional gardening is not directly eligible for tax relief in many states. These include, for example:
- Mowing the lawn
- Hedge trimming
- Weed removal
- Leaf work
- major maintenance or repair work
In some state regulations, such activities are even expressly prohibited.
When Gardening Is Still Possible
The situation is different if the work involves providing care.
This means:
The focus is not on gardening, but on supporting and engaging the person in need of care.
An example from everyday life:
Mrs. M. loved her small garden, but after falling ill, she could barely move around outside on her own. An everyday companion therefore helped her water the flowers and tend to the herbs. This activity was not classified as a “gardening service,” but rather as supportive daily care.
Depending on the state and the provider, such supervised gardening activities may be eligible for reimbursement.
What requirements must be met?
In order for services to be billed against the relief amount, certain conditions must be met:
- A care level must be assigned
Starting at Care Level 1 , you are entitled to the relief allowance.
- Support must be provided at home
The services must be provided in the home environment.
- The provider must be accredited
This is especially important.
Not all private care services can be billed directly to the long-term care insurance fund. The following are often covered:
- approved everyday companions
- recognized support services
- registered neighborhood assistance groups
- certain care services
Which providers are authorized varies by state.
Many people confuse the tax credit with tax benefits
This is where uncertainty often arises.
This is because, while gardening work is often only partially eligible for the tax deduction, many gardening services are tax-deductible.
This applies, for example, to:
- regular garden maintenance
- Mowing the lawn
- Hedge trimming
- Garden Bed Care
- Leaf Removal
These costs are often classified as household-related services.
Get the support that suits you.
Contact us now and we will get back to you as soon as possible!
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How much is the tax savings?
In many cases, for household-related services:
- 20% of labor costs
- up to a maximum of 4,000 euros per year
are tax-deductible.
Important to note:
- The invoice must be properly issued
- Labor and material costs must be listed separately
- Payment must be made by bank transfer
- The tax office generally does not accept cash payments
Common mistakes that family members should avoid
Many families assume that “gardening” will automatically be taken care of. That is precisely what often leads to disappointment later on.
Common problems include:
- unauthorized providers
- missing invoices
- Cash payments
- vague service descriptions
- Confusion between care services and tax breaks
Even larger garden renovations are usually not eligible for funding.
What really helps family members in practice
One of our daughters once told us:
“My mother didn’t want to go into a nursing home under any circumstances. But at some point, it all just became too much—housework, shopping, keeping things organized. It was only with help with her daily routine that she was able to continue living at home.”
Many families find themselves in exactly these kinds of situations. Often, it’s not just about individual tasks like yard work, but rather the question:
How can we still manage our daily lives overall?
That is why it is worth looking beyond individual services and examining the overall support situation:
It is often possible to combine several forms of assistance in a practical way.
The most important decision-making guide at a glance
The tax deduction may be worthwhile if …
- if a care level has been assigned
- take advantage of recognized support services
- Gardening activities are supervised
Tax deductibility is more appropriate when …
- a landscaping service or gardener is hired
- regular maintenance work is carried out
- the costs are covered privately
These are two different funding channels, and they should be clearly distinguished from one another.
Our advice: Have it checked early on
Many benefits go unused simply because families aren't aware of the options available to them.
Often, a brief conversation is all it takes to get some clarity:
- What services does the long-term care insurance fund cover?
- What kind of support is available in everyday life?
- Which expenses are tax-deductible?
- What services are available in each state?
Tell us about your situation; together, we can often find a solution faster than many people think.
