• • What is the tax-free Internet allowance?
  • Can I also use the Internet flat rate if I am not working from home?
  • Is the reimbursement for my Internet costs gross or net?
  • What internet costs can my employer reimburse me for?
  • How often do I have to submit proof of my internet costs?
  • Do I have to inform my employer of any changes to my contract?
  • How do I benefit from the tax-free Internet allowance as an employee?

What is the tax-free Internet allowance?

With the tax-free Internet allowance, employees receive a monthly salary supplement in the form of financial support from their employer for Internet costs at home. Employees can benefit from a tax-free salary increase of up to 50 euros per month or 600 euros net per year.

Can I also use the Internet flat rate if I am not working from home?

Yes, all employees can use the Internet allowance, regardless of whether they work from home or on site.

Is the reimbursement for my Internet costs gross or net?

Employees receive the reimbursement of the tax-free Internet allowance on a net monthly basis together with their salary payment. For example, if you have monthly flat-rate charges of 43 euros for your Internet connection and your employer reimburses you this amount, you will receive the full 43 euros per month with your salary payment.

What internet costs can my employer reimburse me for?

The internet allowance can be granted by your employer both for ongoing internet costs and for additional costs incurred. Please note, however, that the 50 euro internet allowance can only be granted for ongoing internet costs, such as flat-rate charges for the internet connection. One-off costs, such as repairs, cannot be included in the monthly flat rate. Employers can grant the internet allowance for the following expenses (private and professional):

• Set-up costs for an Internet connection
• Connection fees
• Basic fee for the Internet connection
• Flat rate fees for the Internet connection
• Costs for the router
• Costs for the modem
• Replacement of technical devices
• repairs
• and more

Alternatively, your employer can also take out an Internet contract for your home directly.

How often do I have to submit proof of my internet costs?

You must submit proof of your internet costs once a year. This must show the current internet costs over a representative period of three months. In the Probonio app, we will remind you when you need to submit proof again - so neither you nor your employer will forget. Keep in mind, however, that you must also inform your employer and submit new proof of costs if your internet contract changes.

Do I have to inform my employer about contract changes?

Yes, you must inform your employer of any changes to your internet contract. As the internet allowance can only be granted for your actual costs incurred, changes in costs must also be taken into account. In this case, you must provide your employer with proof of your expenses again, which you can do quickly and easily via the Probonio app.

How do I benefit from the tax-free Internet allowance as an employee?

With the tax-free Internet allowance, you receive a monthly salary supplement of up to 50 euros net. You can also use the internet allowance flexibly, as costs can be reimbursed for both work and private purposes. This means that you can, for example, ideally reduce your costs for Internet use in your home office, but also save high costs if you mainly work in the office.

Translation Note: This article has been translated using automatic translation software to provide the reader with a basic understanding of the content. Despite reasonable efforts to provide an accurate translation, we cannot guarantee its accuracy.

If there are any questions regarding the accuracy of the information in the translated article, please refer to the German version of the article, which is the official version.