Child benefit (“Kindergeld” – in German) is financial support that parents can apply for from the German state to ensure that their children are provided for. It is paid from the time of birth to the age of 18 and is aimed in particular at families with low and medium incomes.
Parents receive child benefit regularly during a calendar year. As part of the annual income tax assessment, the tax office automatically checks whether the child benefit paid out or the child allowance is more favorable for the parents – an additional application is not required.
In this article, you can find out how to cancel your child benefit if you leave Germany. We also clarify all other important details about child benefit in Germany, such as who gets how much child benefit, can I also receive German child benefit abroad and many other questions.
Key Points
- Child benefit (Kindergeld) can be canceled in Germany if the eligibility requirements are no longer met.
- Notice of termination of child benefit must be submitted in writing to the relevant family benefits office.
- The necessary documents are an informal letter of termination and, if applicable, proof of changed circumstances.
- The processing time can take several weeks.
How can I cancel Kindergeld in Germany?
The entitlement to child benefit generally ceases when you leave Germany. It is important that you deregister with the relevant family benefits office before you leave, as deregistration with the residents’ registration office alone is not sufficient. You are legally obliged to report changes in your living circumstances in order to avoid receiving child benefit unlawfully.
Your steps to deregister child benefit:
- Obligation to notify: Inform the family benefits office about your changed circumstances. If you were receiving child benefit but are no longer entitled to it due to emigration, you must report this.
- Deregistration or change of citizenship: If you deregister from Germany or change your citizenship, you will lose your entitlement to child benefit. The tax authorities are not automatically informed in these cases, so you are obliged to take action yourself.
- How to cancel your child benefit: Contact your relevant family benefits office and inform them in writing that you are no longer entitled to child benefit from the relevant date. Enclose the confirmation of residence deregistration or proof of your expatriation with the letter.
- Secure dispatch: Send the letter by registered post with acknowledgement of receipt to ensure that the authority receives your notification. Keep the registered letter in a safe place so that you can prove that you have fulfilled your obligation to register in good time in case of doubt.
With Deregistration.de you can cancel your child benefit and complete the entire process online. Immediate notification to the relevant family benefits office is important to avoid penalties or reclaims. This applies not only to child benefit, but also to other social benefits such as ALG, Hartz IV or housing benefit.
“Don’t forget to cancel your Kindergeld in Germany in good time! If you continue to receive payments without authorization, it can quickly become expensive – the amounts often reach four-figure sums.”
– Oliver Frankfurth
Can I receive child benefit despite moving abroad?
You may still be entitled to child benefit even if you move abroad, but this depends on various specific conditions. Below you will find detailed information on the cases in which child benefit can be received despite emigration and what you should be aware of.
German child benefit for people who live or work abroad
In order to continue to be entitled to German child benefit as a German citizen residing abroad, the following conditions must be met:
- Unlimited tax liability in Germany: if you continue to be subject to unlimited tax liability in Germany or are treated accordingly, you will continue to be entitled. Unlimited tax liability means that you must pay tax on your entire income in Germany.
- Limited tax liability and employment subject to social insurance: Child benefit can be received as a social benefit under the Federal Child Benefit Act even if you live abroad and are subject to limited tax liability in Germany (see also: Federal Employment Agency).
Beneficiaries with limited tax liability in Germany:
Persons with limited tax liability can receive child benefit if they meet one of the following conditions:
- You are in a compulsory insurance relationship with the Federal Employment Agency.
- You work as a development worker or missionary.
- You are employed or self-employed in Germany or receive a pension under German law.
- You are a citizen of an EU/EEA member state and live in one of these countries.
Entitlement to child benefit in several countries
It can happen that a child is entitled to family benefits in several countries. In such cases, the order of responsibility is based on employment, pension or place of residence. Priority is given to the country in which the employment or self-employment is exercised. If a child can claim child benefit in more than one country, the country in which the child lives is responsible.
Equalization of child benefit for different amounts
The competent state pays the full amount of child benefit. If the child benefit in the responsible state is lower than in Germany, the German child benefit fund usually pays the difference to ensure full entitlement. This ensures that the family receives full support, regardless of where they live or work.
Child benefit when leaving Germany: When does the entitlement expire?
In principle, the entitlement to child benefit expires if you want to leave Germany. Before you move you must actively deregister with the relevant family benefits office, as residence deregistration at your local citizen’s office is not sufficient. If you live in a non-European country and knowingly continue to receive child benefit, you are committing a criminal offense of tax evasion. If the family benefits office becomes aware of the unlawful receipt through a data comparison with the registration authorities, the criminal and fines office can initiate criminal tax proceedings.
Self-disclosure in the event of unlawful receipt of Kindergeld in Germany
To avoid criminal proceedings, you can make a voluntary declaration to the family benefits office to avoid prosecution. You must be particularly careful when doing this: an incomplete or late voluntary declaration does not exempt you from prosecution. You are obliged to repay the amount of child benefit you have wrongly received since you emigrated.
In addition, interest of 6% p.a. may be due on the amount. Timely reporting and correct information are crucial to avoid penalties and high repayments.
Frequent misunderstandings about child benefit in Germany
It is often assumed that Kindergeld in Germany is paid just because you are a German citizen. However, this is a widespread misunderstanding. Entitlement to child benefit does not depend on citizenship, but on tax liability in Germany .
Child benefit as a tax benefit
Child benefit is not a direct social benefit, but a tax benefit and therefore an advance tax payment for taxpayers. This means that anyone who does not pay taxes in Germany is not entitled to child benefit. This applies regardless of how long you have worked in Germany in the past. As soon as you are no longer liable to pay tax, you are no longer entitled to child benefit.
No payment based on previous work in Germany
Another misconception is that it is possible to receive child benefit on the basis of previous employment in Germany. This is wrong: child benefit is only paid as long as you are liable to pay tax in Germany. Even if you have worked in Germany for many years, you are no longer entitled as soon as you live abroad and pay taxes there.
Reclaims in the event of changes in circumstances
Child benefit can and will be reclaimed if you fail to comply with your obligation to register in the event of a change in circumstances. It is therefore essential to inform the family benefits office immediately of any changes, such as moving abroad, in order to avoid high reclaims.
Kindergeld: a benefit for parents, not for children
Important to know: Child benefit is not a benefit for the children, but support for the parents. It is only paid if the children live in the parents’ or grandparents’ household. If the parents pay taxes abroad and the children live in Germany, there is no entitlement to child benefit.
How to apply for Kindergeld in Germany:
The application for child benefit (Kindergeld) must be submitted in writing to the relevant family benefits office. In cross-border cases, the forms “Antrag auf Kindergeld (KG 1)”, “Anlage Kind” and “Anlage Ausland (KG 51)” are required. Alternatively, applications for family benefits can also be submitted to the competent family benefits office abroad at the applicant’s place of residence. In such cases, the domestic and foreign family benefits offices will clarify who is primarily or secondarily responsible.
It is best to submit the application to the family benefits office of the Federal Employment Agency immediately after the birth of your child. The application can be made in three steps:
- Fill in online: Complete the application for child benefit online and send it to the family benefits office in advance in encrypted form.
- Print and sign: Print out the application and sign it.
- Submit by post: Send the signed application by post to the family benefits office.
Note: A new application is not necessary every year. As long as there are no changes, the family benefits office will continue to pay the child benefit. However, you are obliged to inform the Family Benefits Office of any changes such as moving house or changes in your living situation.
Eligibility for child benefit
- As a general rule, children are entitled to child benefit until the age of 18. During vocational training, child benefit can be paid up to the age of 25.
- Extension through voluntary service: The entitlement can be extended through a voluntary social or ecological year, federal voluntary service or other regulated voluntary services.
- Disabled children: Disabled children are entitled to child benefit beyond the age of 25 if they are unable to support themselves.
Obligation to notify of changes
If you have applied for child benefit, you are obliged to inform the Family Benefits Office immediately of any changes in your circumstances. This includes
- You or another benefit recipient is sent abroad by their employer.
- You receive a pension or your pension ends.
- Your child moves abroad or back to Germany.
- Your child leaves the previous household.
By notifying us of these changes in good time, you can prevent reclaims or other problems from occurring.
How much is Kindergeld in Germany 2024?
Child benefit in Germany will be a flat rate of 250 euros per month and child in 2024.
This rule applies regardless of the number of children and replaces the previous scale, where the amount varied depending on the number of children. This change is intended to standardize and improve family support in Germany
Who receives child benefit and how much?
Child benefit is paid to parents who live in Germany and are liable for tax here. Foreign nationals who work in Germany or receive certain social benefits are also entitled to child benefit under certain conditions. Child benefit is generally paid to the legal guardians, not the children themselves, and is intended as financial support for the family.
In 2023, the state paid out around 47.9 billion euros in child benefit for around 16.6 million children to ease the financial burden on families.
Even if you are a foreign national, you can receive child benefit if you live in Germany and meet one of the following requirements:
- You are an EU/EEA citizen or a citizen of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland or the United Kingdom.
- You are a citizen of Algeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Morocco, Montenegro, Serbia, Tunisia or Turkey. Then you must also work in Germany and pay contributions to pension, health and unemployment insurance. Even if you receive unemployment benefit or sickness benefit, you can still receive child benefit for your children.
- You have an appropriate settlement or residence permit to work in Germany.
- You are an incontestably recognized refugee or a person entitled to asylum.
In order to better support families, child benefit was increased by 15 euros per child from January 1, 2021. Child benefit will remain unchanged in 2024.
Child benefit is directly related to the child allowance. You cannot receive child benefit and deduct the entire child allowance from your taxes. The tax office offsets the child benefit already paid against the tax advantage resulting from the child benefit – more on this below.
Child benefit is granted from the month of birth, even if the application can be submitted later (up to six months). Child benefit is granted for each month in which the child was entitled to child benefit for at least one day. For example, if the child was born on May 31, the parents will receive the total amount of child benefit for the entire month of May.
If the child for whom child benefit is to be claimed is already of legal age, the child benefit office must check whether the requirements are met, which you can read about under “Child benefit for adults”.
In principle, it is not the children but their legal guardians who are entitled to child benefit. In addition to biological parents, foster parents, adoptive parents or grandparents may also be entitled to child benefit.
The main requirement is that the person entitled to child benefit is resident or ordinarily resident in Germany and has taken the child for whom he/she is claiming child benefit into his/her household. You can find more information under Entitlement to child benefit.
Retroactive payment of child benefit
Please note: The family benefits office only pays child benefit retrospectively for six months – from receipt of the application (§ 70 Para. 1 EStG).
Let’s assume that the family benefits office has retroactively assessed child benefit beyond the six months in the notification. In this case, it must also pay out the money for the entire period (BFH, judgment of February 19, 2020, case no. III R 66/18).
Tax identification number
Since 2016, the family benefits office has needed your tax identification number and that of your child for processing. If you cannot find the numbers in your documents, you can have them sent to you again. To do this, use the entry form on the website of the Federal Central Tax Office.
Child benefit and child allowance
Child allowances reduce income tax and can be claimed in addition to child benefit.
Since 2024, the allowance amounts to 3,192 euros per parent and 6,384 euros for jointly assessed spouses. In addition, there is an allowance for care, education or training needs of 1,464 euros, or 2,928 euros for spouses.
The tax office will check whether the child benefit or the tax-free allowance is more favorable for you. In principle, the child benefit already paid is offset against the tax advantage, so that the tax-free allowance is often only more advantageous if you have a higher income.
Child supplement: additional support on top of child benefit
If the family’s income is not sufficient, parents can receive child supplement in addition to child benefit. The child supplement is granted for up to 6 months and must then be reapplied for.
Prerequisites:
- The child lives in the household, is under 25 years old and unmarried.
- Entitlement to child benefit exists.
- The family’s gross income must be at least 900 euros (couples) or 600 euros (single parents).
- Child supplement and housing benefit would be sufficient to cover family maintenance.
Amount and payment:
- Up to 292 euros per month per child.
- The child supplement is paid out together with the child benefit.
- No retroactive payment possible.
An application can be submitted online to the family benefits office.
Please keep in mind that we do our best to provide credible and up-to-date information, but we are not an official advisor (in the sense of the Legal Services Act, RDG) for taxes, legal matters, and the like. Our service does not replace an individual consultation with legal assistance, and we provide digital tools and automated workflows to assist with the residence deregistration and related necessary steps.
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