Minijob in Germany – Does it have to be reported in the tax return?

When reviewing job offers in Germany, you may come across the concept of so-called “mini-jobs.” Although the overall remuneration for this type of employment is not subject to taxation, there are some tricks to keep in mind. Does a mini-job need to be included in the tax return? We answer the most important questions – please read on.

When do we talk about mini-jobs in Germany?

The number of mini-jobbers is increasing year by year. They perform various activities in companies, organizations, or households in Germany. But who exactly are these people? When can we talk about mini-jobs in Germany?

In Germany, a job is considered a mini-job if a person engaged in such work earns no more than 556 € per month (a maximum of 6672 € per year) regardless of the number of hours worked. Since the German minimum wage will be 12.82 € gross per hour from January 2025, a mini-jobber may work a maximum of 43 hours per month. If the wage is higher, these hours must be reduced accordingly.

Mini-jobs and tax returns in Germany – Is such a wage taxable?

“Mini-jobs vs. tax returns, “income tax on mini-jobs,” “deducting mini-jobs in the tax return” – These are just some aspects mini-jobbers think about every year.

You already know that you can earn up to 556 € in a mini-job, which means this income is not subject to tax or social security contributions. However, it is subject to pension insurance (from 2013), so you get slightly less than this 520 € per month.

Is there a mini-job income tax in this case in Germany? Do you have to submit a tax return for the mini-job?

Do you have to pay income tax on your mini-job in Germany? Yes – and it is paid to the mini-job center. The tax generally paid by the employer includes a lump sum of taxes and social security contributions for the mini-job relationship. In this case, you do not have to worry about anything as an employee, and you do not need to include your earnings in your annual tax return.

556 € for work in the tax return? Are there situations where you have to submit a tax return to the office?

You already know that everyone who has a mini-job pays taxes, even though the wage itself is not taxable (as it does not exceed the tax allowance in Germany, which is 12,096 euros in 2025).

Thus, one might think that a tax return for a mini-job need not be submitted to the office. However, it is worth knowing that whether there is an obligation to account to the tax office does not depend on the mini-job, but on other tax features.

If you work as a mini-jobber, you generally do not have to submit a tax return and therefore do not have to include your 556 euro job in the tax return. However, if you are taxable for other reasons, such as joint assessment with your spouse, you must submit a tax return – but you do not have to report your mini-job.

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If you want to stay informed about tax matters in Germany, we recommend following our tax blog. However, if you need help submitting your tax return to the tax office, use our Taxando tax return app.

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