What must I report to the Familienkasse?
Everything that is material to the entitlement. The most important cases: ending or abandoning training, taking up economic activity of more than 20 hours a week after completing initial training, the child moving to a different household, moving – including abroad –, a longer stay abroad by the child, the child marrying, and changes to address and bank details. Hardly anyone knows this list in full, and that is precisely where most repayment claims come from.
How quickly must I report it?
Immediately, that is without culpable delay – not accumulated and reported at year end. The reason is purely a matter of arithmetic: for every month in which payment was made wrongly, a repayment claim of €259 per child arises. A change in February reported in December results in a claim covering ten months, so around €2,590 – due as a single lump sum.
My child has started a part-time job. Must I report this?
If they have already completed a first vocational training or a first degree: absolutely. Under § 32 Abs. 4 EStG, the child then only continues to count if they do not engage in economic activity – what remains permitted is at most 20 hours a week, a training relationship or marginal employment. A job with 25 hours ends the entitlement, even if the child is studying for a master's degree. Before the first training is completed, by contrast, the extent of the economic activity plays no role.
What happens in the case of a repayment claim?
The Familienkasse determines the overpaid Kindergeld by means of a notice and claims it back. There are two things you should know in that case. First: you can lodge an objection within one month against the notice, free of charge. Above all, check the period and whether an earlier report by you was overlooked – periods are prone to error. Second: independently of the objection, a payment by instalments is possible. You must, however, ask for it; it is rarely offered of its own accord.
Is it worth reporting changes in my favour?
Yes, and quickly. A second child, the start of training after a gap, or the child returning to your household all increase the entitlement. But here too the six-month limit of § 70 EStG applies: a retrospective payment is made only for the last six months before the month of the report. Anyone who waits a year gives away half a year – for one child, more than €1,500.
Must I report a move if the entitlement itself does not change?
Yes, and the reason is a practical one. The Familienkasse regularly requests evidence – especially for children over 18. These letters are sent to the address on file. If no reply comes, payment is suspended, and resuming it is again subject to the six-month limit. An unreported move can therefore cost you money, even though the entitlement itself has not changed.
How do I report the change?
Most easily online via the Familienkasse portal; alternatively with the ‘Veränderungsmitteilung’ (change notification) form. Two things matter: the Kindergeld number, which appears on every notice and without which the notification cannot be matched, and the evidence – training certificate, employment contract stating the number of weekly hours, registration certificate. A notification without evidence only triggers a query, while payments continue.
Why should I keep the confirmation?
Because it proves when you reported it – and this date is exactly what decides, in a dispute, the period for which a failure to report can be held against you. If the Familienkasse later asserts a repayment claim for a period in which you had already reported, the confirmation of receipt is your only solid evidence. Save it as a PDF, not just as a screenshot.
