Your appraisal is prepared by experts who are approved across Europe and certified in accordance with DIN EN ISO/IEC 17024. This is an important quality indicator and supports the report’s credibility and traceability.
FAQ
Find answers to the most common questions about AfA Sparen, useful life appraisals, and using depreciation for tax purposes.
Your appraisal is prepared by experts who are approved across Europe and certified in accordance with DIN EN ISO/IEC 17024. This is an important quality indicator and supports the report’s credibility and traceability.
Even with a long-term holding strategy, a shorter depreciation period can be beneficial because it shifts tax effects forward. That often means more liquidity in the early years—e.g., for reserves, renovations, or additional investments. The total depreciation is still limited by the depreciable building value, but the timing can change substantially.
As standard you receive your appraisal within 3–5 business days once we have all the information we need. The Express option is faster. If an on-site inspection is included, the appointment depends on local availability; missing documentation or follow-up questions can extend the timeline further.
If the building is very new or its condition/modernization level suggests that the actual useful life does not materially differ from typified assumptions, the tax benefit may be limited. That is exactly why AfA Sparen offers a free preliminary assessment—to provide a reliable indication upfront.
1) Free preliminary assessment in our calculator. 2) Data entry and—if needed—upload or supplementation of documents. 3) Preparation of the appraisal report by a certified expert. 4) Delivery of the report and a cover letter to support submission to the tax office (typically via your tax filing).
Still have questions? Our team is happy to help.
Our Process
A clearly structured process – from the initial assessment to confident tax use.
We review, without obligation, whether your property may benefit from a reduced remaining useful life – quickly and without risk.
If a potential benefit is identified, you can commission the appraisal in just a few clicks. The report is prepared by certified expert appraisers (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17024).
Your property is professionally assessed and documented in a technically, economically and tax-relevant manner.
We support you in using the appraisal correctly for your tax return and assist with any follow-up questions.
Check whether a certified depreciation report may be worthwhile for you.
Check Your SavingsStart with a free initial assessment of your personal depreciation.
No obligation • Report delivery possible within 3–5 business days
City Analysis
This section reflects local building-age patterns, market conditions, and practical tax-office experience.
A large share of Berlin's housing stock was built before 1949. Typical assets are mixed-condition period buildings and post-war properties with brick construction and timber-beam ceilings.
Building age class | Typical characteristics | RUL tendency |
|---|---|---|
We prepare appraisals across Germany – the remaining useful life follows the same federal tax law everywhere.
Local Tax Offices
You can identify which tax office is responsible for you by the first 2-4 digits of your tax number.
Local pages with tax offices, building-age patterns and answers for your region.
Create a solid basis for increased depreciation with a certified remaining useful life report for tax purposes. Benefit from a simple online submission, expert review by certified appraisers, and a report that serves as a reliable basis for your tax return.
Whether a valuation report reduces your annual tax burden depends on your individual case.
100+ property owners across Germany have already optimized their depreciation with AfA Sparen.
Benefits
Create a well-founded basis for your depreciation with a traceable remaining useful life assessment.
The shorter the professionally substantiated remaining useful life, the higher the annual depreciation allowance. This can reduce your tax burden and improve your cash flow.
Our reports are prepared by certified expert appraisers (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17024) and are clearly documented and fully traceable – providing a reliable basis for tax-related use.
Tax savings directly affect your net return. Especially for older properties or buildings with renovation requirements, a valuation report may prove worthwhile depending on the individual case.
100+ professionally substantiated valuation reports in the past 3 years
Gründerzeit (1870-1918) |
Brick masonry, decorative facades, timber beams |
15-25 years (without full core refurbishment) |
Interwar (1919-1945) | Simpler construction, partly repaired war damage | 18-30 years |
Post-war East (1950-1990) | Panel buildings (e.g. WBS 70) | 20-30 years |
Post-war West (1950-1970) | Social housing, concrete frame | 20-35 years |
Modern era (1970-1995) | Concrete structures, early insulation standards | 25-40 years |
In Berlin, strong rent regulation often reduced reinvestment incentives for owners. In practice this leads to deferred maintenance and selective modernization, both relevant for realistic RUL determination.
The responsible tax office depends on property location, not owner residence. Berlin tax offices are generally receptive to well-documented reports with a clear explanatory cover letter.
Assumption: building value EUR 200,000
At a 42% tax rate this equals roughly EUR 1,680 additional liquidity per year.
Berlin
Berlin features a highly diverse housing stock with a significant share of older residential buildings. In many cases, especially with long-standing properties, the actual economic useful life differs from standard depreciation assumptions. A remaining useful life report can help property owners in Berlin assess their buildings more realistically and establish a sound basis for depreciation.
