FAQ
Find answers to the most common questions about AfA Sparen, useful life appraisals, and using depreciation for tax purposes.
You receive a well-documented appraisal report on the property’s actual remaining useful life as a PDF via email. In addition, you get a practical cover letter template (pre-drafted by a tax advisor) that you can submit together with the report as part of your tax filing.
Yes—this can be possible, especially for tax years that have not yet become final (i.e., where no final tax assessment notice is in place). In such cases, a shorter actual remaining useful life can be applied and the remaining tax basis of the building may be reallocated accordingly. In practice, depreciation is determined on a yearly basis and can be reassessed. Please coordinate the specific implementation with your tax advisor.
The free preliminary assessment in our calculator needs no documents at all — only basic building details (year of construction, construction type, areas, modernizations, condition, use). If you then commission the appraisal, the purchase contract is the most important document: it determines how the purchase price is split between land and building, and therefore the base your depreciation is calculated on. Floor plans, a living area calculation, an energy certificate, the sales listing and — for apartments — owners association meeting minutes are also helpful. We do not need building authority records. We tell you upfront what is actually required in your case.
In many cases, the appraisal fee can be deducted—typically as income-related expenses for rental income or as business expenses for business-use properties—because it relates to determining and optimizing depreciation. The exact treatment depends on your situation; consult your tax advisor if in doubt.
In our calculator you can generally choose any valuation date retroactively back to 01/01/2020. If you acquired the property after that, it usually makes sense to use the date on which benefits and burdens transferred (“transfer of possession, risk and rewards”). Otherwise, we often recommend using January 1 of a given year. Important: all inputs must reflect the circumstances as of the chosen valuation date. If you are unsure, clarify the best date with your tax advisor.
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
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.
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
Frankfurt am Main
Frankfurt am Main combines historically developed residential areas with modern housing projects. Many existing properties show individual wear patterns and renovation histories that are not adequately reflected by standard depreciation periods. A remaining useful life report can provide property owners in Frankfurt with a realistic foundation for property depreciation based on actual conditions.
