Type of depreciation | Linear (§ 7 paragraph 4 no. 1 EStG) | Degressive (§ 7 paragraph 5 sentence 1 no. 1 EStG)

Costs | EUR 100,000 | EUR 100,000

AfA in the first year | EUR 3,000 | EUR 10,000

AfA in the following three years (2024 to 2026) | EUR 3,000 | EUR 10,000 each

AfA in the next three years (2027 to 2029) | EUR 3,000 | EUR 5,000 each

AfA for the remaining 18 years | EUR 3,000 | EUR 2,500 each

End of depreciation reached in year | 2056 | 2048

Real estate is the home and headquarters of numerous people and companies all over the world – and thus also in Germany. Construction, purchase, renovation and rental promise attractive returns and many tax options. The depreciation of real estate (AfA) is an essential core component of this, as it enables the tax assertion of the acquisition or production costs. Depreciation amounts are pure accounting items, so they reduce the tax profit or surplus, without actually a monetary outflow from the respective account takes place.

1st basis of depreciation: real estate as usable assets

German income tax law distinguishes between usable assets on the one hand and non-usable assets on the other. Real estate, since it is subject to a certain natural wear and tear, is one of the usable assets. The property on which the building stands – the so-called land (GuB) is, however, not usable. Exceptions apply only to extraordinary, value-reducing factors, such as significant pollution of the soil.

For the depreciation of real estate, these principles, which can be found in § 6 (1) EStG and the accompanying guidelines, result in the following: