Kindergeld Calculator 2026

— Explainer

What is Kindergeld and who is entitled in 2026?

— Calculation

Kindergeld is a statutory flat amount — there is no income calculation as with Elterngeld. The amount follows directly from § 66 EStG and § 6 BKGG. What varies case by case is the number of eligible children.

Civil servants, professional soldiers and recipients of pension benefits do not receive Kindergeld via the Familienkasse but via their pay/pension office. The amounts are identical.

— Edge cases

— How to apply for Kindergeld

The application is free of charge and can be filed online, by post or in person at the Familienkasse. Important: since 2018 Kindergeld is paid retroactively only for up to six months — postponing the application costs money.

1. 01

   Have the tax-IDs ready

   Mandatory under § 62 (1) No. 2 EStG. The tax identification number is on the income-tax assessment, the wage-tax statement, or can be requested online via the BZSt. The child's tax-ID is automatically mailed by the BZSt a few weeks after birth registration.

2. 02

   Fill out the application form

   Online via the Familienkasse portal (familienkasse.de) — or download the PDF form (KG 1). For adult children, add form KG 1a (statement on the child's circumstances).

3. 03

   Upload supporting documents

   Birth certificate (for newborns), school or enrolment certificate for adult children, residence title and work permit for third-country nationals, and — for separated parents — the beneficiary designation.

4. 04

   Submit and keep the receipt

   Online submissions show an immediate receipt. For paper applications, send by registered mail. The receipt secures the start of the entitlement period.

5. 05

   Wait for the decision and check payout dates

   Processing usually takes 4–6 weeks. The decision contains the Kindergeld number whose last digit determines the monthly payment date. The annual payment calendar is published by the Familienkasse.

6. 06

   Report changes immediately

   Address change, training change, marriage of the adult child, move abroad, employment of the child over 20 hrs/week after initial training — report within two weeks to avoid clawback claims.

— Common mistakes

• Filing the application too late

  Since 2018, Kindergeld is only paid six months retroactively (§ 66 (3) EStG). Each delayed month costs 259 €. File right after the birth certificate arrives.

• Failing to report end of training

  If the child drops the training, deregisters from university or finishes the apprenticeship, entitlement ends immediately. Failing to report this leads to clawback notices of several thousand euros plus late-payment fees.

• Ignoring the offset against Bürgergeld

  Families on Bürgergeld receive the full Kindergeld on their account — but it counts as the child's income and reduces the standard rate accordingly. Anyone also entitled to Kinderzuschlag and Wohngeld should compare which combination is more favourable.

• Skipping beneficiary designation after separation

  After separation, the parent in whose household the child lives receives Kindergeld automatically. An explicit beneficiary designation is only required when the child lives in both households equally. Later corrections require repayment of the difference.

• Ignoring the Günstigerprüfung

  For higher incomes, the Kinderfreibetrag (6,828 €/year) can be more advantageous than Kindergeld (3,108 €/year). The Finanzamt runs the comparison automatically with the tax return — without filing one, you miss the benefit. Crosses over around 70,000 € taxable income (couples).

• Not announcing studies abroad

  For studies in a third country (USA, Canada, Australia, etc.) the Familienkasse must be informed in advance and the German residence proven. Reporting retroactively risks the Familienkasse stopping payments — plus possible clawback for the period in which the residence was unclear.