Minor TaxBenefits
Child benefit rises to €259 and the basic tax allowance to €12,348
Effective date: 1 January 2026 · Source: Bundesagentur für Arbeit / BMF ↗
From 2026 Kindergeld is €259 per child per month (up from €255) and the income-tax basic allowance (Grundfreibetrag) rises to €12,348, slightly reducing income tax across the board.
What changed
Routine annual adjustments to family benefits and the tax tariff (§ 32a EStG). The child tax allowance (Kinderfreibetrag) is €9,756 per child for 2026.
Who is affected
- Families and all taxpayers
What to do
Existing Kindergeld recipients need not reapply. Use our net-salary calculator to see your 2026 take-home pay with children factored in.
Affected guides
Last verified: 21 July 2026