Work and business
Finding a job, workers' rights, pay and taxes, and starting your own business.
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Newest guides (3)
SCHUFA in Germany – what it is, how to check, credit score without history (2026)
SCHUFA (Schutzgemeinschaft für allgemeine Kreditsicherung) is the dominant German credit bureau – equivalent to Experian/Equifax, with a score range of 0-100 (the higher, the better), affecting rental housing, mortgages, credit cards, phone contracts, and leasing, with Polish newcomers in Germany often having a zero/null score, complicating various processes.
Minijob in Germany – what it is, earnings, taxes, insurance (2026)
Minijob is a popular form of employment in Germany up to 538 EUR/month (2024-25) or 556 EUR/month (2026 increase), where the employee does not pay Lohnsteuer (income tax) or social security contributions except for 3.6% Rentenversicherung (pension, optional opt-out).
Tax Return: Tax Settlement in Germany
Who in Germany must file an annual return, and who can do so voluntarily up to 4 years retroactively; deadlines for 2024, 2025, and 2026, Grundfreibetrag, commuting from 2026, family support in Poland, and step-by-step settlement in ELSTER.