Tax credit for household expenses 2026 – save on your drainage renovation
With the tax credit for household expenses you can save real money on the cost of a drainage renovation. In 2026 you can deduct part of the labour cost directly from your taxes.
What is the tax credit for household expenses?
The tax credit for household expenses is a tax deduction that lets you deduct part of the cost of work carried out in your home or holiday home from your taxes.
The credit can also be used for a drainage renovation carried out by Salaojapiste. The deduction is made directly from your taxes, so it reduces the amount of tax you pay.
Who can use the tax credit for household expenses?
The credit is personal and can be granted for maintenance and improvement work on your own home or holiday home. Spouses can both use the credit.
The credit is granted for the year in which the invoice was paid.
The credit applies only to the share of labour, not to materials or travel costs, for example. Salaojapiste itemises the labour share on the invoice so that you can report the deduction in your tax return.
How much tax credit for household expenses can you get in 2026?
In 2026, renovation work bought from a company currently qualifies for a credit of 35 % of the labour price including VAT.
The maximum credit is 1,600 € per person per year, and the deductible is 150 € per person per year.
An increase to the credit has been proposed for 2026
Under the proposal, the credit for work bought from a company would rise from the current 35 % to 40 %, and the maximum credit from 1,600 € to 2,100 € per person.
The change is not yet in force – it is a legislative proposal. If it is approved, it is intended to apply retroactively from the beginning of 2026. This would mean that the higher credit would also cover qualifying work already paid for during 2026.
We will update this page once the change has been confirmed.
Tax credit for household expenses 2026 – drainage renovation example
The example below is calculated according to the 2026 rules currently in force.
When the labour share of a 20,000 € drainage renovation is 12,000 €, 35 % of the labour share is 4,200 €. Because of the personal maximums, spouses can currently receive a total of no more than 3,200 €.
After the credit, the cost of a 20,000 € renovation would therefore be 16,800 €, provided the spouses can use the credit in full.
What if the proposed increase is approved?
If the government's proposal is approved in its current form, the credit in the same 20,000 € example renovation would be calculated at 40 %.
12,000 € × 40 % = 4,800 €
Because the personal maximum would be 2,100 €, spouses could receive a total of no more than 4,200 €.
The cost of the 20,000 € drainage renovation would then be 15,800 € after the credit, provided the spouses can use the credit in full.
Note. This calculation is based on the government's proposal, and the increased credit is not yet in force.
How to use the tax credit for household expenses
1. Have the drainage renovation done by Salaojapiste.
2. Pay the renovation invoice.
3. Check the labour share on the invoice.
4. Report the credit in MyTax.
5. The Tax Administration takes the credit into account in your taxation.
