Find answers to the most common questions about AfAMax, useful life appraisals, and using depreciation for tax purposes.
Yes—this can be possible, especially for tax years that have not yet become final (i.e., where no final tax assessment notice is in place). In such cases, a shorter actual remaining useful life can be applied and the remaining tax basis of the building may be reallocated accordingly. In practice, depreciation is determined on a yearly basis and can be reassessed. Please coordinate the specific implementation with your tax advisor.
For tax purposes, land is generally assumed not to wear out. Buildings, however, deteriorate over time due to age, use, and technical obsolescence. Therefore, only the building portion (not the land) is depreciable.
1) Free preliminary assessment in our calculator. 2) Data entry and—if needed—upload or supplementation of documents. 3) Preparation of the appraisal report by a certified expert. 4) Delivery of the report and a cover letter to support submission to the tax office (typically via your tax filing).
You receive a well-documented appraisal report on the property’s actual remaining useful life as a PDF via email. In addition, you get a practical cover letter template (pre-drafted by a tax advisor) that you can submit together with the report as part of your tax filing.
An appraisal is often worthwhile if you own a rented property and the actual remaining useful life is materially shorter than the standardized useful life. It is particularly relevant for buildings that are roughly 30+ years old and have neither undergone a full core refurbishment within the last 25 years nor a comprehensive modernization within the last 15 years. You can check your case upfront using our free preliminary assessment.
Still have questions? Our team is happy to help.
A clearly structured process – from the initial assessment to confident tax use.
We review, without obligation, whether your property may benefit from a reduced remaining useful life – quickly and without risk.
If a potential benefit is identified, you can commission the appraisal in just a few clicks. The report is prepared by certified expert appraisers (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17024).
Your property is professionally assessed and documented in a technically, economically and tax-relevant manner.
We support you in using the appraisal correctly for your tax return and assist with any follow-up questions.
Find out how much you could save with a certified depreciation report.
Check Your SavingsGet your personal depreciation assessment and take the first step today.
No obligation • Report delivery possible within 3–5 business days
You can identify which tax office is responsible for you by the first 2-4 digits of your tax number.
Create a solid basis for increased depreciation with a certified remaining useful life report for tax purposes. Benefit from a simple online submission, expert review by certified appraisers, and a report that serves as a reliable basis for your tax return.
In many cases, a valuation report leads to a noticeable reduction in annual tax burden.
500+ property owners across Germany have already optimized their depreciation with AfAMax.
Maximise your tax advantages with a professionally substantiated and tax-compliant remaining useful life assessment.
The shorter the professionally substantiated remaining useful life, the higher the annual depreciation allowance. This can reduce your tax burden and improve your cash flow.
Our reports are prepared by certified expert appraisers (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17024) and are clearly documented and fully traceable – providing a reliable basis for tax-related use.
Tax savings directly affect your net return. Especially for older properties or buildings with renovation requirements, a valuation report can quickly prove worthwhile.
500+ professionally substantiated valuation reports in the past 3 years
Cologne has a broad housing stock ranging from historic buildings to post-war and modernised residential properties. Especially for existing assets, the actual economic remaining useful life can differ materially from standard depreciation assumptions. A remaining useful life report helps property owners in Cologne substantiate depreciation in a realistic and property-specific way.
