Elterngeld Income Limit 2026: The €175,000 Threshold Explained

For children born from 1 April 2025, Elterngeld eligibility ends if the relevant taxable income was more than €175,000 in the calendar year before birth. Exactly €175,000 is still within the limit.

For births from 1 April 2024 through 31 March 2025, the limit was €200,000 for couples and single parents. For births from 1 September 2021 through 31 March 2024, it was €300,000 for couples and €250,000 for single parents.

The limit uses the German zu versteuerndes Einkommen (taxable income, or zvE). It is not your gross salary, net salary or household turnover. The amount is shown on your German tax assessment.

If another parent also meets the eligibility conditions and lives with the child, both taxable incomes are added together. This is not limited to married couples. For a genuinely single parent, only that parent's taxable income counts.

For a baby born in July 2026, the Elterngeldstelle checks taxable income from 2025.

Two eligible parents with taxable incomes of €90,000 each: €180,000 combined → above the limit.

Two eligible parents with €100,000 and €70,000: €170,000 combined → within the limit.

A single parent with taxable income of exactly €175,000 → within the limit, because eligibility ends only above it.

Changing tax class can affect monthly payroll deductions and, if done early enough, the net figure used for the Elterngeld calculation. It does not by itself reduce your annual taxable income for this eligibility limit.

If your taxable income is close to €175,000, use the actual tax figures rather than estimating from gross salaries. A tax adviser can help with the tax side; the Elterngeldstelle decides eligibility.