Apply for a tax reduction for shore power supply for watercraft

You can apply for a tax reduction for commercial watercraft moored in the port and using shore power while moored. You can obtain the permit from your local main customs office.

If you use shore power for your watercraft while they are in port, a reduced electricity tax rate applies in many cases.

You are entitled to a reduction in electricity tax if you

• use the watercraft commercially and
• have a corresponding permit from the local main customs office.

For companies that are operated from a location outside the German tax territory or for persons not resident in the German tax territory, the main customs office in whose district you first appear for tax purposes is responsible.

The electricity tax is calculated on the basis of the unit megawatt hours (MWh). The standard tax rate is EUR 20.50 per megawatt hour. The tax is reduced by EUR 20.00 in the event of a tax reduction due to shore power supply to watercraft moored in port. It then only amounts to EUR 0.50 per megawatt hour.

• Operating declaration
• if applicable. Form 1139 "State aid"
• Extract from the register of companies, cooperatives or associations in which your company is registered
• Declaration of the appointment of an authorized representative, if applicable

• You operate commercial shipping and purchase shore power for your watercraft
• You comply with the state requirements for tax reduction.
• You keep a receipt book.
• You keep records of the tax-privileged quantities of electricity withdrawn in the calendar year.
• You record the tax-privileged purposes in a way that can be verified by an expert third party.
• You must report any changes to the declared circumstances.

• Appeal
• Legal action before the tax court
• You can lodge an appeal against the decision of the main customs office within one month and, if necessary, take legal action before the tax court. For details, please contact the main customs office responsible for you or your legal advisor.

You can apply for a tax reduction for shore power supply in writing or online at your local main customs office.

Written application

• Go to the website of the German customs authorities and call up the form "Application for the granting/amendment of a permit for the tax-privileged withdrawal of shore-side electricity supply for watercraft" (form 1457). You can complete the form directly on your computer.
• Print out the completed form and, if necessary, attach the required documents.
• Sign the completed form and submit it to your local main customs office. The main customs office will check your application.
• You will receive a decision with the individual permit or a rejection.
• In the case of an individual permit, you will be issued with a permit certificate showing that you are entitled to purchase electricity at the reduced tax rate.

Online application

• Go to the online service of German customs at www.zoll-portal.de
• To apply for an electricity tax reduction via the customs portal, you must register once. For registration and all applications, you will need proof of identity via ELSTER or online ID function with ID card.
• Once you are registered, select the "Energy and electricity tax (further applications)" form, complete it and add any additional documents.
• Send off the application. The main customs office will check your application.
• You will receive a message that you can call up the decision with the individual permit or a rejection in the customs portal.
• In the case of an individual permit, you will be issued a permit certificate showing that you are entitled to purchase electricity at the reduced tax rate.

There are no deadlines.

There are no costs for you.

There are no indications or special features.