Whether you receive an invoice or a donation receipt depends on the type of payment you make. A tax-deductible donation is only possible when made to a nonprofit project and without receiving any relevant consideration in return. Invoices and donation receipts are generally issued by the respective project, not by Startnext.
What is the difference between a donation and a contribution?
The key difference is whether your payment qualifies as a donation for tax purposes.
- Donation: You voluntarily support a nonprofit organization without receiving any significant benefit in return.
- Support: You fund a project by an individual or a company, provide voluntary support, or receive something in return as a token of appreciation. This is generally not considered a donation for tax purposes.
On the project page, payments for nonprofit projects are referred to as donations. In other cases, they are usually called "support" or "voluntary support."
Can I get a donation receipt?
Yes, if you have supported a nonprofit project with a donation and the project or the organization behind it is authorized to issue donation receipts. Donation receipts are not issued by Startnext, but by the project itself.
As a general rule, the following requirements must be met:
- The project is a nonprofit.
- The funding phase has been successfully completed.
- The amount was indeed collected.
- The project has been paid out. This usually happens about 14 to 21 days after the end of the funding phase.
Once a project ends, there are often many organizational tasks to handle. Donation receipts are therefore frequently prepared and mailed in batches.
For which tax year can I claim my donation?
For tax purposes, the date that counts is the date the funds were actually received, not the date you clicked “Support.”
With crowdfunding, payments are often not collected until after the funding campaign has successfully concluded. For this reason, a donation pledged in December may not be tax-deductible until the following year.
Examples:
- 1You commit to making a donation on December 20, 2024. The project ends on January 6, 2025, and the amount will be debited on January 7, 2025. The donation is relevant for the 2025 tax year.
- 2You commit to making a donation on December 20, 2024. The project ends on December 21, 2024, and the amount will be debited on December 22, 2024. The donation counts toward your 2024 tax year.
A donation receipt can only be issued if the project is a nonprofit and the project team is authorized to issue it.
Do I need a donation receipt for a donation of up to 300 euros?
For donations of up to 300 euros, the tax office generally accepts simplified proof, such as a bank statement or credit card receipt. If you donate via direct debit, the project name is often included in the payment description. The donation confirmation email is usually sufficient as proof.
How do I get an invoice for my thank-you gift?
You'll receive an invoice once the project creators are able to issue invoices—usually after the project has been successfully completed and as soon as the thank-you gift has been shipped or the agreed-upon service has been provided.
Typically, the following requirements must be met:
- 1The project has been successfully completed. Only then will the contributions be collected and the settlement process begin.
- 2The organizers can and will issue invoices for the thank-you gifts.
- 3When making your donation, you indicated that you would like an invoice, provided that this option was displayed during checkout.
- 4The thank-you note was sent, or the service was provided.
The campaign organizers usually send the invoice by email or include it with the thank-you gift they send out. If you haven't received an invoice even though you've met all the requirements, please contact the campaign organizers directly.
Startnext provides the platform. The invoice for a thank-you gift is issued by the respective project, not by Startnext.
How do I get an invoice for my voluntary contribution to Startnext?
If you have supported Startnext yourself with a voluntary contribution toward the independent mission, you will receive an invoice. Startnext is not a nonprofit organization and is not authorized to issue a donation receipt for this payment.
The invoice will be available for download in your support details no later than 21 days after the end of the project's funding phase. You'll find the link to it in the support confirmation email.
Who should I contact if an invoice or donation receipt is missing?
If you are missing a thank-you invoice or a donation receipt, please contact the project organizers or the organization behind the project directly. They are responsible for issuing these documents.
Only if you have an invoice for your voluntary contribution to Startnext will you find the document directly in your contribution details.