BAföG and parental income often causes confusion, because many students expect the current salary of their parents to count. The decisive figure is a fixed calendar year that depends on when your funding period begins. This guide explains which year applies and when an update application (Aktualisierungsantrag) makes sense.
Short answer: For the parental income that counts, the relevant year is the second-to-last calendar year before the funding period begins (§ 24 para. 1 BAföG). If the funding period begins in October 2026, the year 2024 applies (assumption for the start date). If income falls clearly during the funding period, you can apply for an update. Status: October 2026.
Key points
- BAföG does not use the income of the current year. It uses the second-to-last calendar year before the funding period begins.
- The funding period is the period for which the office sets the grant. Its start therefore determines the income year.
- If income falls clearly, you can ask on a special application that the circumstances of the funding period are used (§ 24 para. 3 BAföG).
- Applications of this kind filed after the end of the funding period are not considered.
- If your parents’ tax assessment has not yet been submitted, the grant is paid subject to repayment (§ 24 para. 2 BAföG).
Which calendar year counts?
The rule is set out in § 24 para. 1 BAföG. The circumstances of the second-to-last calendar year before the start of the funding period count. The table gives three examples in which we chose the start date of the funding period freely.
| Start of funding period (assumption) | Last calendar year before it | Relevant income year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 October 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
| 1 October 2026 | 2025 | 2024 |
| 1 April 2027 | 2026 | 2025 |
The start dates are assumptions. The assignment follows the rule in § 24 para. 1 BAföG. In your case, the actual start of the funding period counts, and the notice from the office shows it.
One twelfth of the annual income of the relevant year is counted per month (§ 24 para. 4 BAföG). The allowances under § 25 BAföG are then deducted from that amount. How these allowances are built up is explained in the guide to BAföG and siblings.
When does the funding period begin?
The start follows the beginning of funding. Under § 15 para. 1 BAföG, funding begins with the month in which the training starts, but at the earliest with the month of the application. The notice states when your funding period starts and how long it runs. That month determines which calendar year counts for the income calculation.
If you apply earlier, the period starts earlier and the relevant year moves forward. Discuss this lever with the responsible office before you file, because it can also change the amount of the grant.
What happens if income falls clearly?
If your parents expect clearly lower income during the funding period than in the relevant year, you can ask on a special application that the circumstances of the funding period are used (§ 24 para. 3 BAföG). You must make the lower expectation credible. The grant is then first paid subject to repayment until the income is established.
In this case the office does not apply one twelfth of the previous year’s income. It uses the average of the monthly incomes in the funding period (§ 24 para. 4 BAföG). Timing matters: applications filed after the end of the funding period are not considered.
Worked example: income falls during the funding period
The example shows why the application can change the amount. Assumption: married parents without further children, an allowance of 2,540 euros and income that halves during the funding period. The calculation is simplified and leaves out other deductions.
| Figure (assumption) | Without update | With update |
|---|---|---|
| Income per month | 4,000 euros (one twelfth of 48,000 euros from the relevant year) | 2,000 euros (average during the funding period) |
| Deduction of the allowance | 2,540 euros | 2,540 euros |
| Excess above the allowance | 1,460 euros | 0 euros |
| Amount counted (half of the excess) | 730 euros | 0 euros |
The difference of 730 euros per month shows why the choice of calendar year matters. What remains decisive is that the drop in income is credible and that the application arrives in time.
How to prepare the update application
- Check which funding period currently applies and when it ends.
- Collect evidence that makes it credible that your parents’ income in the funding period will be lower, such as income details and pay statements.
- File the application before the funding period ends, because later applications are not considered.
- Follow the notice and the repayment reservation until the office has set the final income.
What applies if the tax assessment is missing?
If your parents have to be assessed for income tax for the relevant year, but the assessment has not been submitted to the office, the office decides on the basis of credibly presented income. The grant is then paid under the reservation of repayment (§ 24 para. 2 BAföG). Once the assessment is available, the final decision follows. Submit it promptly so the grant can be fixed.
A repayment reservation is not a rejection. It means the payment is granted for now, while the final amount is set after the check. How much remains in the end depends on your details and on your parents’ income.
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2024 income count if I only start in autumn 2026?
Yes, if the funding period begins in October 2026. Then 2024 is the relevant year (assumption for the start date). Your notice shows when your funding period actually begins.
Can I lower the income counted by applying later?
Not through a late application. Applications filed after the end of the funding period are not considered (§ 24 para. 3 BAföG). Plan the update application while the current funding period is still running.
What does the repayment reservation mean in practice?
You receive the grant first, but the amount can change later if the final income differs from the estimate. Then a top-up payment or a repayment can follow. The office explains the consequences for your case.
Do I have to calculate my parents’ income myself?
No. The office calculates the counted amount. You provide the details and evidence, and the result appears in the notice. For a first orientation you can use the calculator on bafög.de.
Related guides
- BAföG Rates 2026/27: Figures, Allowances and Limits
- Student Support Rate (BAföG) 2026: Amounts and Example
- BAföG 2026: Rates, Housing Allowance and Exemptions (in German)
- Elternfreibetrag BAföG: glossary entry (in German)
- BAföG-Reform 2027 (in German)
Sources: § 24 BAföG, calculation period for parental and spousal income (German law text) (status: October 2026); § 25 BAföG, parental income allowances (German law text) (status: October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
