Ex-Employer Paid an extra Netto salary by mistake, they want it back as Brutto
I left my job due to health conditions around early August in 2024, during the last 8 weeks of which I was on a medical leave. So TK had to pay some portions of my salary for a few weeks. However the company also accidentally paid a pro-rated salary during these weeks so I got double paid.
I realized that and asked what that was about, they accepted the mistake but they are now asking the BRUTTO amount even though I got the NETTO one. They told I'd paid brutto then get the amount back in tax declaration (Steuererklärung). But it's not a small amount and doesn't feel fair to deal with a mistake on their end myself.
So I have a few questions:
- Has this happened to anyone before? If so, how did you handle it?
- Is it really possible to get the full difference back via tax declaration? Any additional notes etc to be added while filing taxes (I haven't done my taxes in Germany yet)?
- Any general recommendations on how I can navigate in this situation?
Thanks a lot in advance