refund / filing
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refund
The repayment of money that has already been spent, for example costs that someone has paid in advance for another person or as part of a complaint.
Bitte reichen Sie die Belege ein, um eine Erstattung Ihrer Reisekosten zu erhalten.
Please submit the receipts in order to receive a refund of your travel expenses.
The word is a nominalization of the verb 'erstatten' (to refund/to file) with the ending '-ung'. It describes the act of refunding or filing, or what is refunded.
Die Erstattung des Betrags erfolgt innerhalb von 14 Tagen.
The refund of the amount will take place within 14 days.
In the legal meaning, this word is used almost exclusively in the fixed expression 'Anzeige erstatten' (to file a report/complaint). This means to officially report an incident to the police.
Wegen des Einbruchs hat sie sofort Anzeige erstattet.
Because of the break-in, she immediately filed a report.
In the meaning 'Rückzahlung' (repayment/refund), 'Erstattung' (refund) is often combined with the genitive to say what is being repaid. Typical phrases are: 'Erstattung der Kosten' (refund of the costs), 'Erstattung des Fahrpreises' (refund of the fare), or 'Erstattung der Gebühren' (refund of the fees).
Ich warte immer noch auf die Erstattung meiner Reisekosten.
I am still waiting for the refund of my travel expenses.
The two meanings are easy to distinguish. If it is about money, costs, or invoices, it always means repayment. If the word 'Anzeige' (report/complaint) appears with it, it is about a report to the police.
Für eine Erstattung der Kursgebühren ist es jetzt zu spät.
It is now too late for a refund of the course fees.
performance / output / benefit
'die Leistung' and 'die Erstattung' can both have to do with money from an organization. 'Leistung' is broader: it can be a payment, a service, or another benefit that you receive under a contract or law. 'Erstattung' is more specific and means that you get back money you paid before. Learners may confuse the words because insurance companies or employers can pay both. If costs were first paid by you and later paid back, it is called 'Erstattung' (refund/reimbursement). If the meaning is more generally an entitlement or support, 'Leistung' (benefit/service) fits.
Für die Zugtickets bekommt er nach der Dienstreise eine Erstattung.
He will receive a reimbursement for the train tickets after the business trip.
Bei der Arbeit hat ihr die Personalabteilung die zusätzliche Leistung erklärt.
At work, the HR department explained the additional benefit to her.