The tax system in Austria comprises 100 different taxes and fees. In the course of evolution and gradual reform of the tax system was developed a number of important principles and approaches of tax policy, the underlying philosophy of modern legislation in this area and fully used in the practice of taxation for economic operators (enterprises, companies and others), so h. and carrying out foreign trade activity.
In this legislation comes from the impossibility of an autonomous authoritarian tax policies and, consequently, thus the need for maintaining a balance of interests of the state and employers (taxpayers), realizing that a violation of this balance, and a disproportionate increase in the tax burden will inevitably lead to an outflow of capital and the relocation of businesses in others (such as neighboring Austria, Eastern European) countries. This, in turn, is diametrically at odds with one of the main strategic objectives of government economic policy of the country - the transformation of Austria and its capital Vienna is one of the world's leading centers of finance, investment and business activity and create by this additional jobs.
Among the above-mentioned principles (approaches) are:
- Imposition of fees and taxes, primarily income actually received, so as to minimize the negative impact of the tax burden on the economic situation hozyaestvennyh actors (in this context is characterized by cancellation of previously effective property tax of 1% of the appraised value of property companies);
- Reducing the amount of taxes and simplify the system for collecting them (for this purpose has been, for example, abolished tax on trade, is charged in 16% of taxable income and, simultaneously, in 2% of the salary fund);
- To minimize the tax benefits and the achievement of as much as possible of equal treatment of taxpayers (as a fundamental element of the same for all the conditions of competition):
- A broad awareness of business tax requirements and the possibility of bringing them on a contractual basis qualified tax advisers auditing and trust structures, the institution which is very well developed and is available not only large but also medium and small firms, tax advisors responsible for their services and availability of insurance institute this responsibility:
- Ensuring a high degree of law-abiding taxpayers and, therefore, tax collection, which is achieved on the one hand, the practical inevitability of violations (scheduled and unscheduled inspections by tax authorities, legally binding obligations of regular samoproverok, the responsibility of tax advisers need to confirm the balance of the tax authorities, a high professionalism and strict liability of tax inspectors, extensive use of computer technology with centralized databases accumulated, etc.) and on the other hand, strict sanctions for violation of tax laws (both administrative and criminal liability).
The main taxes are corporation tax, levied on the entities - associations of capital (companies, firms) on a flat rate of 34% of taxable income, municipal tax and fee to the fund family allowances paid by enterprises and firms as a percentage of wage bill (in the 3% and 4.5%), VAT is an indirect and charged with the value added at each stage of the movement of goods from producer to final consumer. In practice, the employer shall pay the VAT on the difference between the amount of charge to its existing rates of turnover (depending on the type of goods and services: standard - 20% smaller - 10%) and the amount that has already been paid from your previous employer turnover, the whom you purchased the goods. The final payment of tax is the final consumer in the price of goods. Exported goods are exempt from VAT. Charged on imported goods import turnover tax, is entirely consistent with the VAT.
Firms as producers and importers are subject to taxes and consumer: the oil is applied to products of crude oil (gasoline, fuel oil, gasoline, mineral oil, etc.) and ranges from 36.50 to 480 euros for 1 ie, tobacco products (cigars, cigarettes, pipe tobacco), up to 74% of the retail price of the goods; alcohol, calculated on the amount of ethanol to 1 liter. product at 20 ° C and was 726.74 euros per 1 hl. Alcohol, beer, is charged EUR 1.45 per 1 hl 1 ° density (dry matter content in 100g. drink) and some other sparkling wines, ranging from 50.87 to 145.35 euro per hl.
Consumption taxes are included in the calculation base (imported) sales tax (VAT).
Calculations of the VAT are also important for the payment of Austrian firms and firms in a certain part of the membership fee Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (membership in the House by law is mandatory for all business entities).
This part of the fee is calculated at 0.39% of the amount that constitutes the difference between the amount of VAT contained in the accounts paid by the company and the amount of VAT contained in the exhibited by the accounts and paid on a quarterly basis (firms having annual turnover of not less than 145.000,00 Euro) . In this case, from 0.39% 0.15% earmarked for assistance sent to the Austrian traders.
• Are there tax benefits in Austria new businesses and if available, then whether they are companies where the founders are foreign?
Those who are going to open my own company in Austria can take advantage of the law on supporting new firms. This law exempts young entrepreneurs, regardless of their nationality, from numerous government fees related to registration of the firm, including the Commercial Court from paying tax on the company amounting to 1% of the amount paid in share capital during the registration of limited liability companies (GmbH) or joint stock companies (AG), from paying state taxes, co-payment of wages in the amount of 6.88% during the 12 calendar months from the date of opening of the company. But to take advantage of such benefits must fulfill certain conditions, for example, has created a new company, rather than being a simple transfer of an existing firm in other hands and the head of the new company should not have been in the past 15 years do predprinimatelkoy activities.
• Do all companies have to take the balance?
Companies registered in the Commercial Court are required to keep the so-called double-entry bookkeeping. Some of them must pass an annual balance sheet. Take the balance or not, depends on the ownership of the enterprise.
• Do I have to keep accounts private entrepreneurs? Small businesses operating under the license, only then are required to keep double-entry bookkeeping and pass an annual balance sheet, the annual turnover of at least two years will exceed 400,000 euros, and companies that sell products and mixed products - 600,000 euros.
• Are foreign tax credits?
Foreigners working in Austria, have, along with citizens of the country, a number of tax exemptions and benefits. Here are some of them:
Lastenausgleich - compensation. The common name of allowances paid to the family in case of deterioration of its financial position.
Kinderzuschlag - tax credit for children.
1) Assumes a tax exemption of income of low-paid categories of workers.
2) The retirement allowance for children. Pensions for women increased by an amount up to 3% for each child.
Alleinerhalterabsetzbetrag - Tax Credit for the head of an incomplete family (Alleinerhalter - Head-parent families). Part of the revenue heads of single parent families, exempt from taxation.
Alleinverdienerabsetzbetrag - tax exemption for a single breadwinner.
(Alleinverdiener - the only breadwinner. A person whose spouse has no income or little income is received.) Part of the only breadwinner of the family income is exempt from tax.
Ausgleichzulage - compensatory payment. Benefits payable from Social Security funds in connection with the worsening financial situation, for example. due to the increased number of children in the family survivors.