Edit Content

We have a team of professionals to help you with all your business needs. So, that you can focus on business expansion in Austria.

Please feel free to email us on [email protected]

Austria

Why Austria?

In Central Europe, Austria is surrounded by Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Austria, which has a population of over 9.1 million, is home to numerous prosperous businesses and a varied economy. For international businesses wishing to grow in Europe, doing business in Austria may be a fantastic opportunity. According to the Ease of Doing Business index, which evaluates how simple it is to start and operate a business in a specific nation, Austria ranks among the top 20 nations in the world. Austria provides several benefits to businesses, including a prime location, a stable political and economic environment, and a skilled workforce.

Advantages

For international businesses seeking to grow their operations in Europe, doing business in Austria might be a fantastic opportunity. There are several advantages to doing business in Austria, including:

Stable Economy

With a strong emphasis on innovation and technical breakthroughs, Austria has a robust economy that is both stable and wealthy. Austria’s economy is primarily driven by the service sector, which generates about 70% of its GDP. With Vienna serving as a significant financial center in Europe, the financial sector, which includes banking and insurance, is particularly significant. Austria’s natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and historic cities draw millions of tourists each year, which has a significant economic impact.

Favorable Location

Austria sits at the center of Europe, making it the perfect place for companies wishing to grow throughout the continent. Many cities and areas are renowned for their supportive business climate and strong economic performance. Vienna is Austria’s largest and capital city.

Skilled Workforce

Austria has a highly educated and knowledgeable labor force with experience in many different sectors. The workforce in Austria is highly skilled, and the country’s social welfare system is durable and supports workers. The labor market in Austria is widely regarded as being highly developed and well-regulated, and the country’s workforce is renowned for its high level of productivity.

Business-Friendly Environment

Austria offers a business-friendly climate with less red tape and bureaucracy, which makes it simple to start and run a firm. Austria has a modern infrastructure with great access to transportation, fast internet, and cutting-edge facilities. This facilitates efficient business operations and connections with clients and suppliers.

Strong Infrastructure

Austria has a strong infrastructure, which includes a vast transportation network, cutting-edge communication technologies, and dependable electricity and water supplies. Austria’s society, economy, and citizens’ quality of life is supported by an effective and well-developed infrastructure.

Political Stability

Austria has a strong democracy, high levels of accountability and openness, and is politically stable. The political climate in Austria is generally regarded as stable. A directly elected president serves as the head of state and a chancellor as the head of government in this parliamentary representative democratic republic.

Simple Tax Regime

Individual tax

Austrian income tax is imposed on all residents of the country on all of their income, including income from work, investments, and real estate, as well as revenue from trade or commerce. Only in Austria are non-residents subject to taxation on certain types of income. On income with an Austrian source, non-residents are liable to income tax at the standard rates.

Personal income tax rates

The personal Income Tax Rate is a tax levied against individuals in Austria and is applied to a variety of sources of income, including dividends, interest, pensions, and wages. We use the top marginal tax rate for individuals as our benchmark. The Austrian government relies heavily on the personal income tax rate’s revenues.

  1. Income from 0 to 11,693 EUR is liable to tax at the rate of 0%;
  2. Income from 11,694 to 19,134 EUR is liable to tax at the rate of 20%;
  3. Income from 19,135 to 32,075 EUR is liable to tax at the rate of 30%;
  4. Income from 32,076 to 62,080 EUR is liable to tax at the rate of 42%;
  5. Income from 62,081 to 93,120 EUR is liable to tax at the rate of 48%;
  6. Income from 93,121 to 1,000,000 EUR is liable to tax at the rate of 50%;
  7. Income Above 1,000,000 EUR is liable to tax at the rate of 55%.

Corporate tax

The corporate income tax rate is a tax that is levied on businesses in Austria. Its amount is determined by the net income businesses make from operating their businesses, typically over the course of one fiscal year. The highest rate for corporate income is the benchmark that we use. An important source of income for the Austrian government is the corporate tax rate. The standard corporate tax rate is now 24% (it was previously 25% as of January 1, 2023). From 2024 on, this rate is expected to drop to 23%. Capital gains are taxed at the standard rate for corporations.

Profit distributions are often subject to withholding tax (WHT) at the shareholder level, which is typically 25% for businesses and 27.5% for other beneficiaries. Also, there is a minimum CIT that businesses with a tax loss must pay. The minimal CIT can be carried forward indefinitely and used for the company’s future CIT obligations.

For an Austrian Stock Corporation “AG”, the minimum CIT is 875 euros (EUR) for each whole quarter of the year. For each complete quarter of the year, a Limited Liability company’s CIT must be at least EUR 437.50. However, for Limited Liability companies formed after June 30, 2013, the minimum CIT is EUR 125 for each complete quarter of the first five years and EUR 250 for the following five years.

Austria Companies

The Austrian private limited liability company (“GmbH”)

Austrians choose this sort of business the most, in part because it is so flexible. A minimum share capital of EUR 35,000 must be paid to form a limited liability company in Austria, and 50% of this amount must be put in a bank account before the business is registered there. Shareholders are not subject to any residency or nationality requirements, but they must each contribute a minimum of EUR 7,000.

The Austrian stock corporation (“AG”)

In Austria, this kind of corporation can be founded by one or more shareholders with an initial investment of at least EUR 70,000. In Austria, a stock corporation must have a supervisory board with a minimum of three members. The business is held to be a legal entity, and as such, it is responsible for fulfilling its responsibilities.

General partnership (“OG”)

In Austria, a partnership must consist of a minimum of two people or organizations. The general partnership is another example of this. A general partnership’s members are all considered general partners and are subject to full liability. Nonetheless, at least one member must demonstrate his expertise in the company’s area of operation.

The Austrian limited partnership (“KG”)

This kind of partnership can be established by at least two different people or legal organizations. The corporation is always represented by the partners. Its primary feature is that at least one partner must be a general partner, who is fully liable for the management, rights, and liabilities of the business. In addition, the responsibility of at least one partner must be restricted to the amount of his contribution.

The Austrian silent partnership (“stGes”)

In silent partnerships, the other partners who signed the agreement remain quiet and, as a result, do not participate in the operation of the firm, with one member being the proprietor with full liability. It’s crucial to understand that silent partnership registration with the Austrian Trade Registry is optional.

In Central Europe, Austria is surrounded by Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Austria, which has a population of over 9.1 million, is home to numerous prosperous businesses and a varied economy. For international businesses wishing to grow in Europe, doing business in Austria may be a fantastic opportunity. According to the Ease of Doing Business index, 

Author: Chandrawat & Partners

Topic: Doing Business in Austria

Download our comprehensive guide on – Doing Business in Austria

Contact Us

Get in touch with the right people to get the right help in setting up your business in Austria. 

Contact us at: [email protected]

About Us

Chandrawat & Partners stands as a dynamic and rapidly expanding full-service firm, specializing in the delivery of exceptional professional and corporate services to a diverse clientele, both foreign and local. We proudly represent companies and individuals across a wide spectrum of sectors through distinct entities established in various countries worldwide.

Chandrawat & Partners uses cookies to run our site and improve its usability.

By using our site you agree to our use of Cookies.