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Taxation


Fico: „Privatizations Were Our Biggest Mistake“

Slovakia´s Prime Minister Robert Fico thinks that the austerity policy in Europe is the wrong way.
January 21, 2013


WIFO Wants Higher Property Taxes

Karl Aiginger, director of Austrian Institute of Economic Research, suggests reducing wage taxes.
January 21, 2013


Hungary Wants Tax Treaty with Switzerland, Germany and Austria

Hungary tries to levy a lump sum tax on deposits of Hungarian nationals in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, the UK and Cyprus.
January 17, 2013


New Elections in Slovenia?

The government crisis in Slovenia sharpens. Economists warn of a leftist coalition.
January 15, 2013


Fekter to Present Tax Reform Concept

In May, Austria´s minister of finance Maria Fekter (ÖVP) will present a new fiscal concept.
January 14, 2013


Slovenia to Cut Corporate Tax Rate

In order to improve the labor market situation, the Slovenian government has decided cut the corporate tax quota by three percentage points.
January 9, 2013


Austria: Black Labor Decreases

Since 2004, the size of black labor is declining in Austria. Nine years ago, the share of GDP came at 11%: In 2012, black labor was 7.5% of GDP.
January 8, 2013


Poland Plans Bank Taxes

The Polish government considers introducing bank taxes in order to stabilize the banking sector.
January 4, 2013


„No Tax Reform Before 2016“

Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, emphasizes that the government should focus on austerity measures.
January 4, 2013


Czech Parliament Resolves VAT Increase

After months of controversies, the Czech Chamber of Deputies approved the government´s taxation plans.
December 21, 2012


Switzerland Ratifies Tax Treaty with Austria

Switzerland has approved the tax deal with Austria and the UK. The treaty will come into force by January 2013.
December 20, 2012


Slovakia: Budget Deficit Comes at 4.6%

This year, the Slovak budget deficit is expected to be significantly beyond the Maastricht criteria.
December 20, 2012


Public Debt Committee Warns Austrian Government

2013 will be dangerous for Austria´s austerity course, the economist Bernhard Felderer says.
December 18, 2012


S&P Downgrades Croatia

Croatia´s Minister of Finance Slavko Linic does not exclude that Croatia needs support from the IMF next year.
December 17, 2012


Slovenia Sharpens Austerity Measures

The Slovenian Parliament resolved the budgets for 2013 and 2014. The country tries to fulfill the Maastricht criteria.
December 8, 2012


Fiscal Policy: OECD Warns Slovakia

OECD´s Secretary General Angel Gurria calls Slovakia to improve its fiscal efficiency. The tax collection must be professionalized, he says.
December 8, 2012


Slovakia: Tax Revenues Declining

This year, the Slovak government will record a decrease in tax intake by € 230m. Despite higher tax rates, the trend will continue in the next three years.
December 6, 2012


Slovakia: Flat Tax Replaced New Tax Model

After nine years, Slovakia abolishes the flat tax. Corporate profit tax was increased from 19% to 23%.
December 5, 2012


Serbian Government Emphasizes Austerity Policy

Next year, the Serbian budget deficit is expected to come at 3.3% of GDP. Until 2015, the deficit will be lowered further, the government says.
December 4, 2012


Hungary Considers Reducing Foreign Exchange Reserves

In order to repay loans, the Hungarian government is said to reduce the foreign exchange reserves of MNB (Hungarian National Bank). The government does not need to fear resistance by MNB.
December 1, 2012


“Eurozone On Stable Ground”

Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter is optimistic. Spain, Portugal and Ireland are making substantial progress. However, the crisis is not over yet, she notes.
December 1, 2012


„Property Taxes are Nonsense“

Austria´s Minister of Finance Maria Fekter reaffirms that property taxes must be prevented.
November 30, 2012


Hungary: Small Concession for Banking Industry

The banking sector in Hungary is under pressure. The government in Budapest decided to pay back debts of municipalities by the end of the year.
November 24, 2012


S&P Downgrades Hungary

The U.S. rating agency lowers Hungary´s sovereign debt rating from “BB+” to “BB”.
November 23, 2012


Croatia Plans to Introduce Property Taxes

Croatia´s Finance Minister Slavko Linic plans to introduce a property tax next year. The rate will come at 1.5%.
November 23, 2012


Austrian Industrial Federation Wants Higher VAT

Georg Kapsch, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (I) calls for a VAT increase. The VAT rate remains unchanged at 20% of decades.
November 23, 2012


Austria: Majority Support Property Taxes

A clear majority of Austrian citizens think that the corporate tax rate should increase.
November 20, 2012


Serbian Government to Raise Corporate Tax

The austerity pressure forces the Serbian government to increase taxes. Serbia´s corporate tax will move from 10% to 15%.
November 20, 2012


Vienna: General Attractiveness Decreases

The quality of the Viennese business location deteriorates. The high degree of bureaucracy and the high non-wage labor costs are the most problematic issues.
November 16, 2012


Hungary: Head of Banking Association Resigns

The chairman of the Hungarian Banking Association Mihaly Patai steps down. He explains that the Hungarian state overburdens the banking sector.
November 13, 2012


Austria: Black Labor Costs € 3.5bn Per Year

The economist Friedrich Schneider explains that the size of black labor comes at € 19.6bn per year in Austria.
November 12, 2012


Slovenia Still Rules Out Calling for Rescue

The Slovenian government tries to prevent to be bailed out by the EU and IMF by all means. However, experts fear that Slovenia is the next candidate for the safety net.
November 10, 2012


Austria: Income Taxes on the Rise

Total wage tax revenue for 2011 rose by 6.0%, gross earnings by 3.6%. About 72% of the income taxes were paid by male workers.
November 8, 2012


Czech Government Overcomes Vote of Confidence

The majority of the members of the Czech Parliament approved the amended austerity program.
November 7, 2012


Future of Czech Government Uncertain

Although Prime Minister Petr Necas was confirmed as party leader of the governing ODS, the government is still threatened to collapse.
November 6, 2012


IHS: Collapse of Eurozone would Cost 157,000 Jobs

The Austrian Institute of Advances Studies IHS says that Austria´s economic growth would be lower by 11 percentage points until 2016.
November 5, 2012


Tax Quota: Austria Among Top Countries

Among 27 OECD countries, the Austria´s tax quota is the eight highest. For Austria, the trend goes upwards
October 24, 2012


Austria: No Tax Reform

The Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger replies to Finance Minister Maria Fekter that a tax reform is not realistic now.
October 22, 2012


Austrian Tax Quota to Increase

Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter expects a higher tax intake in 2013. Next year, the tax quota will grow slightly to 43%. In order to prevent further expenses, Fekter rejects creating bad banks.
October 20, 2012


Hungary Does not Exclude to Increase Bank Tax

Prime Minister Orban refers to the pressure coming from Brussels. Hungary must reduce the budget deficit below 3.0% of GDP.
October 20, 2012


Vienna Stock Exchange Wants Austrian Post to Become Privatized

Birgit Kuras, CEO of Vienna Stock Exchange, wants the Austrian state to reduce its 53% stake in Austrian Post.
October 19, 2012


RBI: We Will Not Leave Hungary

Herbert Stepic, CEO of Austrian RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International) is highly dissatisfied with Hungary´s decision not to reduce bank taxes. However, RBI will stay, he says.
October 18, 2012 · Updated: October 18, 2012; 17:08


Hungarian Tax Plans: Austrian Banks Annoyed

Because of the pressing need to reduce the budget deficit, Hungary´s government decided not to lower the bank tax. Moreover, the financial transaction tax will be doubled.
October 18, 2012


Austrian Business Location Becomes Less Attractive

The economic sentiment of U.S. companies operating in Austria is decreasing. The high non-wage labor costs are Austria´s biggest problem.
October 17, 2012


Austrian Budget: Experts Call for Further Reforms (Part 3)

Economists think that the budget does not contain enough reform steps. The opposition does not see any signs of progress.
October 16, 2012


Austrian Budget: Experts Call for Further Reforms (Part 2)

Austrian economic research institutes criticize the state budget and want the government to show more ambition.
October 16, 2012


Austrian Industry Reaffirms: „We need structural reforms”

The President of IV (Federation of Austrian Industries) Georg Kapsch argues that more justice cannot be achieved with new taxes.
October 13, 2012


Slovak Deficit to Reach 2.9% of GDP in 2013

The Slovak government approved the 2013 state budget. The deficit will be reduced step by step in the next years.
October 12, 2012


Fekter Happy With Financial Transaction Tax

Austrian Finance Minister Maria Fekter: "We have only created the on-ramp to the highway – details and structure to follow by Christmas“
October 10, 2012


Slovenia Resolves Financial Transaction Tax

The Slovenian government wants to introduce a 6.5% tax on securities trading. The financial industry criticizes the government massively.
October 9, 2012