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Taxation
Felderer: „Women Must Have More Children”
The director of the Austrian Institute of Advanced Studies (IHS) sees a demographic problem in Austria as well as in Europe. Migration cannot solve the problem, Felderer says.
April 19, 2012
Austrian Opposition Increase Criticism on Swiss Tax Deal
For FPÖ, the tax deal with Switzerland is a “gift for tax evaders”. The Green Party sees support for tax fraud.
April 18, 2012
Tax Deal Fiercely Criticized
Last week, Austria concluded a tax treaty with Switzerland. For experts, the deal does not solve the main problems.
April 16, 2012
Austria and Switzerland Signed Tax Treaty
Austria´s Finance Minister Fekter signed the tax treaty with her Swiss colleague Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf. In 2013, additional tax intake of € 1.0bn is expected.
April 14, 2012
Swiss-Austrian Tax Treaty to be Signed
The tax treaty between Austria and Switzerland will be signed tomorrow on Friday. The tax rate is set at 38%.
April 12, 2012
AUA Expected to Record High Losses Again
This year, Lufthansa-owned Austrian Airlines is anticipated not to reach the profit zone. In the first quarter, fees and fuel caused higher costs of € 28m.
April 12, 2012
Tax Treaty with Switzerland Close to be Finished
Austria aims for reach a tax agreement with Switzerland in order to tax illegal funds deposited by Austrian nationals at Swiss banks. An agreement seems to be within reach.
April 11, 2012
Nowotny Ask For Alternative to Financial Transaction Tax
The governor of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) sees a good sign in Austria´s low interest rate on sovereign bonds. The introduction of a European financial transaction tax is unrealistic, the governor says.
April 11, 2012
Financial Transaction Tax: Schieder Raises Pressure on EU
Austria´s Financial State Secretary Andreas Schieder threatens to vote against higher EU contributions. To discuss about alternatives of the financial transaction tax is “too early.”
April 10, 2012
Higher Earnings at RLB Tyrol
In 2011, Raiffeisenlandesbank Tyrol (RLB) could raise earnings by 37 %to € 24.2m.
April 6, 2012
Tax Intake Higher Than Expected
In the first two months of 2012, the Austrian state received € 460m more tax proceeds than initially expected.
April 6, 2012
Competitiveness: Austria Among Top Five
Concerning its competitiveness, Austria ranks fifth among the 27 EU members.
April 6, 2012
FDI: Cautious Optimism in Slovakia
Austrian and German investors are still optimistic concerning Slovakia´s economy. The majority expects a slight acceleration of Slovakia´s economy growth.
April 3, 2012
Most Important Cities: Vienna Catches Up
In the ranking of the most important global cities, the Austrian capital could improve substantially. The most severe weakness is the economic activity.
April 3, 2012
Austria Must Underline its Headquarter Function
Austria as hub for CEE markets is still popular. Nevertheless, there is a lack in a sustainable and flexible strategy. The geographical proximity to CEE countries is insufficient.
April 2, 2012
Public Deficit in 2011 Below Maastricht Criteria
The Austrian state recorded a budget deficit of 2.6%. Public debt rose to 72.2% of GDP in 2011.
March 29, 2012
Swiss Tax Treaty: Austria Under Pressure
The Austrian Minister of Finance is optimistic to conclude the Swiss tax deal by 2013. Proceeds of € 1.0bn are expected.
March 28, 2012
Austrian Exports to Japan Reach New Record
Last year, bilateral trade between Austria and Japan recorded a new high. Austrian exports to Japan amounted to € 1.3bn.
March 27, 2012
Austria Insists on Financial Transaction Tax
Despite Germany’s finance minister sees little chance of a European Union agreement on the levy, Austria is sticking to plans for a financial-transaction tax in Europe to help consolidate its budget.
March 27, 2012
Budget: Wifo Misses Future Investments
The Austrian Institute of Economic Research (Wifo) commented the government´s draft of the budget. There is still a lack in active fiscal policy, Wifo states.
March 26, 2012
2,000 New Jobs Created by Foreign Enterprises
The Austrian Chamber of Commerce stressed the importance of foreign direct investment in Vienna. Last year, 126 foreign enterprises came to Vienna.
March 22, 2012
Lufthansa Claims Exemption of Air Ticket Tax
In order to restructure the Austrian loss making subsidiary AUA, the German airline pushes the Austrian government to abandon the air ticket tax.
March 17, 2012
Tax Agreement with Switzerland May Be Postponed
The plans of the Austrian government to conclude a tax agreement with Switzerland soon is unlikely. For the budget, this could cause a loss of revenues.
March 17, 2012
Austrian Government Holds on Financial Transaction Tax
In spite of discordance at the EU-level, the Austrian government is convinced to impose taxes on financial transactions by 2014.
March 17, 2012
Doubt About Austerity Package
Austria´s Finance Minister Fekter had to defend the government´s austerity package again. Experts are in doubt about the successful implementation.
March 15, 2012
Wirtschaftsbund: Leitl Re-Elected
Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, has been re-elected as chairman of Wirtschaftsbund. 92.7% of the delegates voted for Leitl.
March 10, 2012
Ghizzoni: „Austrian Bank Tax Is Painful“
The Chief Executive Officer of UniCredit, the holding company of Bank Austria emphasizes not to sell the Austrian subsidiary. The bank tax is “unfair”.
March 10, 2012
„The Public Sector Does not Get Enough“
Klaus Pöttinger, President of Upper Austria´s IV takes Switzerland as model. Taxes would be too high, efficiency of the public sector is too low, he says.
March 9, 2012
Cernko Criticizes VBAG Bail-Out
Willibald Cernko, CEO of Bank Austria considers that the Austrian state reacted too late. A partly nationalization could have taken place already one year before.
March 9, 2012
Bank Taxes: Nowotny Supports Government
OeNB´s governor Ewald Nowotny defends the coalition plans to raise bank taxes by 25%.
March 7, 2012
Tax Treaty: Conflict with EU
The EU rejects Austrian tax treaty plans with Switzerland. Austria insists on the bilateral agreement.
March 7, 2012
Taxation of Pension Funds: One-Time Effect of € 900m
In order to restructure the financially stricken VBAG, the Austrian government anticipates taxes on pension funds. As a result, € 75m will lack in future.
March 6, 2012
Again Criticism on Austerity Package: „Lack in Sustainability“
The President of the Viennese Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), Georg Kapsch, misses details of the austerity package. The package is not ambitious enough, Kapsch considers.
March 5, 2012
AUA: Negotiations Go On
Austrian Airlines does not face strikes. Not only AUA´s management is under pressure. Workers fear a new foundation of AUA or a re-sale.
March 5, 2012
Viennese Office Market: Collapse Threatens
Although office rents are relatively low in Austria´s capital, multinational companies tend to establish their headquarters elsewhere. Real estate experts fear a vicious circle.
March 5, 2012
Austerity Package: Sorger Misses Reforms
The President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), Veit Sorger, sees a massive lack in structural reforms. The austerity package is a “missed opportunity”.
March 3, 2012
VBAG´s Rescue Endangers Austerity Targets
In 2012, savings should reach € 576m. However, only write-offs in VBAG cost € 700m. The Austrian government seeks for additional revenues.
February 29, 2012
New Criticism on Austerity Package
For the chief economist at RZB, Peter Brezinschek, the austerity package is not ambitious enough. The President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Christoph Leitl, criticizes the introduction of new taxes.
February 28, 2012
Partial Nationalization of VBAG Planned
The financially stricken Austrian bank receives new capital. The Republic of Austria makes contributions of € 1.05bn. Bank taxes will increase.
February 27, 2012
Austrian Industry: „Austerity Package Brings Excessive Rise in Labor Costs“
For the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), the austerity package causes an enormous rise in labor costs for entrepreneurs.
February 25, 2012
Fekter: „Austerity Package is Structural Reform Package“
In spite of criticism by economists, for the Austrian Minister of Finance, the austerity package is a “big success”.
February 20, 2012
Leitl Pushes for Reforms
The President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce appreciates that actions worsening the Austrian business location conditions were prevented.
February 15, 2012
Austerity Package Brings Burden of € 900m for Companies
The Austrian austerity package causes costs of € 900m for the Austrian real economy until 2016. Especially non-wage labor costs rise.
February 14, 2012
„Financial Transaction Tax Could Cause Recession“
According to the CEO of Vienna Stock Exchange, Michael Buhl, a financial transaction tax would cost productivity at enterprises.
February 14, 2012
Doubt and Criticism on Austerity Package
For the director of IHS, the austerity measures do not contain real reforms. The implementation could become difficult. Administration reforms and health system reforms are too low, observers say.
February 13, 2012
Illegal Income from Switzerland Should Support Government´s Plans
The Austrian government hopes that proceeds from illegal income in Switzerland reach € 1.0bn in 2013. However, an agreement with Switzerland has not been concluded so far.
February 13, 2012
Rise in Rents Expected
The abandoned speculation term on Austrian real estate could lead to a sudden increase in rents.
February 11, 2012
Austerity Package Has Lack in Structural Reforms
The industrialists regard the Austrian austerity package even-tempered. WIFO misses structural reforms.
February 11, 2012
Austrian Government Presents € 27bn Austerity Package
The largest austerity package in Austria´s history mainly consists of cuts in expenditures. The government emphasized the socially balanced measures and the necessity due to reasons of competitiveness.
February 11, 2012