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Austria

Goods

This guide is for e-commerce companies that sell online via web-stores or at marketplaces. 

Web: Austria’s Tax Agency

 

VAT Standard rate
20% 

VAT Reduced rate
10 % 

 

Thresholds
€35 000 – distance sales threshold 

You have to calculate the threshold for each Member State, including Austria, separately. Entrepreneurs of other EU Member States who carry out supplies to private individuals or taxpayers subject to the special regime, have to charge Austrian VAT if: 

  • They have exceeded the threshold of 35,000 Euro in the previous year, then the first supply of goods in the current year is charged with Austrian VAT.
  • They exceed the threshold of 35,000 Euro in the current year, then the supply that exceeds the threshold is charged with Austrian VAT, as well as the following supplies.

The distance selling rules are also applicable if the goods supplied have been imported into the European Union beforehand and have been released for free circulation in Member States other than Austria (Member State of destination). Therefore this kind of supply (chargeable in Austria) can be performed by entrepreneurs established in a third country or third territories as well.

 

Deductible VAT

To check if you have exceeded the threshold, add together the total value of distance sales. You should exclude:

  • Intra-Community supplies of goods 
  • Supplies of new means of transport or of goods that are subject to excise duty
  • Those supplies for which the margin scheme is applicable

If you paid invoices before VAT registration you may deduct them after your registration. 

Registration procedure

For VAT registration the company will be required to complete and submit a VAT registration form, along with supporting documentation:

  • Verf 19: questionnaire for the assessment procedure

In addition: indication of sales channels (e.g. homepage, catalogue etc.)

Note: distance sellers are usually not allocated a VAT number since they only need a tax account number to account for the VAT due. 

  • Verf 26: specimen signature sheet
  • Valid VAT number or certificate of registration as taxable person (entrepreneur) issued by the Tax Office of the Member State the entrepreneur has established his business in (original)
  • Copy of the company statutes
  • Copy of the manager’s passport / ID
  • Copy of the certificate of registration

Tax representative

The appointment of a Fiscal Representative is only mandatory if the supplier has no permanent address, seat or fixed establishment in an EU Member State and if there is no appropriate mutual agreement procedure. The fiscal representative has to be an authorized recipient as well.

Disclosure/ Report of Incorrect or Incomplete Tax Declaration

If you have exceeded the Austrian distance selling threshold of EUR 35,000 Euro in previous years, but have not declared these supplies in Austria, you have to subsequently correct this and declare them in Austria. You can either report an incorrect or incomplete tax declaration to the tax authorities or fully disclose these supplies. 

VAT payment date

The dates for VAT payment are as follows: 

  • January by 15 February (preliminary VAT return)
  • 2019 by 30 June 2020 online or 30 April 2020 on the paper (annual VAT return)

VAT returns filing

A taxpayer must transmit tax returns to the Graz-Stadt Tax Office by electronic means. Lovat platform supports digital submission.  

The period for submitting preliminary VAT returns is generally the calendar month. 

If the Annual taxable turnover (net) for the previous calendar year is from EUR 30 000 up to EUR 100 000, the business owner must submit quarterly preliminary returns, but if the Annual taxable turnover (net) for the previous calendar year exceeds EUR 100 000 – monthly preliminary returns.

A tax return must be filed even if no transactions have been performed during the relevant calendar month.

The dates for filing tax returns are as follows: 

  • January – by 15th of  February 
  • February – by 15th of March 

Annual VAT return – by 30th June 2020 online or 30th April 2020. 

At the Lovat portal you can see your deadlines.