VAT Austria Guide

Read our guide and find out everything you need to know about VAT in Austria, from registration to filing, and more.

Are you thinking about selling in Austria? If so, it's crucial to have a clear understanding of the Austria VAT (Value Added Tax) system. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the Austrian VAT rates, registration requirements, filing obligations, and other key information to ensure you’re well-prepared for doing business in Austria.

What is the Austrian VAT Rate?

In Austria, VAT is referred to as ‘Umsatzsteuer’ or simply ‘UST’. The Austrian VAT system encompasses various tax rates for different types of goods and services. Here's an overview of the VAT rates in Austria:

Type of VAT	VAT Rate	Applicable Goods/Services
Standard VAT	20%	All other taxable goods and services.
Reduced VAT rate (1)	13%	Includes certain goods and services such as foodstuffs, admission to sporting and cultural events, wine production, and some agricultural supplies.
Reduced VAT rate (2)	10%	Includes some foodstuffs, takeaway food, restaurant and catering services, newspapers, periodicals, books, and e-books.
Zero rate VAT	0%	Includes intra-community and international transport, and hotel accommodation.

Registering for VAT in Austria

The VAT registration threshold for resident businesses in Austria is €35,000 (nil for non-residents). That means any business exceeding this threshold must register for VAT.

As of July 1, 2021, the EU adopted a unified threshold for distance selling across member states, set at €10,000. Therefore, if your company's annual turnover from cross-border trade with an EU country exceeds €10,000, you must register for VAT in Austria. Registration is also necessary if you store products in Austria or participate in programs like Amazon's Fulfilled-by-Amazon (FBA) which includes Austria.

To obtain an Austrian VAT number, you must complete and submit form U15 to the Austrian tax authorities, including all the information requested. The form must be completed in German. You should receive your VAT number within four weeks.

Fiscal representation in Austria

It's important to note that non-EU companies selling in Austria are required to appoint a fiscal representative, who will share responsibility with the company for any Austrian VAT obligations.

Austria VAT return filing and penalties

Businesses registered for VAT in Australia must file their returns online. VAT returns should typically be filed monthly, although businesses can file quarterly returns if their annual turnover does not exceed €100,000. All taxpayers must also file an annual return.

The submission and payment deadline is the 15th of the second month following the end of the reporting period. The deadline for annual VAT returns is the 30th of June of the following year.

Failure to submit a VAT return could result in a fine of 10% of the VAT due, while the fine for late payment is 2% of any VAT due.

Austrian Intrastat declarations

Resident and non-resident businesses trading in Austria are required to submit Intrastat declarations. The annual threshold for filing an Intrastat return is €750,000 for both arrivals and dispatches. Detailed Intrastat reports must be submitted once the arrivals and/or dispatches threshold reaches €12 million. Intrastat declarations should be submitted by the 10th of the month following the reporting month via Statistik Austria.

Reverse charge in Austria

Austria, like many EU countries, applies the reverse charge mechanism in certain situations. This mechanism shifts the responsibility for reporting and paying VAT from the supplier to the recipient of goods or services. It’s typically used for EU cross-border supplies and specific industries.

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