Fact File Supplied By:
Wolf Theiss.
Location
Central Europe.
Timezone
Central European Time.
Population
8,977,139 (2024).
Capital
Vienna.
Airport
Vienna (VIE), Innsbruck (INN), Salzburg (SZG), Klagenfurt (KLU), Graz (GRZ), and Linz (LNZ).
Language
German.
Currency
Euro (EUR).
Political System
Parliamentary republic, founded on democratic principles and the separation of powers.
International Dialing Code
+43
Legal System
Civil law system.
Centre's Expertise
Private clients (no wealth or inheritance/estate/gift taxes). Investment vehicles (large treaty network, almost 90 DTTs). Holding companies (e.g., for investments through Austria into CEE/SEE). Foundations. Highly educated personnel.
Personal income tax
Progressive rate up to 55%.
Corporate income tax
23%.
Exchange restrictions
None.
Tax Information exchange agreements
Permitted currencies
EUR.
Minimum authorised capital
In case of a GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung): EUR 10,000 of which half has to be paid in.
Minimum share issue
None.
Shelf companies
Available.
Timescale for new entities
One to two weeks.
Incorporation fees
Legal fees: approx. EUR 3,000; court and notarial fees: approx. EUR 1,500.
Annual fees
Maintenance fees (including accounting, bookkeeping and filing of tax returns): approx. EUR 2,000; No public dues, besides minimum corporate income tax of EUR 500 annually.
Minimum number
One.
Residency requirements/ownership restrictions
No.
Corporate directors
No.
Meetings/frequency
No limits.
Disclosure
Company register; UBO register depending on percentage of participation.
Bearer shares
Only allowed for companies listed on stock exchange, thus not for a GmbH.
Minimum number
One.
Public share registry
Company register.
Meetings/frequency
At least annually.
Annual return
Annual financial report; annual tax return.
Audit requirements
Depends on size of company.
Registered office
Yes.
Domicile issues
Legal seat.
Company naming restrictions
No deceptive company names allowed; name's availability to be checked with company register.
Recent Legislation