Life in Austria

In Austria, parents raising children, regardless of their employment or income, are entitled to family allowance. (Note: The text appears to already be in UK English, so no translation was necessary.) Until what age is Austrian family allowance provided? By default, family allowance is provided until the child is 19 years old. If the child is still studying (higher education, vocational training, further education, etc.), it is provided until a maximum of 24 years of age. The child’s income does not count until the age of 19; from 20 years old, their total taxable income must not exceed £15,000 per year. What is considered taxable income for family allowance purposes…

In this post, you will find the list of holidays and school breaks in Austria for 2025. After the national holidays, you can also see local holidays by province and school breaks. Austria Holidays in 2025 (Note: In this case, the text was already in English, so no translation was necessary.) Below you will find the list of holidays in Austria for the year 2025: Note: In this case, the text is already in UK English, so no translation was necessary. 1 January 2025 – New Year’s Day 6 January 2025 – Epiphany 21 April 2025 – Easter Monday 1 May 2025 – Labour Day 29 May 2025 – Ascension…

Church tax, also known as church contribution, is an important financial obligation for members of Austrian Catholic and Protestant churches. The purpose of this tax is to support church operations, including social programmes, property maintenance, and other church services. The Church Tax in Austria has a long history, dating back to the time of the Habsburg Empire. Churches have always played an important role in social life, and through taxation, they ensured that the necessary resources were available for their activities. Based on agreements between the Austrian state and churches, the taxation system has been refined over the years, adapting to changing social and economic circumstances. Who is required to…

In Austria, the value-added tax (VAT, Mehrwertsteuer) system applies multiple tax rates to different products and services. The most important tax rates are the 20% standard tax rate, as well as the 10% and 13% reduced tax rates. In this article, we will review in which cases these reduced rates can be applied and what conditions apply to them. Standard Tax Rate: 20% (Note: Since the original text was already in English, no translation was necessary.) The 20% standard tax rate applies to most products and services in Austria. This is the standard tax rate that is used by default, unless the law provides otherwise. Note: The text appears to…

The following article was written by Tamás Golubov in the Hungarians in Austria Facebook group. Join the group if you need more information about life in Austria! The group is available here: Hungarians in Austria Note: Since the text is already in English, no translation was necessary. The block remains exactly the same. Hi there! Recently, I successfully registered my Hungarian-registered car. It wasn’t easy, but not complicated either; the main issue was that it’s easy to get confused by the abundance of information, with many people saying and writing all sorts of things, and contradictory information being quite common. I decided to write down my experiences for you, and…

Drink driving is a serious hazard on the roads, as alcohol significantly impairs reaction time and driving abilities. In Austria, strict legal regulations protect road safety, which include not only fines but also licence suspension and mandatory retraining. This article provides a detailed overview of the legal consequences and official procedures for drink driving. According to the law in Austria, the permitted blood alcohol level is less than 0.5 per mille. Drivers with probationary licenses, as well as truck and bus drivers, are subject to even stricter rules: for them, the limit is only 0.1 per mille. (Note: The text appears to already be in UK English, so no translation…

The e-card is the electronic card of Austrian social insurance, which is essential for accessing healthcare services in Austria. The purpose of the e-card system is to simplify administrative processes, ensure the protection of patient data, and make healthcare more efficient. You can find the official e-card website here in German. (Note: The text was already in English, so no translation was necessary.) History and Introduction The introduction of the e-card system was part of the modernisation of the Austrian healthcare system, which began in the early 2000s. The Austrian government’s goal was to create an integrated system capable of managing health data, providing quick and secure access to healthcare…

The IG-L (Immissionsschutzgesetz-Luft) designation is well known to Austrian drivers. This term refers to speed restrictions, which are known as the “Luft-Hunderter”. IG-L is an Austrian federal law aimed at, among other things, reducing vehicle emissions. To implement this objective, variable speed limits were introduced on designated sections of motorways and roads. These restrictions come into effect when air pollution increases. This means that the “Luft-Hunderter” limit may be in effect on certain days in a specific section, while not on others. When do the IG-L speed restrictions take effect? (Note: The text was already in English, so no translation was necessary.) Air quality monitoring stations operated by the regions…

The Austrian school system fundamentally differs from the structural setup that we are accustomed to within the framework of public education in the UK. Many British parents are in trouble, as they cannot decide which school to visit after moving due to lack of information. The topic of school enrolment, school selection, and assessing opportunities is also a recurring theme in our Facebook group. Since every parent wants the best for their child, there’s no question about how important it is to gather information on this matter. At the request of group members, we have compiled a knowledge base that we warmly recommend to every British family moving to Austria.…

The Familienbonus Plus is a tax credit that allows parents in Austria to reduce their tax burden. The credit has existed since 2019 and has been modified several times since then. The most recent changes went into effect in 2024. Note: The text appears to already be in UK English, so no translation was necessary. How to Claim the Family Bonus Plus? The Familienbonus Plus is a direct tax credit that can be claimed on the Austrian tax return. The amount of the credit depends on the child’s age. Up to a maximum of 2,000 EUR per child per year can be claimed. The Family Bonus Plus is available to…