This economy profile presents the Doing Business indicators for Austria. To allow useful comparison, it also provides data for other selected economies (comparator economies) for each indicator. The data in this report are current as of June
1, 2014 (except for the paying taxes indicators, which cover the period January–December 2013).

Overview of Austrian Economy – This page summarizes Doing Business 2015 data for Austria. The first section presents the Ease of Doing Business rank (out of 189 economies) and the distance to frontier (DTF)** measure, overall and by topic. The second section summarizes the key indicators for each topic benchmarked against regional averages.

Economic Report Austria 2014 Executive Summary. Austria’s economy developed better than the euro area also in a long-term … small, open economy, cannot escape trends in the world-wide development. PDF downloadable report.

Austria GDP Growth Rate 1996-2015. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Austria expanded 0.30 percent in the second quarter of 2015 over the previous quarter, slightly above market expectations and higher than an upwardly revised 0.2 percent increase in the previous period.

Establishing a Business in Austria guide that provides information on the types of companies and Austria’s requirements for the companies. Basically, the following legal forms are available in Austria: … The law of the limited liability company is governed by the Gesetz über ….

Business Registration Requirements – Business licences for foreigners. Foreign individuals may carry on trade or business the same way as Austrian nationals, unless trade regulations provide otherwise. They may also be appointed business managers under trade law provided agreements have been made to that end between their country and Austria.

Extensive information on Austrian Company Law and the rules and regulation closely related to starting a business can be found in the brochure Starting Business in Austria [pdf, 602.8kb]. There you also find basic information necessary for preparing a meeting with an attorney or tax advisor, a checklist and a list of helpful addresses.

Austrian Government website on Starting a Business in Austria. The website has information on various aspects including Considerations for Establishment of a Business, Capital Requirements [Kapitalbedarf], Obtaining Capital [Kapitalbeschaffung], Choice of Legal Structure
and Advice Centres

PDF download from the Austrian Government with detailed information on Business Types, Business Structures and Legal Requirements

Business Registration Requirements – Website with detailed description and information for Setting up a company in Austria, Registration, documents and fees. Every citizen of an EU state, EEA state or Switzerland can set up business in Austria. Citizens from other countries must hold a residence permit. A person can set up business if they are 18 years old and have no criminal record.

Personal online tax calculator for Austria.

The Ministry of Finance, which oversees the running of the VAT system, provided regular notices (Verodnungen) and decrees (Erlässe) Standard VAT rate: 20% (Jan 1984)

Reduced VAT rates: 10% foodstuffs, books, pharmaceuticals, passenger transport, newspapers, admission to cultural and amusement events, hotels

The Corporate Tax Rate in Austria stands at 25 percent. Corporate Tax Rate in Austria averaged 35.40 percent from 1981 until 2015, reaching an all time high of 55 percent in 1982 and a record low of 25 percent in 2005. Corporate Tax Rate in Austria is reported by the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Downloadable PDF of The Austrian Personal Income and Corporate Income tax rates and rules from the Austrian Government.

Which income will be taxed in Austria? Live in Austria (min. 6 months in the tax year)? You must pay tax on your worldwide income there. Lived in Austria but less than 6 months in the tax year? You are not considered tax resident and pay tax only on income earned in Austria.

This guide is aimed at employers. Detailed information on applying for a work permit.

The following overview should give you an idea of whether you will need an entry permit (visa) or a residence permit to enter Austria. 

This article concerns the systems of telecommunication in Austria. Austria has a highly developed and efficient telephone network, and has a number of radio and television broadcast stations.

An efficient traffic system, a secure network of energy suppliers and a state-of-the-art telecom system:  Austria’s infrastructure is more than just competitive.

Situated at the crossroads of Central Europe, Austria is well-connected by air and rail and can be easily navigated by car. Austria offers excellent train service to all European capitals and an excellent freeway network. Six local airports provide nonstop travel into all of Austria’s regions.

Austria features an excellent network of transport system and transshipment hubs where intermodal terminals link roads, railways and waterways

Scope of employment regulations including minimum wage, worktime restrictions, employee representation

Cost of living information includes price indices for rent, food, utilities, transportation, restaurants, clothing and more

Perhaps because of its geographical and linguistic proximity to Germany and because it is a very small country with less than 10 million inhabitants, Austria and Germany have similar cultures and business etiquettes. However, you should never think of them as being exactly the same and should make sure to distinguish between them as separate countries and cultures.

Austria is located within a temperate climatic zone. In the west and northwest the influence of the temperate Atlantic climate is felt more strongly, in the east the influence of the continental climate. Temperatures depend largely on altitude, with averages 5°C lower for each additional 300 m of elevation. Summers can be hot, with temperatures sometimes reaching 30°C or more, summer evenings are usually cool.

US Department of State – Go to Safety and Security for updates from the Austrian government

Austria has a free and public school system, and nine years of education are mandatory. Schools offer a series of vocational-technical and university preparatory tracks involving one to four additional years of education beyond the minimum mandatory level.

National holidays and observances

Demographic information includes population, quality of life, health, sports, technology, energy and the environment

OECD Life Index. Austria performs well in many measures of well-being relative to most other countries in the Better Life Index. Austria ranks above the average in jobs and earnings, subjective well-being, personal security, civic engagement, health status, environmental quality, education and skills, but below average in work-life balance.

MIT overview of Trade in Austria

Austrian Government website on import regulations

Finding a nice place to live is always difficult. Austria is no exception – getting the right accommodation can be hard, especially in the larger cities. Read our guide to room and flat rental. Check out the classifieds for available property and people looking to share flats. Good luck on your search!

The Austrian National Tourist Office (ANTO) is Austria’s national tourism organization. Since 1955 the main objective of the association (in the beginning called „Österreichische Fremdenverkehrswerbung“ and since 1989 “Österreich Werbung”) has been the promotion of Austria as a vacation destination.