Category: Austrian News

BRUSSELS, Nov. 1 – Millions of products ordered online and imported into the European Union from non-EU countries will now be subject to a new €2 processing fee as part of the bloc’s efforts to tackle the growing influx of low-cost imports. The new charge, which comes into force on November 1, applies to parcels arriving from third countries such as China and the United States. According to EU member states, online marketplaces rather than consumers will be responsible for paying the fee, which will be collected by national authorities.…

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VIENNA – Millions of people in Austria will notice an additional deduction on their November payslip or pension statement as the annual e-card service fee becomes due once again. The charge will increase to €26.85 in 2026, affecting not only employees but, for the first time, a large number of pensioners. The fee becomes payable on 15 November 2026 and is generally deducted automatically from November salaries or pensions. No separate application or bank transfer is required. Around 5.2 Million People Expected to Pay According to estimates by Austria’s umbrella…

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VIENNA – Motorists in Austria are facing higher costs from January 1, 2027, as a series of new regulations take effect. The changes include increased vehicle taxes on new petrol and diesel cars, a more expensive motorway vignette, and new taxation rules for employees using electric company cars for private purposes. The measures are expected to affect a wide range of drivers, particularly those planning to purchase a new combustion-engine vehicle and workers who benefit from electric company cars. Higher NoVA Tax for New Petrol and Diesel Cars One of…

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VIENNA – New rules for marginal employment (“geringfügige Beschäftigung”) will take effect in Austria from January 1, 2027. While the monthly earnings threshold for marginal employment will remain unchanged at €551.10, employers meeting certain conditions will face significantly higher payroll-related charges. According to financial information portal Finanz.at, the annual adjustment normally applied to the marginal employment threshold has been suspended for 2027. At the same time, the flat-rate employer levy (“Dienstgeberabgabe”) will increase from 19.4 percent to 23 percent, raising costs for affected businesses. Earnings Limit Remains Frozen In Austria,…

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VIENNA – Austria’s seasonal winter tyre requirement comes into force on November 1, obliging motorists to ensure their vehicles are equipped for hazardous winter road conditions. The regulation remains in effect until April 15 of the following year and applies whenever roads are covered by snow, slush, or ice. Under Austrian law, passenger cars, light commercial vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes, and so-called “moped cars” must use suitable winter tyres when winter conditions prevail. The Austrian Automobile, Motorcycle and Touring Club (ÖAMTC) reminds drivers that compliant winter tyres must…

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VIENNA, Oct. 31, 2026 — Motorists who park illegally in Vienna will face significantly higher towing charges from November 1, after the city approved an increase in fees to reflect rising operating costs. The City of Vienna announced on Friday that the fee for towing cars and motorcycles will increase from €301 to €355, representing an increase of around 18 percent. In addition, daily vehicle storage charges at the municipal impound facility in Simmering will rise from €11 to €13 per day. According to the city, the revised tariffs are…

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VIENNA — Austria’s government is maintaining its hard-line stance on migration by sharply limiting family reunification arrivals, allowing only 314 people to enter the country under the scheme in both 2026 and 2027, according to new Interior Ministry regulations sent for consultation on Friday. The move marks a dramatic reduction from recent years. In 2024, around 6,000 people arrived in Austria through family reunification, while two years earlier the figure stood at 9,254. The new quota does not include 60 cases classified as “absolute humanitarian hardships” that were already approved…

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More than two million pensioners in Austria are set to receive a double pension payment on October 30, 2026. However, not everyone will receive the full additional amount, and some may notice a difference in their net payment due to taxes and social insurance deductions. Vienna, Austria – Pensioners across Austria can look forward to a higher bank deposit this Friday, October 30, when the regular October pension and the second special pension payment of the year are paid together. Often referred to as the 14th pension or Christmas bonus,…

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VIENNA – Rail passengers in Vienna and eastern Austria will face a series of timetable changes when the new railway schedule takes effect on December 13, 2026. The update brings more frequent services to Vienna Airport, improved connections to Bratislava, a new early-morning train to Wiener Neustadt, and temporary adjustments to S-Bahn services due to ongoing construction works. According to the Eastern Region Transport Association (VOR) and the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), the new timetable data is already available online for passengers planning journeys from mid-December onward. REX7 Extended With…

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