Austria for Beginners

16/01/2024

🌈 Since November 1, 2023, parents notifying their employer of intended parental leave can now enjoy this flexibility until their child turns eight - that's a maximum of seven years! 🎉 This includes maternity leave and parental leave periods for the same child. If your child starts school after turning seven, that time is added back within the seven-year limit. To qualify:

✅ Minimum three years of continuous employment before starting part-time
✅ The company employs more than 20 staff
✅ Reduce your previous weekly working hours by at least 20%
✅ Have at least twelve hours of remaining weekly working hours

Even if you don't meet all criteria, you can still negotiate parental leave. Employers must provide a written explanation if they decline on the employee's written request. 📝💼

12/01/2024

🌟 Important Update on the right to take a nursing leave (Pflegefreistellung) in Austria! 🇦🇹

Great news! 📢 If you're caring for close family members (children, parents, spouse, or registered partner) in Austria, you can now take leave to support them, even if you don't live in the same household. 🏡 That's not all—care leave is also available for individuals living together who may not be closely related but require assistance for medical reasons.

🤝 It's your right! If your employer denies or delays your care leave, caregiving or part-time care, they must provide a clear and written explanation. 📄 Your well-being matters, and we're here to help you understand and protect your rights!

💙 Share this post to spread the word and empower others!

08/01/2024

On January 15th, 2024, the validity of e-cards without a picture expires. Exempt from this new rule are persons under the age of 14 and over 70, and persons with disabilities.

Please note that the lack of an up-to-date e-card with a picture does not affect your health insurance rights.

11/12/2023

From 2021 you are eligible for a Home Office Allowance of 3 euros for each day spent exclusively in a home office, up to a maximum of 100 days per year, if you worked at least 26 days from home during the year. However, keep in mind that this allowance is adjusted for any tax-free reimbursements and can be bound to different requirements, regulated by the specific collective agreement.

The Home Office Deduction covers all your home office-related expenses, including a proportional share of rent, utility costs, as well as computer and internet expenses.
If your costs for digital work tools (such as a privately purchased computer, internet, or phone fees) exceed the Home Office Allowance, you have the option to deduct the actual costs as business expenses.

And here's an extra perk: In addition to the Home Office Allowance or actual costs for digital work tools, you can also deduct ergonomic office furniture expenses, up to 300 euros per year.

Sign up for our webinar tomorrow and learn how to do your tax return! Register here

webinar: How to fill in your tax declaration You can’t make it to the seminar? You can now purchase the recording of it! This workshop informs employees and workers on how to fill in their tax declaration.Basic terms and figures will be explained, as well as the online tax refund form. Our aim is ...

10/12/2023

When a child is born out of wedlock, not only the mother gets full custody but only her citizenship is passed on to the child. If the father recognizes the child within 8 weeks of their birth, their citizenship is also given to the baby without much red tape.
However, when that happens later on and the father is an Austrian citizen, a formal application for citizenship has to be filed.

Did you know that if the parents have a registered partnership the children are born out of wedlock? We know, right?!

If you have any questions about the pros and cons of a registered partnership compared to a civil marriage, join our organization and get your slot for family law consultations!

Become a member here

https://www.austria4beginners.at/memberships-for-individuals/

Get your consultation slot here:
https://www.austria4beginners.at/offer/seminars/family-law-consultations/

09/12/2023

Towards the year-end, the government implemented various measures to combat the surging inflation, and one of them involved addressing the issue of bracket creep, also known as cold progression.

Wondering what this entails?

Austria operates on a progressive tax system, meaning that different percentages of personal income are taxed based on annual earnings. For instance:

Income between 11,000 and 18,000 is taxed at 20%.
Income between 18,000 and 31,000 is taxed at 32.50% (for 2023).

As inflation rises, the purchasing power of our money decreases, resulting in reduced real income. To counteract this, the government has chosen to adapt the income thresholds within the various brackets according to the inflation rate. For 2023, the adjusted income brackets will be as follows:
Up to 11,693.00 – 0%
11,693.00 to 19,134.00 - 20%
19,134.00 to 32,075.00 – 30%
32,075.00 to 62,080.00 – 41%
62,080.00 to 93,120.00 – 48%

This adjustment aims to alleviate the impact of inflation on our incomes. Stay informed and share this vital update.

Do you want to learn about everything you can claim in your tax return? Sign up for our webinar here https://www.austria4beginners.at/how-to-fill-in-your-tax-declaration/

07/12/2023

Join us on a journey through the heartfelt story of Sebastian and Adriana, a couple navigating love and legalities in Austria. 🌍✨ Our latest article explores the nuances of registered partnerships and marriages, unraveling the legal intricacies that our dynamic duo faced.

🤔 Curious about the legal advantages and disadvantages? Wondering about the impact on residence status? Dive into the article for a comprehensive guide. 💑💼

Engage with us! Share your thoughts, questions, or experiences in the comments below. Let's foster a supportive community where love and legal insights unite.

Read the full article here: [Link to Article]



Read the full article here:
https://www.austria4beginners.at/navigating-love-and-legalities-marriage-vs-registered-partnership-in-austria/

Get in touch with DI Yana Staykova here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yana-staykova-206250206/

06/12/2023

The precious few weeks after a baby is born never come back and the whole family needs to be together. Although Austria joined the party later than a lot of countries, a.k.a. providing fathers with the chance to take time off after the birth of their child, that opportunity has been available to all employed and self-employed dads since 2019.

We chose this topic for our very first blog post - taking care of children is not only a woman's job! Giving fathers the legal right to take time off after birth is a strong message in this direction.

Learn all about Papamonat here:
https://www.austria4beginners.at/papamonat-in-austria/

05/12/2023

Have you ever wondered what is the difference between those two tax allowances? Or what is a tax allowance at all?

For single parents or sole earners, there are tax deductions that depend on the number of children. You are considered a single parent if
you and your children have the same address registration and the second parent is registered under a different address, or
There is a partnership for fewer than six months in the year
Regarding the sole earner tax allowance - it is applicable if there is an active partnership and the second partner earned less than 6312,00 euros in 2023

In both cases, family benefits (Familienbeihilfe) must be received for at least one child for more than six months in the year.
Once a year, the income tax is reduced by the following amounts for each child for whom you receive a family allowance:
- 520 Euros for one child (until 2023: 494 Euros)
- 704 Euros for two children (until 2023: 669 Euros)
- 232 Euros for each additional child (until 2023: 220 Euros)

Do you want to know what else you can claim in your tax return? Sing up for our webinar here https://www.austria4beginners.at/how-to-fill-in-your-tax-declaration/

02/12/2023

Do you know, you can fight inflation, by submitting your tay declarations?

Since 2020 the government increases the amount of the Familybonus Plus, based on the family income.

The Family Bonus replaces the deductibles for child care that were applicable until 2018.
The Family Bonus is a tax allowance and, starting from 2023, reduces your income tax per child

The Family Bonus Plus sees a rise from 1,500 Euros to 2,000 Euros per child annually. Families with sufficient income tax payments will enjoy this increased benefit. Additionally, for children above 18 years old, the amount is raised from 500 Euros to a maximum of 650 Euros.

Families can anticipate a significant increase in their tax returns for 2023, providing substantial relief compared to previous years.

Does this apply to you and your family? Find out how to optimize your taxes by signing up for our webinar here https://www.austria4beginners.at/how-to-fill-in-your-tax-declaration/