Insurance & Taxes

Insurances

The most important insurances needed when living in Vienna are your health insurance and your household insurance. Additionally you might need insurance for your car, your pet or when travelling, to mention a few. Please ask your HR/employer if they offer any special insurances to their employees.

  • Travel insurance - Some credit cards include travel insurance to some extent, which may be extended to your family members for a fee. For this you need to talk to the insurance partner of your credit card company. There is also the option of getting additional insurance with your own insurance broker. 
  • Car insurance - You will need a third-party car insurance (Kfz-Haftplichtversicherung)
  • Bike insurance - In order to get some reimbursement if your bike is stolen or vandalized. 

  • Pet insurance - To avoid expensive veterinary bills, a pet insurance is highly recommended. Please note: In Vienna a Liability insurance is mandatory for dogs and they must be micro-chipped (More info here)

     

For questions regarding insurances and consultation (in German or English), you can contact the independent insurance broker Irena Hofbauer

Further Information (External links)

General information on insurance in Austria - Expatica for internationals
Information on car insurance in Austria - Expatica for internationals

 

Taxes & Tax declaration

As an employee you can file a so called Employee Assessment (Arbeitnehmerveranlagung) with the financial authorities (Finanzamt) once a year in order to possibly get a tax refund.

The application can be made online through the platform FinanzOnline. To get access to the platform, you need to register here (only available in German). 

General information on Employee Assessment/Arbeitnehmerveranlagung can be found here

Good to know: Every tax-paying resident in Austria has a tax number (Steuernummer) or Tax identification Number (TIN) (Steuernummer). The 9-digit number can be found on any letters or documents from the financial authorities (Finanzamt), in your FinanzOnline account or on your residence permit. You will need it when filing your tax return. 

 

Tax benefits

Below is a short overview of possible tax benefits for scientists and researchers relocating to Austria. As the benefit can be substantial, it is highly recommended to consult a tax advisor to state if you are eligible and support the application process. For further information, please also visit the website of the Federal Ministry of Finance (GER)

Please note that this is only for information purposes and the Vienna BioCenter does not assume legal responsibility (disclaimer) 

Incoming scientists and researchers can - if all requirements are met - apply for an immigration benefit (Zuzugsbegünstigung) in the form of the elimination of additional tax burdens. This means taxation of certain foreign income from scientific and research-oriented work at an average flat rate of at least 15% and it can be claimed for a total of 10 years.

There is also the possibility of being granted a Relocation allowance (Zuzugsfreibetrag). This can be claimed for a total of up to 5 years and the tax-free allowance amounts to 30% of income from domestic and foreign scientific activities, as far as these are taxed according to the regular Austrian income tax rate.

Good to know:

Several requirements need to be fulfilled to be eligible. One of the main criteria is that the center of your life interests has shifted to Austria (including that partner/minor children also relocated). You need to justify that the relocation is in the public interest as it supports science and research.

Proof of fulfillment of the eligibility requirements for scientists and researchers is primarily provided in the form of an employment contract, proof of collective agreement classification, curriculum vitae, list of publications and documentation of collaboration and degree of responsibility in ongoing and completed research projects (in particular project management responsibility).

The application must be done within 6 months of you moving to Austria. Only written applications or applications via FinanzOnline are accepted.

Claiming immigration benefits requires a structured approach and precise knowledge of Austrian tax law and entitlements. This is why it is highly recommended to seek professional support by a tax advisor.

ID Austria

If you register for ID Austria you can identify yourself digitally on official platforms such as FinanzOnline. It offers highly secure access to government and commercial services and is free to use. It is possible to obtain a ID Austria as a foreigner, but one must apply in person at the Landespolizeidirektion (Provincial State Police Directorate)

Read more about this secure and modern way to id yourself online with ID Austria here

How to apply for ID Austria as a foreigner

You need to go to the Landespolizeidirektion/Provincial State police directorate, they have several offices in Vienna. You can book your appointment online here. The tool is available in English. 

  • Please choose Wien, to book an appointment at a Viennese directorate.
  • Scroll down to “ID Austria - Registration” in the topic drop down menu.

  • Choose which police directorate you would like to go to, the numbers listed show in which district the office is. 

    The addresses of the different police directorates are listed at the very end of this page

For the registration you need to bring:

  • ID, such as your passport
  • a passport photo, taken recently
  • Proof that you are affiliated to Austria: Your residence registration/Meldebestätigung and confirmation that you study or are employed in Austria.

Further Information (External links)

General Information on Income & taxes- Federal Government‘s Official Information Website on Migration to Austria
General information in English by the Austrian Ministery of Finance
General information on income tax- Business Service Portal
Taxes in Austria - Expactica for Internationals