Austrian Administrative Supreme Court (VwGH) about the certificate of residence for capital gains tax relief

Following up on recent case law from the tax court (BFG), in a different legal matter, the Austrian Administrative Supreme Court (VwGH) now also addressed the requirement to provide a certificate of residence on specific Austrian forms (ZS-QU1 or ZS-QU2) to benefit from a withholding tax relief at source in its decision dated 9 October […]

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BFG confirms: Relief from KESt at source only with timely certificates of residence on the ZS-QU2 form

In its decision dated 24 January 2024 (RV/1100179/2019), the Austrian Federal Financial Court (BFG) confirms the strict view of the Austrian tax authorities that, in order to be granted relief from capital gains tax (KESt) at source based on the applicable double taxation agreement, it is compulsory for the certificate of residence to be submitted […]

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Belgian certificates of residence issued electronically accepted by Austrian Ministry of Finance (BMF)

On 21 June 2023, a consultation agreement between Austria and Belgium on the mutual recognition of certificates of residence was concluded. Therefore, certificates of residence issued separately by the Belgian (and Austrian) tax authorities are to be recognised in future for relief at source or in the refund procedure. From an Austrian perspective, the consultation […]

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Private Foundations: New standpoint of the Austrian Supreme Administrative Court on the transfer of hidden reserves pursuant to section 13 para. 4 KStG (Austrian Corporate Income Tax Act)

As a general rule, section 13 para. 4 KStG permits Austrian private foundations to carry over hidden reserves from the sale of investments (in which the foundation or its legal predecessor held a share of at least 1% within the last five years) to substitute investments. These substitute investments must involve the acquisition of a […]

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Austrian Federal Law on Energy Crisis Contribution – Electricity (EKBSG) and Austrian Federal Law on Energy Crisis Contribution – Fossil Fuels (EKBFG)

On EU level a EU regulation imposing a windfall tax on energy companies was adopted on 6 October 2022. On 18 November 2022 the government tabled a legislative motion for implementing two of the key measures – a cap on revenues for electricity producing companies and a “solidarity contribution” for surplus profits in the fossil […]

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Austrian Supreme Administrative Court (VwGH) on seamless transition in cases of mergers within company groups

In principle, section 9 para. 5 Austrian Corporate Income Tax Act (KStG) provides that a merger within the company group does not result in the merging company exiting the company group or in other changes to the company group. The Austrian Supreme Administrative Court addressed a special situation in its decision of 19 October 2022, […]

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Austrian Tax Court (BFG) on liquidation of a foreign member of a tax group – Use of final losses restricted

For the first time, in its decision of 7 October 2022, RV/7101680/2022, an Austrian Tax Court had the opportunity to look into the relation between section 9 para. 6 subsec. 7 Austrian Corporate Income Tax Act (KStG) (reduction of subsequent taxation in the event of liquidation) and section 10 para. 3 KStG (assertion of partial […]

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VwGH – No provisions for impending losses due to lease expenses of loss-making stores

In a decision of 7 April 2022, Ro 2021/13/0009, the Austrian Supreme Administrative Court (VwGH) endorsed the case law of the German Federal Fiscal Court (BFH). According to this decision, provisions for impending losses arising from disadvantageous lease agreements can only be created if the leased property can no longer be used by the business. Circumstances […]

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Inflation relief package(s) / new tax-exempt inflation bonus

The Austrian government has announced relief packages to mitigate the impacts on the population due to the huge wave of inflation. The first inflation relief package (part 1) was passed by the Austrian parliament at the end of June and was published in the Austrian Federal Law Gazette (BGBl.) on 30 June 2022. The package included […]

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Austrian Tax Amendment Act 2022 – government bill published

The government bill for the Austrian Tax Amendment Act 2022 (AbgÄG 2022) was published in mid-June. Confirmation of the final version is expected before the summer recess. The AbgÄG 2022 contains numerous minor adjustments and changes related to income taxation, VAT, and procedural law. Tax changes relating to the previously announced inflation package, particularly the abolition of […]

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