Doing business in Austria - PKF

egion, etc. The costs of fundamental research activities may
be subsidized by up to 100%.
• Recruitment and personnel development: human resource
subsidies of up to 45% are normally granted in connection with
personnel development and training. Furthermore, job creation
grants are often available, as well as subsidies to meet initial
salary costs or reduce social security costs of employees.
• Investments that lead to an improvement of environmental
conditions may entitle to environmental subsidies of max 30%
of the investment expenditure.
• Commodity exports are supported by numerous export
promotion programs. There is a variety of guarantee schemes
available for project investments, to the extent of up to 80% of
the loan amount.
• EU investment grants: several Austrian regions are eligible for
support under various EU structural fund programs, to promote
and facilitate economic development. Incentives under these
programs are equally available to domestic and foreign
investors and range from subsidies to preferential loans, to
guarantees and tax incentives.
• Three block exemption regulations concerning state aid to
small and medium-sized enterprises as well as de minimis aid
(€ 200.000 within three years) facilitate state supports. They
became effective on January 1, 2007 and are valid until
December 31, 2013.
There is no legal obligation to grants and funding, which means, it is
the company’s duty to submit a formally correct and innovative project
application. Applications for funding always have to be submitted
before investments are made.
Tax Incentives
Tax incentives available under the Austrian tax law include:
PKF - Doing business in Austria - Grants and Incentives 31