416 million won back from tax dodgers in Switzerland

Categories
General News

By Rob Hyde Austria has won back 416,7 million Euros deposited in Switzerland since the two countries signed a special tax agreement. Since the start of the new information-exchange at the start of 2013, 13,600 Austrians have come forward and divulged details of assets they have based in Switzerland. The investors, who managed to declare […]

Bad bank solution for Hypo Alpe Adria

Categories
Finance

Austria’s national bank governor (OeNB) Ewald Nowotny has come out in favour of a “Bad Bank” model to solve the problems of the Hypo Alpe Adria (HGAA) bank. The bank in Carinthia was at the centre of a scandal after it was revealed that it had been involved in a number of questionable activities including […]

5,500 new millionaires in Austria

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Business

2012 has been a successful year for the wealthy in Austria. The numbers of Austrian millionaires has increased by 5,500 people (10%) to 77,600 people. They own a third of the total private assets. In total, Austrian millionaires own assets of 245 billion Euros. Every Austrian millionaire owns 3.15 million Euros on average. Family Porsche/Piech […]

From the Grossglockner to the Sea

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Travel

The Alpe-Adria-Trail is a brand new hiking route that covers three countries. From the foot of the highest mountain in Austria, the 3,798 metre high Grossglockner, to the Adriatic Sea – in 38 stages. Each stage covers a distance of around 17 kilometres, and the Trail passes through Carinthia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Slovenia. In total […]

Asset tax hike useless, says study

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Business

An increase of taxes on assets will not help lower the state debt, according to a survey. Researchers of Salzburg University – who cooperated with a tax consultant office to conduct their investigation – said yesterday (Weds) raising Austria’s comparably low taxation rate on assets would not significantly support the government in its current attempt […]

New austerity threatens rail investments

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Business

Social Democratic (SPÖ) Traffic Minister Doris Bures may be forced to pull the plug on an extensive railway infrastructure project. Bures said in September that 100 train stations all over Austria would be renovated by 2014. The infrastructure minister also presented plans to improve the country’s railroad network in the coming years. The People’s Party […]

President’s tax appeal upsets ÖVP

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Politics

Federal President Heinz Fischer has been criticised for backing calls for higher taxes on assets. The former Social Democratic (SPÖ) member of the federal parliament (MP) said yesterday (Sun) he worried about the social peace and balance in the country. Fischer said he would like to put the opinion that Austria’s rich must not be […]

Austria makes rich list’s top 5

Categories
Lifestyle

Austria has one of the densest millionaire populations in the world, a survey has revealed.Boston Consulting Group’s (BCG) Global Wealth Report 2011 shows that, with 5.2 million households, most US dollar millionaires live in the United States of America. Millionaire households represented only 0.9 per cent of all households in the world. These families owned […]

Austria freezes Gaddafi fortune

Categories
Politics

Austria has blocked all assets of the Libyan Gaddafi clan in the country, it has been confirmed.The Austrian National Bank (OeNB) appealed on the country’s banks to block the deposits of 26 people including Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi, his wife, their eight children and high-profile military and secret service chiefs.The OeNB said it estimated the […]

‘Safety first’ investments preferred by majority

Categories
General News

Only 10 per cent of Austrians focus on increasing their assets when making investments, according to a survey.One in 10 of the 1,000 Austrians interviewed by research agency Spectra said their chief priority is making a profit when it comes to choosing how to invest their money.Almost seven out of 10 Austrians (67 per cent) […]