Upper Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) Governor Josef Pühringer has put the federal government’s cost reduction course into question. Pühringer said today (Tues): “Everybody who thinks that subsidies could be reduced by billions of Euros is wrong.” The ÖVP wants to reduce the state’s annual spending on private and public companies, cultural institutions and various organisations […]
Tag: tax
Austria is investigating how much money it could generate by a tax on financial transactions, according to Chancellor Werner Faymann. The chairman of the Austrian Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) told radio station Ö1 this morning (Tues) a team of experts were examining the issue for the government coalition of his party and the People’s Party […]
Property prices ‘will continue to rise’
Categories
A real estate manager has said he expects Viennese property prices to climb further. Johannes Meran, who heads the administration board of Vienna-based property developer Conwert Immobilien Invest AG (Conwert), told the Kurier newspaper today (Mon): “I think the price for owner-occupied apartments in Vienna will continue to rise. Increases of five to 10 per […]
The feud of the government parties is intensifying after People’s Party (ÖVP) whip Karlheinz Kopf accused the chancellor of engaging in a class war. Kopf told the Kurier yesterday (Sun) that Werner Faymann would have to accept the main responsibility for a possible failure to agree to a savings package within the agreed deadline. Social […]
The Association of Austrian Taxpayers has spoken out against the creation of a list of tax dodgers. The organisation said yesterday (Weds) that a decision like that would mean a “step backwards” in modern civil society. It stressed that not everyone accused of tax evasion was a criminal. “Many people whose names may be found […]
Berlakovich blocks possible cutbacks
Categories
The pressure is increasing on People’s Party (ÖVP) Environment Minister Nikolaus Berlakovich as he keeps refusing to reduce spending on the agricultural sector. The environment and agriculture minister claimed yesterday (Tues) subsidies on the domestic agricultural industry were ensuring farmers’ existence. He warned that cuts could ruin the Austrian agricultural sector. His appeal comes after […]
SPÖ suggests ‘list of tax evasion shame’
Categories
Social Democratic (SPÖ) General Secretary Günther Kräuter has said the possible publication of a “list of disgrace” to increase the pressure on tax dodgers has his party’s unequivocal support. Kräuter told broadcaster ORF yesterday evening (Tues) he backed the idea of Labour Chamber (AK) officials. Leading AK members said Austria should follow the example of […]
Car fuel sales slide
Categories
Austrians acquired less fuel last year, according to a traffic research organisation. The Austria Traffic Club (VCÖ) said yesterday (Sun) around 9.6 billion litres of petrol were sold in 2011, down from 9.7 billion litres in the previous year. An all-time record was achieved in 2005 when 10.2 billion litres were sold across the country, […]
A leading Social Democrat (SPÖ) has rejected the People’s Party’s (ÖVP) latest suggestions to economise. ÖVP boss Michael Spindelegger said yesterday (Thurs) that the state could save “more than 10 billion Euros” altogether by 2016 by reducing certain investments. Spindelegger made clear that the agricultural sector would not be spared from austerity measures. However, the […]
AK calls for cooperation tax hike
Categories
Labour Chamber (AK) President Herbert Tumpel has demanded higher corporation taxes. Tumpel said yesterday (Thurs) Austrian firms had handed over just 17 per cent in taxes in 2010 despite the mandatory 25 per cent taxation rate. He explained the investigated enterprises used various loopholes to evade worse tax burdens. The AK investigated the performance of […]