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Other resolutions: Extension of crown-related tax measures and tax deferrals, introduction of a digital global certificate
Vienna (PK) – The National Council today decided on the tax law as part of the home office package. The regulation is part of a unanimously adopted legislative package that includes the extension of tax measures and tax deferrals to address the COVID-19 crisis for another three months until June 30, 2021. The office package at home consists of an allowance of up to € 300 per year for the purchase of ergonomic equipment, as well as a flat home office fee that the employer can pay for a maximum of 100 days in a calendar year and up to three euros. per home office day. The regulations will initially apply until 2023.
The basis for the cost subsidies for corona tests in companies and interest groups was approved by a majority in the National Council. Not only are employee tests eligible, but also those of outsiders such as family members or customers. According to the Minister of Economy, Margarete Schramböck, companies should receive a grant of € 10 for each test carried out, initially limited to June 30.
In addition, today it was decided to introduce a “global digital certificate” for bonds and investment certificates to reduce red tape in the financial services sector. The corresponding government bill to amend the Deposit Law was approved by a majority.
In the course of the debate, the SPÖ tabled two motions, which, however, did not find a majority in the plenary. By means of an amendment to the “Law on Business Trials”, the Social Democrats wanted to expand the support group and extend the financing term until the end of 2021. Furthermore, the Social Democrats asked the Finance Minister to immediately convene a general meeting of Österreichische Beteiligungs AG (ÖBAG) to remove Thomas Schmid from the board of ÖBAG.
Fiscal aspects of the Ministry of the Interior and extension of fiscal measures to face the COVID-19 crisis
The tax law that is part of the central office regulations, as well as the extension of tax deferrals, were incorporated into a legislative package proposed by the coalition parties, which brings an extension of several special regulations of the tax law. until the end of June this year. According to this, employees who work at least 26 days a year in the home office can claim up to € 300 for ergonomic furniture such as armchairs, work tables and lighting as income-related expenses, for which one can be claimed partial amount retroactively to 2020. At the same time, starting this year, up to € 300 home office flat rate – € 3 per day for up to 100 home office days – awarded by an employer can be withdrawn tax free. Alternatively, advertising costs can also be claimed if the costs of a study are not taken into account. A home office agreement between employer and employee is a prerequisite for taking advantage of tax benefits. Additionally, regulations are initially limited to 2023.
The crown-related extension of the tax deferral for another three months until June 30, 2021, which was also resolved by the amendment, is accompanied by a three-month postponement of the introduction of the COVID-19 installment payment model. . The extension of various special tax regulations until the end of June of this year also refers to the concession of the commuter franchise, the tax exemption of ethanol for the production of disinfectants and the tax-free treatment of bonuses and surcharges despite the telecommuting, quarantine or short -time to work. In addition to the investment bonus, the term for first orders, deliveries or advances will be extended by three months until May 31, 2021.
SPÖ MP Kai Jan Krainer found great agreement among all parliamentary groups on the tax law part of the head office package and on the extension of deferrals and tax measures to cushion the COVID-19 crisis . However, there was little agreement on the question of who should pay the costs of the crisis in principle. Krainer called for a “greater contribution of wealth and capital” to finance the tax system and the costs caused by the pandemic.
“In the midst of the crisis, it is not the right time for an ideological discussion about who pays how much taxes,” Karlheinz Kopf (ÖVP) said in the direction of Kai Jan Krainer. To fight the crisis, it is now “the order of the day to help as many as possible.” The extension of the tax deferrals that has now been decided, as well as the tax relief for people who work from home, is another important step to cushion the effects of the crisis, Kopf emphasized. In addition, the amount of 3.9 billion euros requested so far for the investment premium will generate an investment volume of 40 billion euros.
Elisabeth Götze (Greens) emphasized that the legislative package has brought good and important points for companies. The central office regulation now creates tax clarity for employees and employers. So far there has been a legal gray area here. What is still missing is a regulation for the self-employed. Furthermore, the home office package is an important contribution to climate protection, emphasized the colleague from the Götzes parliamentary group, Jakob Schwarz. After all, traffic is responsible for a third of emissions. By working more from home, individual traffic could be reduced.
In principle, he and his parliamentary group could agree to the legislative package, said FPÖ mandate Hubert Fuchs. Fuchs, however, criticized the legal implementation of the home office regulation, which leads to a lot of bureaucracy for both employees and financial management. People who have already done their 2020 employee tax assessment would now have to submit supplemental forms for last year. The best solution would have been to reclaim the home office advertising costs for 2020 with the 2021 employee tax assessment. This would have spared tax authorities the need to correct “tens of thousands of notices,” Fuchs said.
Karin Doppelbauer also welcomed the extension of the fiscal crisis measures by NEOS. However, Doppelbauer considered the extension of the commuter allowance critically. On the one hand, it will be difficult to withdraw this, and on the other, it will further promote climate-damaging private transportation. According to Doppelbauer, it is more prudent to ease the work factor and at the same time introduce the price of CO2. The NEOS deputy called for “courageous reforms” and “a roadmap to get out of this crisis.”
Finance Minister Gernot Blümel pointed out the importance of the Interior Ministry in reducing social contacts under Corona. Working from home will continue to be a big issue even after the pandemic, so it’s important to have your tax issues fixed now. The regulation is generously designed, so the deadline until 2023 and further evaluation are the right way, according to the finance minister. Regarding the extension of the postponement, Blümel stated that this would be an important aspect for greater liquidity of the companies. Small businesses in particular would benefit from this. Due to the mutations of the virus that had occurred, this was extended until June 30, 2021.
Corona test grant in companies
Companies that offer operational corona tests will receive cost subsidies in the future. The “Business Testing Act” passed today aims to create incentives for companies and stakeholders that offer on-site testing. An amendment also stipulated that not only tests for employees are included, but also tests for external persons, such as family members or clients. Austria Wirtschaftsservice Gesellschaft (AWS) will be responsible for processing funding requests. The regulation will be applied provisionally for tests between February 15 and June 30, 2021, the exact funding guidelines must be drawn up by the Ministry of Economy with the participation of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance. According to the Minister of Economy, Margarete Schramböck, a grant of € 10 per test performed is being considered.
In addition to vaccination, extensive testing is important to create safe working conditions, said Sonja Hammerschmid (SPÖ). However, the law presented is “maximally indefinite.” On the one hand, the pandemic would not end on June 30, 2021, on the other hand, universities, technical colleges, museums or theaters were not included in the regulation. “Please wait here,” Hammerschmid criticized.
To overcome the crisis of the crown, the motto “test, test, test” explained the mandate of ÖVP, Peter Haubner. Now companies were also supported so that they could participate in the test strategy. More than 1000 companies have already contacted us “to find the way out of the pandemic together.”
Austria is still in the midst of the pandemic, but it is the country with the highest per capita aid to the economy and where the most tests are carried out, emphasized Economy Minister Margarete Schramböck. For all companies and stakeholders there will be a grant of € 10 per test performed.
The global digital certificate aims to promote the reduction of bureaucracy in the financial services sector
With an amendment to the Deposit Law, the National Council decided to introduce a “digital global certificate” for bonds and investment certificates. This digitization step aims to promote the reduction of bureaucracy in the financial services sector and strengthen Austria as a financial location for international market participants. Furthermore, this should simplify the securities issuance process as the creation of the physical global certificate, the logistical procedure for transfer to the central securities depository and the storage of physical global certificates can be saved.
The SPÖ is not fundamentally against digitization steps, in the sensitive area of securities, however, in the interest of the Austrian financial center, there should not be a complete digitization, criticized Reinhold Einwallner (SPÖ). A “yes to de-bureaucratization and digitization” should not reduce investor protection.
ÖVP MP Peter Haubner saw it differently. Digitization is the right step in the direction of modernity, reducing bureaucracy and making the financial center more attractive, Haubner told the SPÖ’s previous speaker. (Continuation of the National Council) med
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