At the end of the budget advice for the budgets 2025 and 2026, the members of the Budget committee A wide-ranging debate with Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer on the eight budget subdivisions (UG 15, 16, 23, 44, 45, 46, 51, 58) of the financial department (67 d.B. and 68 d.B.). The Federal Finance Framework 2025 to 2028 and the Federal Finance Framework 2026 to 2029 were negotiated66 d.B.).
For 2025, the Austrian National Bank (OENB) expects a slight increase in real GDP by 0.2 %in a current forecast, emphasized Andreas Hanger (ÖVP), whereby that is “far away from an all -clear”. Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer wants to wait for another assessment, the Juni forecast of the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (WIFO).
Marterbauer: No deterioration of the budget by relieving energy costs
The Ministry of Economic Affairs announced a new edition of the energy flow bonus, produced Jakob Schwarz (Greens) and was interested in the effects on the budget. Marterbauer insisted on full counter -financing in the business department. There are already suggestions that are checked. There should therefore be no deterioration in the deficit. Marterbauer stated that at least there should not be any benefits from private households. He also made no specifications.
Tax gap in the event of a fraud control
The topic of fraud control met with great interest in the MPs. On the one hand, the deputies wanted to know how much money the finance minister escapes through tax fraud, on the other hand they were interested in the intended fraud control measures. Finance Minister Marterbauer was covered. A Task Force used should present the first measures in autumn 2025, he said to Andreas Hanger (ÖVP). The suggestions would then have to be implemented at the political level.
The head of the parliament’s budget service also stated that the fraud control package still needs to be specified. A reform of the departure taxation is planned, Marterbauer confirmed to Gerhard Kaniak (FPÖ )’s question. The abolition of the input tax deduction at luxury properties was also mentioned by the financial department. Nina Tomaselli (Greens) was “positively surprised”.
“The tax gap is difficult to quantify,” emphasized the finance minister. For 2026, 270 million ꞓ are intended in the budget as income, which should grow to 450 million ꞓ by 2029. In any case, Marterbauer is expecting an “educational effect”. Combating fraud leads to more honesty, he was convinced. Austria is already well positioned in the large exams, according to him there are few tests with small and medium-sized companies. In total, additional income of 1.44 billion ꞓ is budgeted, according to Nina Tomaselli (Greens), who wanted to assess whether this seems realistic based on their questions about the composition of the tax structure, the required staff and the control density.
Tax rate, rising EU contributions and crypto control
The income from gross taxes should increase from 114.3 billion ꞓ (2024) to 117.4 billion ꞓ (2025) and 122.1 billion ꞓ (2026). Part of this goes to the countries and the EU. According to the budget draft, the so-called “AB transfers” also increase, specifically to 45.6 billion ꞓ (2025) and 47.8 billion ꞓ (2026). In 2025 deposits of 71.8 billion ꞓ (+2.5 %) and 2026 of 74.3 billion ꞓ (+3.6 %) remain. Measures such as the expansion of tobacco tax, an adjustment stop in progression compensation and a higher betting fee should have a strengthening effect on the amount of tax.
Austria was one of the first states to introduce crypto control, Marterbauer held up to Gerhard Kaniak (FPÖ). The increase in intermediate tax for foundations is to bring in 20 million ꞓ from 2026 to 2029, confirmed the Minister of Finance, deputy Alexander Petschnig (FPÖ). Rising EU contributions also made Petschnig (FPÖ) listen to. 2025 is a transfer of 3.2 billion ꞓ budgeted (+0.3 billion ꞓ). For 2026, a significant increase of 0.8 billion ꞓ is estimated to be 4.0 billion ꞓ, and by 2029 the EU contribution should continue to increase to 4.4 billion ꞓ. The development justified Marterbauer with the slow-running financial period 2021-2027.
Karin Doppelbauer (NEOS) addressed the “non -decline in the tax rate”. The tax rate has increased in recent years because the wage quota has increased, said Marterbauer. The deposits from wage tax are estimated for 2025 with 37.2 billion ꞓ and for 2026 with 38.9 billion ꞓ. The head of the parliament’s budget service stated that the tax rate had not decreased because taxes were inserted on social security contributions and these were not reduced.
The budget accompanying law is to be released from commercial vehicles from the standard consumption tax (Nova), said Marterbauer towards Gerhard Kaniak (FPÖ). Motor vehicles, which are mainly intended to transport goods, should no longer be recorded by the Nova in the future. According to the strategy report, the volume of tax reduction by this measure is 20 million ꞓ in 2025 and in 2026 50 million ꞓ.
The budget renovation must be perceived as fair, said Marterbauer in the direction of Petra Bayr (SPÖ), so there are a number of measures such as bank tax and the foundation taxation. Selma Yildirim (SPÖ) was interested in the development of reserves. Marterbauer emphasized: “We have agreed a strict budget. All additional measures must be counter -financed in order to achieve the budget goals.”
Financial equalization: Investment activity and financial interdependencies
Financial equalization regulates federal financial relationships with countries and communities. The payments are likely to increase to 3.908 billion ꞓ (+14.7 %) in 2025 and decrease slightly to 3.826 billion ꞓ (-2.1 %) in 2026. The municipalities are expected to receive 880 million ꞓ by 2028, underlined Marterbauer. The residential building grant should be 275 million ꞓ and 2026 at 400 million ꞓ in 2025. Further posts in this area are the future fund that is to be promoted with education, living and climate. Karin Doppelbauer (NEOS) was interested in evaluating the future fund. These are carried out by the countries, Marterbauer explained.
“The calls of the municipalities were heard,” emphasized Maximilian Köllner (SPÖ) with a view to simplified rules in investments in cities and municipalities as part of the local investment laws. Munterbauer confirmed that municipalities would be under considerable financial pressure. The flexibility now created is an advantage.
Arnold Schiefer (FPÖ) was interested in stimulating the investment activity. As a possibility, he mentioned to raise the investment allowance from 10 to 15 %. From the perspective of Finance Minister Marterbauer, every measure must be counter -financed. Investment activity would be funded as part of municipal investment programs and the ÖBB framework plan, the finance minister stated. Maximilian Linder (FPÖ) campaigned for funds in the course of the flood disaster from September 2024. 500 million ꞓ were promised by the EU, he recalled. 40 million ꞓ are said to flow from the solidarity fund, informed Marterbauer.
Karin Doppelbauer (NEOS) also addressed financial interdependencies between countries, municipalities and social security. Marterbauer confirmed that there were complicated interdependencies, for example in care, health and education. He considers financial unbundling sensible. Jakob Schwarz (Greens) responded to climate certificate costs and asked how sanction payments between the federal and state governments should be divided.
Financial management: high proportion of personnel expenses
The financial management is planned for 2025 payments of 1.56 billion ꞓ (+0.4 %). For 2026, a decline is budgeted to 1.455 billion ꞓ (-6.7 %). The deposits are expected to decrease to 221 million ꞓ (-19.3 %) and in 2026 to 215 million ꞓ (-2.7 %). The figures are limited by relocating the digitization and telecommunications, according to the analysis of the budget service of the parliament.
In 2025, the financial administration is to contribute 54 million ꞓ to the budget consolidation, 63 million ꞓ are planned for 2026. This should be done, among other things, by extending IT projects and cuts in public relations.
Corona economic aids: tax defects, repayments and lawsuits
The withdrawals for government participations and crisis measures are intended to decrease sharply. In 2025, 1.537 billion ꞓ (-35.9 %) and 1.326 billion ꞓ (2026) are budgeted. The main reason is the expiry of the electricity cost grant and the Covid 19 aid, analyzed parliament’s budget service. Tomaselli (Greens) was interested in tax defects, repayments and complaints in connection with Corona economic aids and spoke out for more speed. She received extensive figures from the Ministry of Finance.
Funding costs and reduction of foreign currency loans
The payments for financing are expected to be 8.4 billion ꞓ or 8.9 billion ꞓ. That is 1.019 billion ꞓ more than 2024. For 2026, another increase of 0.5 billion ꞓ or 6.3 % is priced. In the years until 2029, the climbs should continue at the financing costs. The climbs are justified with higher payments for interest. The interest expenditure would be defined based on the amount of the state debt, said Marterbauer in the direction of FPÖ – and these are significantly higher than last year. In addition, the last few years have been shaped by the zero interest phase.
Foreign currency loans are to be reduced in budget, Tomaselli learned from the finance department. This is a long -term project.
Pensions from Beamt: Inside
The payments for civil servants and care allowance for civil servants: In the inside, in 2025, 6.1 % should increase to 13.4 billion ꞓ. In 2026, the costs should be 13.9 billion ꞓ. The main driver is the pension adjustment of +4.6 % in 2025. According to the analysis of the budget service, the deposits decrease due to the declining number of active people: inside each 2.1 billion ꞓ. From 2026, adapted access requirements for the corridor pension should bring savings.
Financial market stability
The withdrawals for the processing of contaminated sites are expected to drop to 0.3 million ꞓ annually (2025/2026). These are estimated for legal advice. This corresponds to a decline of 99.8 % compared to 2024, at that time the federal government made payments of 135 million ꞓ for the comparison between the financial power and alpine creditor banks for liability.
Cash management
The federal government is managed as part of the cash management. The deposits of the health insurance administration are deposits from interest for the assessment of the federal funds of the federal government and deposits from transfer from the EU. In 2025, the deposits should increase to 4.094 billion ꞓ. The reason for this are returns from the second, third and fourth tranche of the construction and resilience plan (ARP) (2.137 billion ꞓ). In 2026, however, the deposits are to fall again to 2.258 billion ꞓ. The deposit decline of 1,836 million ꞓ is primarily attributed to the fact that in 2026 only lower deposits from the fifth and sixth ARP tranche are expected, as can be seen from the documents. (Conclusion Budget Committee) GLA
Note: the Budget service Parliament offers economic analyzes on budget policy and templates from the Federal Ministry of Finance.
Details on the budgets 2025 and 2026, the changes compared to previous years and the development of the ongoing budget Interactive visualization tool of the budget service. There you get a quick and transparent overview of relevant budget data. One Reading aid For the budget documents in 2025 and 2026, orientation and better understanding of the extensive documents are used. It also contains the schedule for the negotiations of the individual chapters.
All current data on the budget (monthly reports) can be found on the website of the Ministry of Finance.