Dealing with official channels online saves time and sometimes money. Whether tax return, apartment registration or social security: many topics can be handled on the smartphone. The “Krone” shows what is already possible and how customers can best get their web signature.
What used to require a visit to the authorities can now be done with just a few clicks in over 200 cases. Signing is also possible thanks to digital signatures without pen and paper. “The ‘Digital Office’ app has already been downloaded 1.8 million times,” says Finance Minister Florian Tursky. The switchover of the mobile phone signature to the ID Austria is currently underway, almost 640,000 are already active.
The previous smartphone signature should be completely replaced by the end of the year. In principle, the ID Austria works like a mobile phone signature. If you want to sign, you receive a message on your smartphone and you sign digitally. Anyone who has had their mobile phone signature set at a post office or an A1 store must go to the authorities for the full version of ID Austria. Only those who have already had their mobile phone signed by a government agency can switch online to use all services.
Already more than 340,000 digital driving licenses
The digital driver’s license is relatively new. “More than 340,000 Austrians already have their driving license on their smartphone, which is well received,” explains Tursky. The digital proof of identity can, for example, be shown on the e-ID app during police checks. “Then comes the digital proof of age and the digital registration certificate,” Tursky announces.
In addition to the electronic ID, the following features are commonly used by Austrians:
- The digital reporting service (for example when moving house) works in the app and is one of the most common applications.
- Many proofs (birth, citizenship, reputation, etc.) can be obtained online – often even cheaper.
- Voting cards are also easy to order.
- Important documents after the birth (parent-child pass) can be viewed at the Babypoint.
- Patients can submit medical bills to “meineSV” without paperwork.
- The Ministry of Justice also has a website for viewing court documents (justizonline.gv.at).
- Hundreds of thousands of Austrians use FinanzOnline, especially for tax returns. The service is also available for businesses.
- The pension account shows citizens their rights, it can also be accessed with ID Austria, at neupensionskonto.at or via FinanzOnline.
- You can apply for a parking vignette in Vienna without the intervention of the authorities, and then it is about ten euros cheaper thanks to the lower rates.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
