Further cutbacks – these surprises still entail the savings package

In total this year at least 6.4 billion will be saved. The first tranche was decided on 5 March in the Council of Ministers. This included the expansion of the top tax rate, the abolition of the turnover tax exemption from PV systems, the increase in moth costs, the inclusion of E-cars in the motor-related insurance tax, the increase in tobacco tax, the increase in the bank tax, the expansion of the education industry and the energy industry.

A savings package meets all areas
In general, these measures resulted in consolidation of 1.24 billion euros in 2025 and 1.65 billion euros in 2026. This week, Marterbauer sent 14 laws in the assessment, including some new savings. The valorization of the amount of the child deduction will be suspended in the next two years. It is quite possible that with the budget in accompanying legislation the brakes are also drawn in other social benefits and the automatic valorization that is determined under the turquoise-green is suspended.

Moreover, the third of the “cold progression” that is retained by the Minister of Finance is retained the entire legislative period. The money was already spent on 2025, in 2026 this post spent 440 million euros. This sometimes explains why the measures that are being sent in the assessment this week have a volume “only” only 76 million euros and bring almost ten times the following year, namely 696 million.

Flexible division for ministry savings package
The ministries must save a total of 1.1 billion this year. That is 15 percent in every house. According to the hearing, this package is already ready. However, flexibility has been demonstrated: the specification of 15 percent does not have to be paid by each ministry, but by the respective party. This means that the blacks and the red departments each have to contribute 40 percent to savings volume and the pinks 20 percent.

Stop hoping in ministries to expect
It can be assumed that there will be an access stop with the employees. The question remains exciting whether the salary adjustment already matches 2026 remains. The previous government agreed with the Union this year: 3.5 percent this year and 0.3 above the rolling inflation 2026. Marterbauer and the State Secretary Alexander Pröll who is responsible for officials who have been skeptical so far that this package could be set up again. A zero wage round would always be effective, it brings a billion a year. In some federal states there is already a discussion about zero wage rounds for employees and access to admission.

Minister of Finance Markus Marterbauer (Spö) attaches great importance to the fact that the austerity measures are broad and tax justice is promoted without weakening the economy. He refers to auxiliary measures. The commuter euro has tripled to six euros per kilometer. This should serve as a fee for the abolition of the climate bonus. The negative allowance for commuters is also increased. Moreover, the sales tax exemption for women’s hygiene articles and contraceptives has already been announced.

In addition, a tax -free employee premium of a maximum of 1000 euros must be made possible this year. This should also exist in the coming year, although the amount is still open for budgetary reasons. The package also includes an increase in the basic power rate for companies, including the fixed rate of input tax: this year it will increase (from 220,000 euros and 12 percent) to 320,000 euros and 13.5 percent, from next year to 420,000 euros and 15 percent. The fixed rate is about the fact that parts of the operating costs and before tax are determined with a fixed rate and the registration or procedures for retention rights are largely eliminated. Total auxiliary measures can be postponed 170 million this year, even 273 million in 2026.

Change for foundations and transfer tax
The Foundation’s tax rate is increased – from 2.5 to 3.5 percent. There is a gap closing with the real estate transfer tax. If the buyer has not taken over the property directly, but a company that has the property, has so far been a reduced tax rate. This has now been corrected. A reciprocity is also introduced. In particular, the positive (operational and extra -company) income from the sale of converted land must be added to a recovery allowance. This would be 30 percent and will be paid as part of the income tax of real estate.

Gambling will be expensive
The energy tax is “adjusted”. Otherwise, according to the reading of the Ministry of Finance, the agreed 200 million in consolidation contribution would not be given. In particular, the limit of favorite investments is reduced from 72 to 20 euros per megawatt hours. With a further change in the law, gambling tax for lotteries is increased from 16 to 17.5 percent, the concession and gambling tax for electronic lotteries (online happiness) must be increased from 40 to 45 percent. In addition, gambling taxes for state games with game machines and for plays with video lottery terminals are increased from ten to eleven percent and the allowance tax of the federal states of 15 to 16.5 percent. In addition, a gambling problem must be introduced on the administrative cost contribution for lotteries for an amount of 7.5 percent.