The “Krone” overview – How to get the climate bonus from today

As of today, all Austrians will receive 500 euros. This should absorb the current record inflation and the future burden of the CO2 tax. First, the climate bonus was set at 250 euros for everyone, then doubled again due to inflation. A surcharge of 250 euros applies for children. A bit strange: 300,000 people have already received the money. The ministry previously paid out to a random crowd – to test the systems.

The condition for receiving the climate bonus from today is that you have lived in Austria continuously for six months. People who have lived in Austria for less than 183 days on July 2, 2022 and babies who were less than six months old on July 2, 2022 will only receive the climate bonus after the second deadline, December 31, 2022. Babies, those born after June, get it later. A move within Austria is usually not a problem as long as the account details are stored with the tax authorities and you have already re-registered correctly. Otherwise, the mail can still arrive at the old address.

Voucher is valid for 24,000 positions
The vast majority of customers registered with FinanzOnline with account details receive the money via bank transfer anyway. Retirees get it through pension insurance. Everyone else will receive the 500 euros in the form of ten Sodexo vouchers of 50 euros.

Each voucher can only be used once, the rest of the money can be returned in cash. The 24,000 acceptance points include supermarkets, department stores and restaurants. If you would like to exchange your vouchers for cash, you can do so at a Bank99 branch of the post office.

The government also sends letters with a ‘Climate Bonus 2022 Proxy’ form, intended for people who are often away from home. They can then authorize the neighbor to receive the RSa letter.

Attention, high earners!
Important information for high earners: If you earn more than 90,000 gross income per year, the cost of living must be taxed.

300 euros extra living costs
On the other hand, people in need receive another 300 euros tax-free. An emergency measure for people who have been receiving unemployment benefits, social assistance, retraining benefits or sick pay for a long time. The money is automatically paid out with the service (for example from the AMS).

But there’s a small catch for the unemployed: only people who have received unemployment benefits for at least 31 days in May and June are eligible. Since June has only 30 days, those who became unemployed on June 1 will receive benefits, as will those who were unemployed in May and June.

Measures make life even more expensive
At the same time as the climate bonus, there are also price increases: from October there will be a tax of 30 euros per tonne of CO2. The measure was originally scheduled for July and was postponed to October. The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

According to WIFO, the price of petrol at the pump will rise by 7.7 cents per liter and diesel by 8.8 cents. The costs for gas are also rising again, as is heating oil (see graph). The tax will then be increased annually, in 2023 to 35 euros per tonne, in 2024 to 45 euros and finally to 50 euros in 2025. Diesel and petrol can become more than 14 cents more expensive.

The climate bonus is intended to absorb the consequences, this year it was set at 250 euros for everyone, next year it will be paid in four phases. In urban areas it is lower: in Vienna it is 100 euros per capita, in other municipalities 133, 167 or 200 euros, half for children.