Markus Moll, head of two internationally successful companies based in Reutte (Tyrol), describes how the ORF compensation horror affects his company – and what that means for Austria as a location.
Reutten entrepreneur Markus Moll can only shake his head when he has to pay an ORF contribution of almost 500 euros for his company.
“We are a global company and have twenty employees from seven different countries in Reutte. No one here watches even one minute of TV per month, and certainly not ORF programs. Yet I am asked to pay as an entrepreneur,” says Moll, who runs a consultancy in the stainless steel industry, angrily.
ORF compensation after local tax
As has been reported several times, the amount of ORF contributions a company has to pay depends on the amount of wages paid to employees in the previous year. “The better they earn, the more taxes the employer has to pay, because the ORF tax is calculated on the basis of the local tax. That is absurd! You are punished if you pay your well-trained international specialists a good wage. Of course, everyone can imagine that something like that would have a negative impact on Tyrol as a location,” Moll emphasizes.
It’s about the principle: “I don’t think that as an entrepreneur I should have to pay for something that doesn’t yield any return. It doesn’t really matter whether it’s 5, 500 or 5000 euros. Not to mention the bureaucratic efforts.”
Tyrolean NEOS boss announces further initiatives
As early as May 2023, the Tyrolean NEOS pointed out during a session of the state parliament that the ORF state levy would cause enormous problems for the economy: “It could simply have been repaired then. “It cannot be the case that you as an entrepreneur are punished extra if you have high wage costs, because you create a lot of jobs and pay people properly,” says NEOS club chairman Dominik Oberhofer.
The NEOS were the only ones to start an initiative. “What is happening now is crazy. We get a lot of letters from frustrated people who don’t understand that they have to pay for something they don’t consume,” Oberhofer continues.
Entrepreneurs are also irritated by the bureaucratic red tape. Oberhofer announces further initiatives in the state parliament, “even if we only stay in the field!”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
