Austria has a predictable, rules-based compliance system with a heavy focus on publicity of financial statements. The commercial register, the Firmenbuch, is public. Financial statements of limited liability companies must be filed there, tax returns are filed electronically through FinanzOnline, and a separate register tracks beneficial owners. Penalties for late filing are automatic, and directors can be personally liable.

This guide covers the Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH), the most common vehicle for foreign-owned subsidiaries, and notes where the stock corporation (AG), the flexible company (FlexKapG) and a branch differ. It is written for founders and for legal, finance and operations teams.

Updated November 9, 2026. Austrian rules change with the annual tax acts and with registry system updates, so use the dates below as the usual pattern and confirm them with the Finanzamt and the Firmenbuch court.

Entity compliance Austria: the quick answer

• File the annual financial statements with the Firmenbuch within nine months after the balance sheet date, which is 30 September for a 31 December year-end.

• Hold the shareholders' meeting to approve the accounts, normally within the first eight months of the new financial year.

• File the corporate tax return (Körperschaftsteuer) electronically and pay quarterly prepayments on 15 February, 15 May, 15 August and 15 November.

• Review and report beneficial owner information to the WiEReG register, and file VAT returns and payroll taxes on time.

What determines an Austrian company's compliance requirements?

The legal form and the size of the company decide the content of the annual accounts. The Austrian Commercial Code sets small, medium and large categories by balance sheet total, revenue and employees. Small GmbHs may file abridged statements, and large companies face stricter deadlines and audit requirements. A GmbH needs a minimum share capital of EUR 10,000, of which part must be paid in at formation.

Ownership also matters. A foreign shareholder does not change the Austrian filing duties, but a foreign parent that prepares exempting consolidated statements must also have them filed with the Austrian court. Branches of foreign corporations follow disclosure rules too.

Annual entity requirements in Austria: the core checklist

1. Annual accounts in the Firmenbuch

GmbHs and AGs must file their annual financial statements with the Firmenbuch court no later than nine months after the balance sheet date. About 200,000 companies are subject to this requirement. Since 1 January 2025, the data must be filed in a structured format according to the JAb 4.0 taxonomy, and electronic filing is the rule, with paper filing permitted for companies with revenue up to EUR 70,000. Professional sources report minimum automatic penalties of EUR 700 per managing director for late filing, which can rise with repeated delays, so treat the date as hard.

2. Shareholders' meeting

A GmbH must hold a general meeting within the first eight months of the financial year to approve the accounts and decide on the use of profits, according to common practice and the GmbH Act. Written resolutions are common for subsidiaries. Keep the signed accounts, the resolution and the managing director's report together, because the court and auditors may ask for them.

3. Audit

Austrian law requires a statutory audit of medium and large corporations, based on size criteria in the Commercial Code. Small GmbHs are generally exempt unless they have a supervisory board or are otherwise required to appoint an auditor. Check the size classification each year, because exceeding two of the three thresholds in consecutive years changes the category.

4. Corporate tax return and prepayments

Corporations file the annual corporate tax return electronically through FinanzOnline. Professional guides show a general electronic deadline at the end of June of the following year, with longer periods when a tax adviser files, so ask your adviser for the current date. Quarterly prepayments are due on 15 February, 15 May, 15 August and 15 November, and the minimum corporate tax means a GmbH pays a minimum even with a loss. The rate is 23 percent, based on commonly published rates.

5. Beneficial owners and compliance

The WiEReG register records beneficial owners of Austrian legal entities. Entities must report and review their data on a recurring basis, including after changes in ownership, and must keep documentation of the checks. Access to the register is restricted. Penalties apply for failure to report.

Tax and indirect tax obligations

The standard VAT rate is 20 percent, and businesses with turnover above the small business threshold must register for VAT. VAT returns are filed monthly or quarterly, with deadlines on the fifteenth day of the second month after the period, and an EC sales list is filed for intra-EU supplies. Non-EU businesses may need a fiscal representative for VAT.

Employer taxes include withholding income tax, social security contributions and the municipal payroll tax. Dividends distributed to foreign parents are subject to withholding tax, which EU rules and treaties can reduce or remove where conditions are met, so keep residency certificates and documentation. Transfer pricing documentation is required for larger groups, with a master file and local file thresholds.

Foreign-owned subsidiaries

Foreign ownership of Austrian companies is generally unrestricted, though screening rules apply for investments in sensitive sectors under the Austrian Investment Control Act. A foreign shareholder needs a tax number, and corporate shareholders provide apostilled or legalized documents with translations. The GmbH needs at least one managing director, who need not be Austrian but needs the right to act and, in practice, a bank account and registered seat in Austria.

Banks apply enhanced due diligence to foreign-owned accounts. Intercompany loans, services and royalties need agreements and arm's-length pricing, and the thin capitalization of the subsidiary can affect interest deductions.

First-year and event-triggered obligations

In the first year, the company is formed by notarial deed (or by a simplified electronic procedure for some structures), the share capital is paid in, the Firmenbuch entry is made, the tax registration and VAT number are obtained, and social insurance registrations are completed. The first financial statements are due within nine months after the end of the first financial year.

Events that trigger filings include a change of managing directors, a transfer of shares, a capital increase, a change of seat or business purpose, a merger and a liquidation. Most need a notarial act and a Firmenbuch filing, and ownership changes need an updated WiEReG report.

Employment and local requirements

Austrian employment law is shaped by statutory rules and sector collective agreements, which cover most employees and set minimum pay. Employees are usually paid fourteen salaries a year, with the extra payments at holiday time and at Christmas, taxed at a favorable rate. Employers register staff with the social insurance fund, pay contributions monthly, and may need to set up a works council once a headcount threshold is met. Notice and termination rules are detailed.

Build a compliance calendar for Austria

A compliance calendar turns the rules above into dated tasks with named owners. Start from the financial year-end and the incorporation anniversary, then add the recurring monthly and quarterly items. Review it each quarter, because deadlines, extensions and registry systems change.

• January to March: close the books, appoint an auditor if required and prepare the accounts.

• 15 February, 15 May, 15 August, 15 November: pay corporate tax prepayments.

• By the end of August: hold the shareholders' meeting.

• 30 September: file the annual accounts with the Firmenbuch for a calendar-year company.

• Monthly or quarterly: VAT, payroll taxes and social insurance.

• Throughout the year: update the WiEReG register after ownership changes.

Common mistakes

• Filing the accounts late and triggering automatic penalties against each managing director.

• Not using the structured filing format required since 2025.

• Treating the shareholders' meeting as optional.

• Forgetting the minimum corporate tax for loss-making years.

• Failing to review the WiEReG data after a change at the parent.

• Missing the filing of foreign consolidated statements that give exemption.

Entity compliance Austria: frequently asked questions

When must an Austrian GmbH file its annual accounts?

Within nine months after the balance sheet date, which is 30 September for a 31 December year-end.

What are the penalties for late filing?

Professional sources report minimum automatic penalties of EUR 700 per managing director, which can increase with repeated delays.

Is an audit required for a GmbH?

Medium and large GmbHs are audited based on size criteria. Small GmbHs are generally exempt unless another rule applies.

What is the Austrian corporate tax rate?

23 percent, based on commonly published rates, with quarterly prepayments.

What is the WiEReG?

The Austrian register of beneficial owners, to which legal entities report and which they review on a recurring basis.

What is the Austrian VAT rate?

The standard rate is 20 percent.

How CoverPin can help

CoverPin helps finance, legal and operations teams track entity obligations across countries. See our international entities overview, learn about compliance advisory, or browse more guides in our legal and compliance resources.

This article is general information, not legal, tax or accounting advice. Confirm current requirements with the relevant authority or a qualified local adviser before acting.