Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler and Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler from the Greens presented further steps towards the eco-tax reform on Saturday. The central point is the increase in the standard consumption tax for high-emission cars. “The stinkers are getting more expensive,” said Kogler. There are also changes to the commuter flat-rate: Environmentally friendly mobility (public transport and bicycles) will be tax-privileged in the future, as will repair services.
Image: APA
For smaller repair services (including repairs and changes), the reduced tax rate of ten percent will apply in future. This includes bicycles, shoes, leather goods and clothing. According to Gewessler, a change in the law at EU level is required to reduce sales tax on major repairs such as household appliances. There are easements for public transport and bicycle commuters. Public transport network cards and season tickets will in future be completely exempt from non-cash benefits and those who are entitled to a commuter allowance will in future also receive them if a company bike is used.
In addition, renewable energy generated by railway companies for their own consumption will be exempted from the electricity tax in future. This makes generating green electricity cheaper. This will relieve rail traffic by ten million euros annually and make more green electricity possible. At the same time, the energy tax will be reduced to a European level. This measure brings savings of 23 million euros to rail transport. In total, the public transport can be relieved of 33 million euros, calculates the Ministry of Transport.
Measures are also being taken against fuel tourism. The possibility of reimbursement of input tax amounts that are attributable to the purchase of fuels for companies from third countries is excluded. In any case, you will have to pay the full 20 percent sales tax on gasoline and diesel in the future. This makes refueling more expensive for them in Austria, explained Gewessler.
“2021 will definitely be a year of climate protection,” said Kogler, recalling that the “climate crisis will remain, it is there and it will not go away by itself”. The criticism from NGOs that more should be done to combat global warming was approved by the Environment Minister. The measures presented on Saturday are a step, others will follow, according to Gewessler.
The environmental protection organizations Global 2000, WWF and Verkehrsclub Österreich (VCÖ) rate the greening package presented as a “first step which urgently needs to be followed by further measures and, above all, an overall concept by the federal government”. There is a lack of understanding among car importers. ÖBB boss Andreas Matthä naturally welcomed the tax exemption for green electricity generated by the railway.
