📌 Standard Austrian VAT Rate — 20%

The standard VAT rate in Austria is:

20%

This rate applies to most goods and services sold within Austria, including many ecommerce transactions.

Examples commonly subject to the 20% VAT rate include:

electronics
clothing and accessories
household goods
furniture
cosmetics
many digital products and services
general consumer products.

📉 Reduced Austrian VAT Rates

Austria also applies several reduced VAT rates depending on the type of product or service supplied.

🍽️ Reduced Rate — 10%

The:

10% VAT rate

commonly applies to certain goods and services such as:

many food products
books and printed publications
hotel accommodation
passenger transport
pharmaceutical products
agricultural products
restaurant and catering services (in many cases)
cultural admissions and events.

🌿 Reduced Rate — 13%

Austria also applies a:

13% VAT rate

to specific categories including certain:

live plants and flowers
wine produced by the supplier
cultural services
museum and zoo admissions
sporting events
domestic air travel
selected tourism-related services.

⚠️ Important Notes About Reduced VAT Rates

Not all products within a category automatically qualify for a reduced VAT rate.

For example:

some food products may qualify for 10%
while alcoholic beverages may still be taxed at 20%.

The correct VAT treatment depends on:

product classification
how the item is supplied
Austrian VAT legislation
and whether any exemptions or special rules apply.

🌍 0% VAT and VAT-Free Transactions

Some transactions may qualify for:

0% VAT

This commonly applies to:

exports outside the EU
qualifying intra-EU B2B supplies
certain international transport services.

Please note:

⚠️ 0% VAT is not the same as VAT exemption.

Even where 0% VAT applies:

transactions may still need to be reported
supporting documentation is required
and proof of transport or export may be necessary.

✅ Why Correct VAT Rates Matter

Using the incorrect VAT rate may result in:

underpaid VAT
overpaid VAT
tax authority corrections
penalties or interest during audits.

For ecommerce sellers, VAT classifications can become more complex when:

selling multiple product categories
importing goods
selling digital products
or trading cross-border within the EU.

🤝 Need More Help?

If you are unsure which Austrian VAT rate applies to your products or services, we recommend consulting a qualified tax advisor or contacting the hellotax support team for general guidance.