If a company not established in Austria is providing ‘taxable supplies’ of goods or services in Austria, it may have to obtain a non-resident VAT registration. In accordance with the EU VAT Directive, foreign traders are legally obligated to register for VAT in certain circumstances in order to report taxable transactions and declare VAT that must be charged.
It is important that all businesses with any commercial activity in Austria assess their compliance obligations and register prior to commencing taxable transactions if applicable.
What you need to know
There are various scenarios that would trigger an obligation to register for VAT in Austria. Some of the most common examples are:
- Importing goods into Austria from outside the European Union
- Buying and selling goods in Austria
- Selling goods from Austria which are delivered to customers outside of Austria (business or private customers)
- Acquiring goods in Austria from another EU country (Intra-community acquisitions)
- Holding inventory in Austria for sale, distribution or consignment
- E-commerce sales of goods to consumers, subject to Distance Selling VAT registration thresholds
- Organising events in Austria where attendees or delegates must pay admission
If you are currently, or plan to conduct any of the above (or similar) transactions in Austria, you should contact us immediately for a complimentary consultation.