Investment-related tax-free profit allowance: Eligible securities are no longer limited to mortgage bonds. For claiming 2017, investments must be carried out by December 31st.

LBG Austria - Summary: Natural entities that generate revenues from commercial activities (farming and forestry, commercial operation, self-employed work) can claim a tax-free profit allowance. For partnerships (e.g. OG, KG) the partners can claim tax-free profit allowance in the amount of their share of the profit. The tax-free profit allowance amounts to a maximum of 13% of the profit and is made up of a basic tax allowance for profits of up to EUR 30.000 and beyond that of an investment-related tax allowance (13% for an assessment base of up to EUR 175.000; 7% due on the next EUR 175.000; 4.5% on an additional EUR 230.000). From an assessment base of EUR 580.000, no tax-free allowance is available. In total, the granted tax concessions are limited to EUR 45.350 per taxpayer and year.

Which investments are eligible for claiming the investment-related tax-free profit allowance?
Eligible assets include tangible depreciable assets (the most important exceptions being cars, low-value assets, used assets) with a user life of at least 4 years and eligible securities.

As of 2017, again greater variety of eligible securities
On account of the 2014 Law on Tax Modifications (Abgabenänderungsgesetz), only mortgage bonds were granted tax concessions as securities for claiming the investment-related tax-free profit allowance. This restriction of securities to property investments was limited until 2016. Therefore all securities granted tax concessions are eligible for fiscal years from 1/1/2017 (securities that can also be used to cover personnel-related provisions pursuant to Section 14 Par. 7 Line 4 of the income tax code). Those are for example federal bonds, bank bonds, corporate bonds, option bonds, exchangeable bonds, certain investment and real estate funds as well as guarantee certificates.

Claiming the tax-benefit
The basic tax-free allowance must be entered in the tax return but will essentially be granted automatically. The investment-based tax-free allowance must be disclosed in the tax return of the respective year. The sum of the tax-free allowance, broken down by physical assets and securities granted tax concessions, is to be entered.

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