Austria

Europe

Austria has long served as a traditional gateway between South-Eastern Europe and Western Europe. Its political and economic stability, coupled with a highly skilled and dedicated workforce, make it an attractive jurisdiction for Central and Eastern European (CEE) headquarters of international corporations, as well as for holding structures.

The Austrian private foundation provides robust and efficient asset protection by clearly separating personal and foundation assets, thereby shielding wealth from creditors and offering long-term security for families. It enables favourable treatment of capital gains and inheritance planning, particularly when assets are distributed to beneficiaries. This makes the structure well-suited for wealth preservation, succession planning and discreet asset management.

Managing complex structures lies at the heart of our business. We draw on the in-depth expertise of our team, built over many years of experience in the fiduciary sector.

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Services & Sectors

Our corporate team in Austria specialises in providing management, corporate secretarial and administration services in relation to a broad range of structures, including investment holding and financing vehicles and joint ventures.

JTC also assists clients with corporate governance, restructuring and acquisitions, in particular, supporting transaction parties to establish and manage acquisition structures and special purpose vehicles.

JTC supports clients in opening accounts with Austrian banks, as well as with the associated Know Your Customer (KYC) due diligence process.

Our private client services in Austria are designed to protect and nurture private capital in real estate, financial and non-financial assets across countries and generations. We have a long history of providing family office services and can assist with non-financial matters of this nature, such as relocation, education and concierge services. JTC’s offering ranges from private office services to family governance, from real estate to luxury assets.

At JTC, we place significant importance on a partnership-led approach and our senior management teams are actively involved in the client relationship, ensuring that all aspects of our solutions are delivered with the highest level of service excellence.

Our dedication to outstanding service minimises the complexity of your day-to-day life, leaving you and your family to enjoy that most precious of commodities…time.

Our core services in Austria:

Shelf companies with a bank account
Provision of managing directors
Provision of liquidators
Provision of registered office
Corporate secretarial services and corporate administration
Bank account opening and assistance
KYC support
Payroll & HR services*
Global mobility services*
Accounting & tax compliance
AML compliance services
Business modelling
Corporate (re-)structuring
Due diligence
Local and international reclaim of withholding taxes*
Family governance services
Concierge services
Relocation support
Philanthropy services
Structuring of corporate and residential real estate
Luxury asset services including real estate, aircraft, yachts and art

*Provided by JTC Austria’s associate partner Virteos (Vanas & Partner Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH), 1010 Vienna

Why Choose Austria

Strategic Location in the Heart of Europe

Central Position and Infrastructure: Austria is located at the crossroads of Europe, offering excellent access to both Western and Eastern European markets. Its central location makes it a prime hub for businesses looking to operate across Europe, and it benefits from proximity to key markets like Germany, Italy, and Eastern Europe.

Austria boasts a highly developed infrastructure, including modern transport networks (rail, road, air), which facilitates efficient logistics and access to international markets.

As gateway between Western Europe and Central and South European Countries Austria’s working population shows a high level of foreign language skills with English and Eastern European languages at the forefront.

Stable and Business-Friendly Economy

Economic Stability: Austria has a highly stable and resilient economy, characterized by low inflation and steady growth. This economic stability makes it a safe and predictable environment for businesses to operate.
Strong Financial Sector: Austria’s financial sector is well-developed, with a solid banking system that provides businesses with access to finance, credit, and investment opportunities.

Favourable Tax System

Competitive Corporate Tax Rates: Austria offers competitive corporate tax rates compared to many other European countries. The standard corporate tax rate is 25%, which is relatively low for Western European countries.
Double Taxation Treaties: Austria has an extensive network of double taxation treaties with over 90 countries. Tax exemptions for inbound dividends and capital gains, and a withholding tax exemption for outbound dividends under the EU directive makes it an attractive location for international holding companies
Research and Development Incentives: Broad-based funding programmes, encompassing funding for small and medium-sized enterprises, research and development and start-ups as well as investment and technology funding make Austria an ideal location for starting new businesses. Austria also offers tax incentives for R&D activities such as tax deductions and grants for businesses investing in innovation.

Skilled Workforce

High Education Standards: Austria is known for its high level of education and a well-trained, highly skilled workforce, particularly in engineering, IT, and technology-related fields. Next to this, Austria is among the best in a global ranking with respect to employee commitment to the company and employee motivation (according to the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2022).
Language Skills: While German is the official language, many Austrians speak English fluently, which can help international companies operate smoothly.

Political Stability and Legal Certainty

Stable Political Environment: Austria enjoys a stable political climate, which is crucial for businesses that want certainty and predictability in their operations. Austria provides for a reliable legal system, political stability and a high level of social satisfaction. In turn, this is reflected by a low strike rate and good ties between employees and employers.

Business-Friendly Regulations: The country has a transparent legal system and well-established regulations, providing businesses with legal certainty. The ease of starting and running a business is supported by streamlined bureaucratic procedures and efficient public administration.

Support for Innovation and Start-ups

Supportive Environment for Start-ups: Austria has a thriving start-up ecosystem, particularly in Vienna, with access to venture capital, accelerator programs, and innovation hubs. The government offers various grants and subsidies to support entrepreneurial activities.
Innovation and Technology Focus: The country invests heavily in digitalization, renewable energy, and other advanced technologies, creating opportunities for businesses in emerging industries.

Environmental Sustainability and Green Economy

Commitment to Sustainability: Austria is known for its commitment to sustainability, with policies and initiatives promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency, and environmentally friendly business practices. This makes it an attractive destination for businesses focused on green technologies and sustainability.

Strong International Reputation

Attractiveness to Foreign Investors: Austria’s combination of stability, favourable business conditions, and international connectivity makes it a preferred location for foreign investors. The country’s reputation for fair business practices, legal protection, and a well-functioning market economy adds to its attractiveness.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: The content of this webpage is intended for general information purposes only. It does not constitute, should not be interpreted as constituting and cannot be relied upon as providing (i) legal, investment or tax advice or any other form of professional advice, (ii) an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any service or any other product or service regardless of whether such security, product or service is referenced in this webpage. JTC has sought to ensure that the information provided in the webpage is adequate, accurate and complete as at the time of publication but offers no assertion or warranty as to its adequacy, accuracy or completeness either at the time of publication or thereafter. No responsibility or liability will be accepted for any losses resulting from reliance placed upon the content of this webpage.

Austria has sophisticated financial markets that allow foreign investors access without restrictions

It has 95 double taxation treaties

National language is German; English is widely spoken

The Austrian national stock exchange is Wiener Börse

It has transparent legal, regulatory and accounting systems

That are consistent with international norms

Austrian Financial Market Authority is the financial regulatory authority for the Austrian financial industry

Responsible for the supervision of credit institutions, payment institutions, insurance companies, pension funds, fund managers, licensed securities service providers, rating agencies and stock exchanges

Alexander Walther

Managing Director – Austria

PCS

Susanne Weikhart

Director – Private Client Services

PCS

“

We help wealthy individuals and families all over the globe to manage their estate, tax and assets efficiently. Our team is highly experienced in structuring wealth for clients, especially those with international cross-border needs.

Alexander Walther, Managing Director – Austria