Umsatzsteuer-Voranmeldung (VAT Advance Return)
Monthly or quarterly Austrian VAT advance returns (USt-Voranmeldung, UVA) reporting output tax charged and input tax (Vorsteuer) reclaimable. Filed via FinanzOnline with simultaneous payment of any net USt due.
Who this applies to
- All Austrian businesses registered for USt
- Non-Austrian EU businesses registered for Austrian OSS (One Stop Shop)
- Foreign businesses with Austrian VAT registration
What to file
USt-Voranmeldung (UVA) via FinanzOnline showing: total taxable supplies (split by 20%/10%/13% rate), exempt supplies, export/EU zero-rated supplies, Vorsteuer (input tax) reclaimed, and any reverse charge transactions. Net USt (output minus Vorsteuer) is paid or refunded.
How to file
Electronically via FinanzOnline only. Paper UVAs are not accepted. Payment via SEPA bank transfer to the Finanzamt's USt Abgabenkonto, or via FinanzOnline SEPA direct debit mandate.
Payment due
Same deadline as the UVA filing — 15th of the second month following the period. A Lastschrift (direct debit) mandate set up in FinanzOnline automatically collects any balance due on the deadline date.
Penalties for missing this deadline
Late payment of USt triggers Säumniszuschlag (late payment surcharge) of 2% of the overdue amount, applied immediately. Persistent late filing can result in monthly filings being imposed regardless of turnover level. The Finanzamt can also assess estimated UVAs (Festsetzung) if returns are not filed.
Filing checklist
- Reconcile all sales invoices issued in the period against the relevant USt rates (20%/10%/13%)
- Collate all purchase invoices with Vorsteuer amounts (verify supplier is VAT-registered and invoice shows their USt-Identifikationsnummer)
- Calculate reverse charge transactions for EU B2B services received
- Check for any exempt supplies (insurance, finance, healthcare) that should be excluded from Vorsteuer reclaim calculation
- Submit via FinanzOnline and confirm payment reference
- Retain all invoices for 7 years (USt documentation obligation)
Documents you'll need
- Sales ledger / invoice register for the period
- Purchase ledger with valid USt invoices for all Vorsteuer claims
- Import documents and customs declarations for goods imported
- EU Zusammenfassende Meldung (EC Sales List) if applicable
Common mistakes to avoid
- Claiming Vorsteuer on entertainment and passenger car purchases — these are blocked under Austrian USt rules
- Missing the 15th deadline and incurring the 2% Säumniszuschlag
- Not applying the reverse charge for EU-based software subscriptions (common for SaaS tools)
- Failing to file a NIL return (Nullmeldung) in zero-activity months — still required
Never miss a Austria deadline
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