Tipped in Burgenland: Dispute over new tax rules causes excitement!

Tipped in Burgenland: Dispute over new tax rules causes excitement!

A storm in the water glass draws through the catering trade: the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) calls for additional payments for drinking money due to tax audits. Especially with increasing card payments, the amount of the drinking money becomes more transparent when it comes to wage tax tests. These new regulations also affect Burgenland, where the ÖGK sets a flat -rate amount of 31.50 euros per employee and month. The gastro industry is now confronted with a bureaucratic effort that even calls innkeepers like Mathias Mirth to protest because the tip is threatened. "It is not acceptable that drinking money that is intended as appreciation for good performance will become taxable income," says Mirth, as reports.

tips are of great importance in the catering trade and are an essential part of the income for many service staff. According to a report by g-gastro.de , drinking funds in Austria are usually between 5 % and 10 % of the invoice amount, and your handling is often taken and directly when paying. However, the distribution of the tip from operating to operation is different: whether individual maintenance, common pot or another method, the satisfaction of the employees should remain guaranteed. However, challenges such as a possible tax liability for shared division could have significant consequences. The restaurateurs are now facing the question of how to handle the upcoming changes without affecting the motivation of their employees.

The upcoming Chamber of Commerce elections are stirring up the industry. The restaurants fear that the new regulation and possible increase in the deductions during the tip could deter customers and increase prices. In a climate, where tips are regarded as a sign of appreciation, the question of the future arises: How will tip culture develop if the payment behavior and the tax framework change? The uncertainty remains.