Tax exemption for transporting companies: Nova falls from July 2025!

Tax exemption for transporting companies: Nova falls from July 2025!

The decision of the National Council for discharge in the standard consumption levy (Nova) for operational work vehicles is considered a significant step for companies in Austria. On June 18, 2025, Wolfgang Ecker, President of the Lower Austria Chamber of Commerce (WKNÖ), announced the positive effects of this measure for numerous member companies that rely on vans and boxes. "Tax relief is crucial for competitiveness," emphasized Ecker, while WBNÖ director Harald Servus praised the success of the advocacy and referred to the simplifications. These changes come at the right time to alleviate the increasing tax burdens in the craft, trade and vehicle trade.

The draft law, which originally included unsafe formulations, led to concern in the industry. However, intensive discussions between the Economic Association and various industry representatives helped to significantly concretize the regulations. Particularly noteworthy is the moderate restriction of the criterion of "simple equipment" to avoid bureaucracy and ambiguities. In addition, a transitional arrangement was decided: for vehicles with a purchase contract before July 1, 2025, the delivery of which will take place by December 31, 2025 at the latest, the legal situation applicable up to the deadline.

Nova exemption for light commercial vehicles

From July 1, 2025, the standard consumption tax for light commercial vehicles in the N1 is permanently abolished. This applies to vehicles with a permissible total weight of 3.5 tons, which are mainly used for the transport of goods. The decision to abolish the Nova for this vehicle class was already caught in the Ministerial Council in March 2023 and is now part of a relief package for small and medium-sized companies. The aim is to facilitate investments in this vehicle category in order to reduce competitive disadvantages. This measure is seen by the Austria Chamber of Commerce as a fulfillment of its requirements, which raises the mood in the industry.

The N1 vehicles have recorded a dramatic decline in new registrations in recent years: from 58,806 in 2021 to only 22,069 in 2022 and a modest increase to 33,088 new registrations in 2023. Experts argue that the Nova did not contribute to an ecological improvement and rather investments in inhibits what competitiveness from Transport company in Austria weakens. Critics, such as Katharina Rogenhofer from the environmental protection organization, see the Nova exemption as a climate-damaging subsidy and call for an urgently needed ecological reform of commuter funding.

In the context of the economic situation, the upcoming change of Nova for N1 vehicles is a step in the right direction. This step should not only help companies, but also contribute to creating a more stable economic environment. On July 1, 2025, a new chapter for the commercial vehicle industry in Austria will be opened.

Further information is in the reports of OTS , Hofer Leitinger and My district to be found.