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Created by the Public Governance Directorate

This website was created by the OECD Observatory of Public Sector Innovation (OPSI), part of the OECD Public Governance Directorate (GOV).

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Information, relief and simplifications related to business situations and information obligations

Innovative response

The Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance has introduced a number of measures and solutions addressing COVID-19 related problems for businesses, all of which are detailed on a single online webpage.

Specific issues addressed and anticipated impact

Simplification:

FinanzOnline: automatic transfer of justifications in applications for advance payments and deferrals

CORONA-Postkorb on the homepage of the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF): Enabling the application by e-mail

Chatbot Ask Fred: extension by COVID 19 Questions

automatic references to notices concerning extended time limits for appeals and the possibility of payment facilities

automatic extension of time limits (e.g. submission of declarations, response to a summons)

Relief:

Suppression of automatisms concerning onerous regulations for liquidity support (e.g. late payment surcharges, default surcharges, interest on deferral, entitlement checks)

Reduction of advance tax payments to promote liquidity

Organisations/institutions involved

Federal Ministry of Finance

Level(s) of government:
  • National/Federal government

Issues being addressed:

  • Information and practice sharing (with public and/or internal)
  • Governance responses

Date Submitted:

7 May 2020