Austria

Bundeshaushaltsgesetz 2013 (BHG 2013), Bundes-Verfassungsgesetz (B-VG) Art. 51 und 121–123, Rechnungshofgesetz 1948 (RHG), Bundesvergabegesetz 2018 (BVergG 2018), HinweisgeberInnenschutzgesetz 2023

BHG 2013 BGBl.I Nr.139/2009 §§12-14,15(4),19-22,23,54,101,117-119; B-VG BGBl.Nr.1/1930 Art.51,121,122,123; RHG BGBl.Nr.144/1948 §§1-2,9,15,23; BVergG 2018 BGBl.I Nr.65/2018; HinweisgeberInnenschutzgesetz BGBl.I Nr.6/2023

Statute text →

Fiscal Transparency: 65/100 (good)
65
out of 100
limited
36 of 37 scored fields populated. Higher = stronger statutory transparency requirements.

Austria's post-2013 public financial management framework is anchored in the Bundeshaushaltsgesetz 2013 (BHG 2013), which placed Austria in the OECD vanguard for accrual accounting. The BHG 2013 requires three integrated accounts — the Ergebnisrechnung, Finanzierungsrechnung, and Vermögensrechnung — under full doppische Buchführung (double-entry accrual), capturing pension provisions and contingent liabilities on the balance sheet. The Bundesfinanzrahmengesetz (§§12–14) mandates four-year binding expenditure ceilings by rubric, updated annually with a 30-year long-term fiscal projection every three years. The Rechnungshof (established under B-VG Art. 121–123 and RHG 1948) is constitutionally independent, with its president elected by the Nationalrat for a 12-year non-renewable term; it conducts financial, compliance, and performance audits. Austria established the Fiskalrat (independent fiscal council) to monitor compliance with EU fiscal rules and domestic targets (comply-or-explain mechanism) and the Parlamentarischer Budgetdienst (PBD, 2012) to provide independent fiscal analysis to the Nationalrat. The BMF publishes monthly budget execution reports at budget.gv.at. Austria adopted a two-year budget cycle effective 2025/2026 under BHG 2013 multi-year framework provisions. Currency: EUR; fiscal year: calendar year.

Transparency Requirements

Budget Publicationmax 12 pts

Budget publication required ✓ Yes
Budget published online ✓ Yes
Budget publication timeline
Machine-readable budget format No
Draft budget required before adoption ✓ Yes

Expenditure Disclosuremax 12 pts

Expenditure disclosure required ✓ Yes
Expenditure granularity department
Public expenditure portal required No
Expenditure reporting frequency monthly

Independent Auditmax 12 pts

Audit required ✓ Yes
Auditor independent of entity ✓ Yes
Auditor selection method appointed independent
Audit frequency annual
Audit reports public ✓ Yes
Audit scope financial performance

Contract & Procurementmax 10 pts

Public bidding required ✓ Yes
Public bidding threshold 50,000 EUR
Contract publication required ✓ Yes
Bid award disclosure ✓ Yes
Beneficial ownership disclosure No

Debt & Liability Disclosuremax 10 pts

Debt disclosure required ✓ Yes
Pension liability disclosure ✓ Yes
Contingent liability disclosure ✓ Yes
Voter approval required for new debt No

Fiscal Reporting Frequencymax 10 pts

Interim reporting required ✓ Yes
Interim reporting frequency monthly
Year-end report deadline 181 days after fiscal year
Citizens budget required No

Enforcement & Oversightmax 10 pts

Non-compliance penalties No
Fiscal oversight body ✓ Yes
Whistleblower protections ✓ Yes
Legislative budget office ✓ Yes

Revenue & Tax Transparencymax 8 pts

Tax expenditure reporting No
Revenue forecasting required ✓ Yes
Tax rate publication ✓ Yes
Fee schedule publication No

Compensation & Payrollmax 8 pts

Salary disclosure required No
Salary disclosure scope
Pension benefit disclosure No
Overtime reporting No

Capital & Asset Disclosuremax 8 pts

Capital plan required ✓ Yes
Asset inventory required ✓ Yes
Surplus asset disposal transparency No

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