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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