Experts clarify

Undeveloped land: Levy has many exceptions

Building land is more in demand than ever throughout Austria.

(Bild: Marco2811 - stock.adobe.com)

"It's not the amount of revenue that counts, but the area of new land" - this is the message the state government is reinforcing when it comes to the building land levy. Out of 23,000 potential tax payers, half have not registered at all or only inadequately. Now the next information offensive is starting.

More than a third of the dedicated building land has not been built on. This peak value puts Burgenland in first place in Austria. In order to mobilize plots of land for the home ownership dreams of young Burgenlanders, a package of measures has been put together which - as in other federal states - includes a levy.

"In Burgenland, many socially just exceptions have been anchored," explains Provincial Councillor Heinrich Dorner. Despite notifications and tours through the districts, the message has not reached everyone. Dorner is now announcing a further information campaign.

A lot of feedback is missing
Among other things, many of those affected have been waiting for a request to pay the levy. However, no such notices are currently being sent out. Instead, it is planned that the 8,500 potential taxpayers who have not yet responded will be informed again by RSB letter. The same applies to the 3,000 Burgenland residents who have incompletely reported a legally invalid exemption or an exemption that is not to be taken into account.

It is not the amount of income that is important. Rather, the building land levy is about undeveloped building plots that we want to make available to young families.

Landesrat Heinrich Dorner (SPÖ)

Bild: Karl Grammer

Experts answer questions
Anyone who receives the new letter has the option of either making a personal consultation appointment on the phone or arranging a meeting directly at the respective district administration office - in both cases, experts from the state are on hand to answer any questions. The building land mobilization hotline on 057 600 1025 is available from Monday to Thursday between 7.30 am and 4 pm and on Friday from 7.30 am to 1 pm.

If potential taxpayers still have questions, a call to the state hotline will help. Every case is special. Everything can be clarified in conversation.

Peter Zinggl, Hauptreferatsleiter der Landesplanung

Bild: Karl Grammer

The bottom line is: "It is best if only a small amount of revenue is generated from the levy, as this means that more building land can be made available. And that is precisely the declared aim. If that means a few plots per municipality in total, we can be satisfied," emphasizes Dorner.

Initial agreements are in place
Almost 200 building land mobilization agreements have already been concluded in recent months, Dorner sums up. In short, the aim is to offer affordable plots of land in times of rising prices. "This is also in the interests of many mayors who are complaining about high costs because they are unable to use dedicated building land amid rising land prices," says Dorner.