How much tax could you pay when selling an investment in Austria?
The Finorum Austria Capital Gains Tax Calculator estimates the tax due on gains from shares, investment funds, cryptocurrencies, real estate and other private assets. Enter the purchase cost, sale value, eligible expenses and compatible losses to see the estimated taxable gain, tax liability and amount remaining after tax.
Austria does not apply one universal capital gains tax rate to every asset. Financial investments are generally taxed at 27.5%, while taxable gains from private real estate are normally subject to a separate 30% rate. Exemptions, acquisition dates and the nature of the transaction can materially change the result.
| Purchase price | |
| Sale price | |
| Costs / fees | |
| Gross gain | |
| CGT () | |
| Net profit |
How Capital Gains Tax Works in Austria
A capital gain generally arises when an asset is sold for more than its tax acquisition cost. For a straightforward investment, the basic calculation is:
Taxable capital gain = Sale value − Purchase cost − Eligible transaction costs − Compatible losses
Austria treats most gains from financial investments as income from capital assets. Gains from shares, bonds, investment fund units and many derivatives are generally taxed at the special rate of 27.5%. Interest from savings and current accounts is subject to a separate 25% rate, but this is normally interest income rather than a disposal gain.
When an Austrian bank or domestic custodian handles the investment, it will usually calculate and withhold the applicable Kapitalertragsteuer, commonly known as KESt. This withholding generally settles the Austrian income tax liability for that investment income. Gains held through a foreign broker may instead have to be reported in the Austrian income tax return. The same 27.5% special rate can still apply, but the investor is responsible for declaring the result. Austrian Ministry of Finance
Shares, Securities and Investment Funds
Realised gains from shares and other taxable securities are generally subject to the 27.5% special rate. The taxable amount is normally based on the difference between the sale proceeds and the recognised acquisition cost, adjusted for eligible transaction costs.
The acquisition date matters for some older investments because legacy rules may apply. Transfers between securities accounts can also require special handling if the necessary acquisition information is not passed to the receiving institution.
Investment funds require additional care. Austrian taxation may recognise distributed income and deemed distributions during the period in which the fund is held, not only the eventual gain on sale. Whether a fund qualifies as an Austrian reporting fund can therefore affect its tax treatment. The calculator provides an estimate of disposal tax but cannot reconstruct all annual fund taxation or prior deemed distributions.
Cryptocurrency Tax in Austria
Cryptocurrency acquired after 28 February 2021 is generally treated as capital income. Both ongoing crypto income and realised gains are normally taxed at 27.5%. Crypto assets acquired on or before that date remain subject to the previous regime, so the acquisition date can significantly affect the result.
Selling cryptocurrency for euros, exchanging it for a recognised foreign currency, or using it to purchase goods or services can create a taxable disposal. However, exchanging one cryptocurrency directly for another is not treated as a taxable disposal under the current regime. The tax basis transfers to the cryptocurrency received.
Austria also allows losses from cryptocurrency to be offset against certain other private capital income, subject to statutory restrictions. The Ministry of Finance confirms that the 27.5% regime applies to covered crypto gains and explains the special treatment of crypto-to-crypto exchanges and legacy holdings. Austrian Ministry of Finance
NFTs and some asset-backed tokens do not necessarily qualify as cryptocurrencies under these rules and may require a separate assessment.
Tax on Real Estate Gains
Taxable gains from private Austrian real estate are generally subject to Immobilienertragsteuer at 30%. The calculation can depend on when the property was acquired, its historical tax status, later construction expenditure and whether the land was rezoned.
Important exemptions apply. A sale may qualify for the main-residence exemption when the property served as the seller’s principal residence continuously:
- from acquisition until sale for at least two years; or
- for at least five continuous years within the ten years preceding the sale.
In both cases, the principal residence must be given up. A separate exemption may apply to qualifying self-constructed buildings, although the land itself and rented portions can require different treatment. Austria’s official information confirms the 30% rate and the principal-residence and self-constructed-building exemptions. Austrian government information on ImmoESt
The calculator can illustrate a standard taxable sale or a selected exemption, but complicated property cases should be checked by an Austrian tax professional or the lawyer or notary handling the transaction.
How Losses Affect the Calculation
Private losses from securities, derivatives and cryptocurrencies may generally be offset only against compatible private capital income and usually within the same tax year. They cannot automatically be deducted from salary, savings-account interest or unrelated income.
An Austrian custodian may perform an automatic loss offset for eligible investments held with that institution. Losses across different banks, foreign brokers or crypto providers may require an income tax assessment. Unused private investment losses are generally not freely carried forward. Austrian Ministry of Finance guidance on investment losses
Enter only losses that are legally compatible with the selected asset and tax route. The calculator cannot determine eligibility from the amount alone.
Example of an Austrian Share Sale
Suppose an Austrian resident buys shares for €10,000 and later sells them for €14,000. Eligible transaction costs total €100.
Capital gain: €14,000 − €10,000 − €100 = €3,900
Estimated tax at 27.5%: €1,072.50
Estimated gain after tax: €2,827.50
This example assumes a standard private investment, no applicable losses, no legacy treatment and no election for taxation under the ordinary progressive income tax scale.
Important Notice
The Austria Capital Gains Tax Calculator provides an informational estimate for an individual Austrian tax resident holding assets privately. It does not cover every rule applicable to businesses, professional trading, trusts, foundations, foreign tax credits, exit taxation, inherited assets or double-taxation treaties.
Tax treatment depends on the asset, acquisition date, ownership structure, documentation and personal circumstances. Confirm important transactions with an Austrian tax adviser or the relevant authority before filing a return.
Austria capital gains tax calculator
Matias Buće has a formal background in administrative law and more than ten years of experience studying global markets, forex trading, and personal finance. His legal training shapes his approach to investing — with a focus on regulation, structure, and risk management. At Finorum, he writes about a broad range of financial topics, from European ETFs to practical personal finance strategies for everyday investors.