Erich Baier

Bilanz-Data Wirtschaftstreuhand GmbH is a Viennese based tax law and accounting firm, established in 1986 by its owner and CEO, Erich Baier, MBA, LL.M., TEP who works as a Certified Tax Advisor. 

Bilanz-Data Wirtschaftstreuhand GmbH renders tax advice and tax planning to its domestic and international clients as well as providing these clients with corporate services like financial accounting, book keeping, payroll accounting, setting up annual accounts as well as preparing and filing tax returns. Being Certified Tax Advisors the firm as well as Mr. Baier is entitled to represent clients before the tax administration and therefore also provide tax litigation services. 

The firm is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and has gained significant reputation in creative domestic as well as international tax planning. 

 Taking into consideration the extensive tax treaty network Austria has with other jurisdictions (currently 89), whereby Austria has tax treaties with jurisdictions like Barbados, Belize, Cyprus, UAE, Bahrain, Hong Kong and Liechtenstein, just to name a few, Austria serves as a perfect hub for worldwide investments.

 Based on domestic legislation Austrian companies can obtain dividend income and capital gains resulting from the sale of shares in foreign jurisdictions free of any taxes, irrespective whether Austria has a tax treaty with such a foreign jurisdiction or not. This leads to the magnificent fact, that an Austrian company can hold shares in a e.g. Cayman Islands company and can obtain dividends from that company as well as capital gains resulting from the sale of the shares of this Cayman Islands tax exempt.

 Austria has implemented the world’s best Group Taxation System which allows the Austrian company to off-set losses from its domestic tax base provided that the shareholding in such a foreign company exceeds 50 % and the foreign subsidiary stays in the group for at least three years.

 Austrian does not know any CFC legislation nor does Austria know any debt equity ratios or thin cap rules. Interest paid to foreign lenders are not exposed to any withholding tax at source in Austria, regardless where the foreign lender is having its seat, and are fully tax deductible.

 Not only for HNWI’s the Austrian private foundation serves as a perfect tool for asset protection and obtaining income with either a very low tax burden or no tax burden at all.

 Another cornerstone of the Austrian tax system is the Austrian Reorganisation Tax Act, which makes it possible to execute cross-border mergers and spin-offs and similar company reorganizations free of any taxes.

 Contrary to other jurisdictions Austria does not combat any off-shore countries or tax havens but rather enters into tax treaties with these countries. A typical example for that approach is the fact, that Austria is currently negotiating a tax treaty with Panama.

The firm would like to invite everyone to go the Austrian way, and believes that it does pays off !