Klimabonus
In 2022, a new chapter begins for climate protection in Austria: A price is being put on climate-damaging CO2 and climate-friendly behaviour is being rewarded. If you take care of our climate, you will keep more of the Klimabonus in your wallet. Due to the hike in the cost of living, this year’s bonus has been increased to provide relief for people in Austria.
Current information on the payout
The Klimabonus and anti-inflation bonus were paid out to the majority of people living in Austria between August and October 2022. The processing for the second wave of payments from February 2023 is already in full swing. This is not the new Klimabonus for the year 2023, but rather people are receiving the Klimabonus who only moved their main residence to Austria in the course of the first half of 2022 or who actually happened to be born here. This is because they now also fulfil the basic requirement for the Klimabonus: Namely 183 days of main residence in Austria. For non-Austrian citizens, legal resident status is also required (Klimabonus Act, Section 2).
Problems with the automated entitlement check by the Ministry of the Interior were encountered by some groups of EU citizens or third-country nationals in the first wave of payments. These persons will also receive their Klimabonus from February 2023.
More info is available in our FAQs.
What is the Klimabonus?
A bonus payment. For everyone living in Austria. The money comes from the CO2 revenue, which will be introduced from October 2022.
Who gets the Klimabonus?
Everyone. Everyone who has their main residence in Austria for at least six months in the year of entitlement receives the Klimabonus – regardless of citizenship and age. Non-Austrian citizens need legal resident status (Klimabonus Act, Section 2).
How do you get it?
Automatically. The Klimabonus is transferred directly to your account or sent you by post. In 2022 it will be paid out as from the beginning of September.
And how much do you get?
€500 or €250. In 2022 all adults will get €500. Minors get half. From 2023 the amount of the Klimabonus payout depends on the region of your main residence.
The Klimabonus: What's behind it
October 2022 marked the beginning of a new chapter for climate protection in Austria: With the eco-social tax reform, a price has been put on climate-damaging CO2.
The additional money flows directly back to the people in the form of the Klimabonus. Climate-friendly behaviour is rewarded. The Klimabonus is paid out annually and goes to everyone who has had their main residence in Austria for at least 183 days in the year of entitlement – adults as well as children, regardless of origin and citizenship. Non-Austrian citizens need legal resident status (Klimabonus Act, Section 2).
2022: An exceptional year
Due to prevailing inflation and the associated rise in prices, the Klimabonus was increased as a one-off to EUR 500 for all adults in 2022. Children and young people up to 18 years of age received half the amount, i.e. EUR 250.
What next?
From 2023, the Klimabonus will vary based on the region you live in — as originally intended. The amount will then depend on how good the infrastructure and public transport connections are at your place of residence. One thing is certain: Those who opt for climate-friendly behaviour will now have more of the Klimabonus in their pockets.
Switching to climate-friendly alternatives is not always possible in some regions of Austria, as infrastructure or public transport has not yet been developed sufficiently. The amount of the Klimabonus therefore always depends on your main place of residence.
Further information on the eco-social tax reform and the CO2 pricing can be found here.
How it works
The Klimabonus goes to about 9 million people. To make this as quick and easy as possible, the Klimabonus is paid out in two different ways: By bank transfer to your account or as a voucher by post. Because the post office has to send a lot of registered letters, it takes several weeks to get them out.
The most important thing to remember is that you don’t have to do anything to get the Klimabonus.
There are two payout methods:
Fast and simple: The Klimabonus goes straight to your account
If you regularly receive money from the State, you don't have to do anything. The Klimabonus will be transfered automatically. This applies, for example, to pensioners, child benefit recipients and those who receive special allowances.
All those whose current account number is stored in FinanzOnline, will also receive their bonus automatically. This includes everyone who uses FinanzOnline to settle their annual taxes electronically.
Since the Klimabonus will now be paid out once a year, the account data provided is also checked annually on a fixed cut-off date. For the year 2022, this cut-off date was 22 July. If your account data on FinanzOnline was not up-to-date on that day, the Klimabonus will be sent by post this year in the form of a voucher.
Nevertheless, be sure to check and update your account data on FinanzOnline in order to receive the money directly into your account from 2023. This can be done in three simple steps:
Step 2
Log in with your smartphone signature, citizen card or your FinanzOnline access data.
Step 3
Enter your current IBAN under bank details.
Click on "Change" at the bottom right to save the data.
You can register here if you do not have access, or you do not have a smartphone signature yet.
Please follow the instructions on the link.
Alternative: The Klimabonus comes as a voucher by post
Don't have an account? Then you will get the Klimabonus sent to your main residence. The safest way is the RSa letter, which is only delivered to you in person or can be collected at the post office with a photo ID.
If you are expecting a voucher but are usually not at home, there is a way to save yourself a trip to the post office: Grant a proxy so that any person of legal age in your household can receive the Klimabonus on your behalf.
- Fill out the Klimabonus Proxy form.
Important: Don’t forget to include the ID details and the signature! - Keep the proxy form in a safe place, one where it is easy to access.
- When the delivery person arrives with the Klimabonus, the proxy just needs to show the signed proxy form and the respective ID in order to receive the Klimabonus on your behalf.
If nobody is at home when the delivery person calls, the Klimabonus will be safely deposited at the nearest post office and you will be informed as to where you can pick it up. Please note: The Klimabonus can then only be collected in person. The proxy is not valid here.
The vouchers can be redeemed anywhere from the supermarket to the bookshop to thousands of stores or exchanged for cash at our bank partner.
To find out where, click here:
Partner
Here you can search for businesses in your area or specific shops. The search is conducted in the Sodexo database. To do this, your request must be submitted to Sodexo.
For more information, please see our Data Protection Policy.
Perhaps you have a shop or business and want to become a partner that accepts the Klimabonus voucher?
Use the following link to register your company as a redemption point:
How much you get
In 2022 the Klimabonus will be €500 for all adults and €250 for children up to the age of 18.
This amount is a one-off increase in the Klimabonus due to current inflation levels and the related price hikes.
Also in the coming years everyone with a main residence in Austria will receive a Klimabonus annually. For non-Austrian citizens, legal residency status is required (in accordance with KliBG §2). From 2023, the amount will depend on your main residence, in line with the original plan.
Still have questions?
We have collected the most frequently asked questions under Q&A. The Q&A is only available in German.
Contact
Our service team is available to answer any enquiries. Please note that contact is made in German.
0800 8000 80
Monday – Friday, 8am – 6pm