Pensions, Taxes, Wolves: These Changes Take Effect in July

Cheaper Food in Austria

Those primarily affected are customers of e-commerce platforms such as Temu, Shein, and AliExpress, as well as international marketplaces such as Amazon. For shipments with a value of less than 150 euros, a flat customs fee of three euros per product category will be charged — in addition to the existing import VAT. In addition, some shipping service providers charge a service fee for customs clearance if the sender has not already done so. Within the EU, taxes and duties generally do not apply — exceptions apply to coffee, alcohol, and tobacco products and their substitutes.

For each declared product category, a fixed customs rate of three euros will now be levied. The Austrian government wants to use the parcel fee to curb the growing flood of shipments from online platforms such as Temu, Shein, and AliExpress and to strengthen domestic trade. At the same time, the reduced revenues from the VAT cut are to be partially offset.

Parcel Duty for Online Orders

The Bundestag had decided in May to cut air travel tax. With the legal change, the levy will drop by between 2.50 euros and 11.40 euros per flight, depending on the route. For short-haul flights, it will fall from the current 15.53 euros to 13.03 euros; for medium-haul flights, from 39.34 euros to 33.01 euros; and for long-haul flights, from 70.83 euros to 59.43 euros.

In air travel, July also brings relief at Vienna-Schwechat Airport. The previous 100-milliliter limit for liquids in carry-on luggage is being dropped; liquids in containers of up to two liters may in future be carried through security. Laptops, tablets, and other larger electronic devices no longer have to be removed separately from carry-on luggage.

Citizen's Benefit Becomes Basic Security Benefit

In Germany, the citizen's benefit (Bürgergeld) is being renamed basic security benefit (Grundsicherungsgeld), without the level of the social benefit changing. Stricter rules apply to people receiving citizen's benefit, up to and including possible total sanctions. In addition, the so-called grace period, during which benefit recipients were allowed to retain more assets, is being abolished. Anyone with assets above the set allowances must use these for their livelihood before receiving basic security benefit.

The legal situation regarding wolves is also changing. Through an addition as a huntable animal species in the Federal Hunting Act, wolves can be shot more easily in Germany. The hunting season is then set for the period from 1 July to 31 October. If a wolf has killed or injured grazing animals, it may be shot regardless of conservation status and hunting season. More than 200 packs live in Germany, mainly in the east and north.

Wolf Added to Hunting Law

The tax return is becoming more digital: From July, the tax return via app on smartphone or tablet with just one click is to be available nationwide for the first user groups. Around 11.5 million people can take part in the first round. This group includes single, childless employees as well as retirees. Anyone who has registered in the "MeinElster+" app will receive a completed tax return and a preview of the tax assessment from the tax office with the tax data already available to the tax authorities for the 2025 tax year. die für das Kalenderjahr 2025 muss bis zum 31. Juli 2026 abgegeben werden. Für Menschen, die sich steuerlich beraten lassen, verlängert sich die Frist auf den 30. April 2027.

The minimum wage is also rising in care: For care assistants, an initial increase comes on 1 July from the current 16.10 euros to 16.52 euros per hour, as the federal government had set out in a regulation.

Tax Return via App

Tighter requirements also apply to event organizers in Austria. To improve the protection of women and all other visitors, organizers must now submit a mandatory security and awareness concept and appoint a responsible person. Sustainability requirements are also being tightened — the requirements for waste avoidance and environmental protection are being significantly increased.

Anyone parking in Vienna has been paying more since the beginning of the year: Since the start of the year, half an hour of parking costs 1.70 euros instead of the previous 1.30 euros. Old parking tickets lose their validity; only tickets with the current rate may be used. The Eastern Region Transport Association (VOR) is raising prices for certain tickets in the "Region" fare zone in stages on 1 July and 1 September by an average of 3.5 percent. Nothing changes in the core zone, as the fares there were already adjusted at the beginning of the year.