VIENNA, April 21, 2026 The Austrian Economic Chamber (Wirtschaftskammer Österreich, WKÖ) announced plans to refund businesses a total of €100 million by the end of 2029, with funds drawn from two key chamber levies.
Funding Sources and Implementation
The refund initiative will be financed through a combination of the chamber’s revenue streams, including €100 million from Kammerumlage 1 (KU1), a levy tied to input tax, and €159 million from Kammerumlage 2 (KU2), a fee paid by employer-operated businesses. WKÖ President Martha Schultz revealed the plan during an appearance on the ORF program "Report" on Tuesday evening.
"My goal is to return €100 million to entrepreneurs," Schultz said. "This has been agreed upon and coordinated with the states." She added that the technical implementation details are now being finalized. The refunds will be distributed over a three-year period, with the full €100 million in savings achieved by 2030.
The KU2 levy, which consists of a federal chamber portion and a variable portion set by regional chambers, has faced criticism from some quarters, with calls for its complete abolition. However, Schultz emphasized that the refund plan leverages both KU2 and other "savings potentials" within the chamber’s budget.