German office words from Austria, explained
The words you see in official letters in Austria, in plain English.
- Abgabennachforderung
- Extra tax to pay. You paid less than you owe.
- Anmeldebescheinigung
- Registration certificate for EU citizens who stay longer than 3 months. Apply within 4 months after you arrive.
- Anonymverfügung
- Fine sent to the car owner when the driver is not known. You can’t object to it.
- Arbeitnehmerveranlagung
- Yearly tax return for employees. Many people get money back, and you can file it up to 5 years later.
- Arbeitslosengeld
- Unemployment benefit from the AMS.
- Aufenthaltstitel
- Residence permit.
- Aussetzung der Einhebung
- A pause in collecting a disputed tax until your objection is decided. If you lose, interest may be added.
- Bescheid
- Official decision. It becomes final if you don’t object in time.
- Beschwerde
- Objection to an official decision (Bescheid). Usually within 4 weeks; for tax decisions within one month.
- Betriebskosten
- Shared building costs on top of the rent, like water, rubbish and cleaning.
- e-card
- Your health insurance card. Bring it to every doctor’s visit.
- Einspruch
- Objection, for example to a fine (Strafverfügung, within 2 weeks) or to a court payment order (Zahlungsbefehl).
- Exekution
- Enforcement. A creditor takes money or things from you with official permission, for example part of your wages.
- Fälligkeitstag
- Due date. Pay by this day.
- Familienbeihilfe
- Monthly child benefit, paid by the tax office (Finanzamt Österreich).
- Feber
- February (an Austrian word).
- FinanzOnline
- The tax office’s online portal. Letters can arrive in its Databox instead of by post.
- Frist
- Deadline.
- Gutschrift
- Credit. Money you get back or that is added to your account.
- Hauptwohnsitz
- Your main home — the place where you mainly live.
- Hinterlegung
- The post office keeps an official letter for you because you were not home. You get a notice slip.
- Jänner
- January (the Austrian word).
- Kontrollmeldung
- Required appointment at the AMS.
- Lenkerauskunft
- Request to the car owner to say who was driving.
- Mahnspesen
- Fee added for a payment reminder.
- Mandatsbescheid
- Quick decision made without hearing you first. You can object (Vorstellung) within 2 weeks.
- Meldezettel
- Form to register your address. You must register within 3 days after moving in.
- Notstandshilfe
- Support from the AMS after your unemployment benefit ends, if you still need it.
- ORF-Beitrag
- Fee for public TV and radio. One payment per household with a main home in Austria, even without a TV.
- Organmandat
- Small on-the-spot fine, for example from the police or a parking warden.
- Parteiengehör
- Your right to see the evidence and comment before they decide.
- Pfändung
- Seizure of money or things to pay a debt. A basic amount to live on (Existenzminimum) stays protected.
- Ratenzahlung
- Paying in instalments.
- Rechtsmittelbelehrung
- The part at the end that explains how and by when you can object.
- Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte
- Residence and work permit for skilled workers from outside the EU.
- RSa / RSb
- Registered official letter that you must sign for. An RSa letter is only given to you; an RSb letter can also be given to another adult at your address.
- Säumniszuschlag
- Late payment charge, for example when you pay tax too late.
- Schuldanerkenntnis
- A signed statement that you owe the money. Don’t sign it before you have checked the debt.
- Sozialhilfe / Mindestsicherung
- Basic support to live on if your income is too low. It is paid by your province; in Vienna it is called Mindestsicherung.
- Sozialversicherungsnummer
- Your 10-digit social insurance number. It is on your e-card.
- Straferkenntnis
- Fine decision after a full procedure. You can object (Beschwerde) within 4 weeks.
- Strafverfügung
- Fine from the police or district authority. You can object (Einspruch) within 2 weeks after delivery.
- Stundung
- Permission to pay later.
- Verbesserungsauftrag
- Request to fix or complete your application by a deadline. If you don’t, they can reject it.
- Verwaltungsübertretung
- A minor offence, for example a traffic or parking offence. It is not a crime.
- Vorstellung
- Objection to a quick decision (Mandatsbescheid) that was made without hearing you first. Usually within 2 weeks.
- Zahlungsbefehl
- Court order to pay. If you don’t owe the money, object (Einspruch) in time — usually within 4 weeks.
- Zahlungserleichterung
- Request to pay later or in instalments, for example at the tax office. Ask before the due date.
- Zustellung
- Formal delivery of a letter. Most deadlines start on the day of delivery.