Austria's Eibinger-Miedl seeks tax breaks for private pensions

Finance State Secretary Barbara Eibinger-Miedl said the Austrian government will work to make the third pillar of the pension system more attractive, proposing tax incentives, a holding period and other measures for private retirement savings. She pointed to neighboring Slovenia, Germany, Hungary and the Czech Republic, where similar benefits already exist.

Eibinger-Miedl also noted that the budget impact of the planned defence service reform cannot be assessed until a model is chosen. The commission’s "Stufenmodell" could cost €230‑310 million by 2037, while the preferred "Austria Plus" model is estimated at €170‑250 million. She expressed confidence that the current double‑budget will meet the 3 % deficit target for 2028 and stressed strict enforcement, with no immediate extra spending required from 1 January 2027. The secretary declined to comment on rumours about former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s possible political return.