AN AMERICAN in Austria

Support and information in English for U.S. Americans living in Styria, Austria

 

I am providing this series of blog articles to share knowledge and tips* that I have acquired during my 18 years of living as a U.S. American expat in the city of Graz, located in the province of Styria in Austria. I love to help people and support social networking! Three organizations that have been very helpful for me during these years are the International Women’s Association of Graz, the Austro-American Society for Styria, and the Graz Internations expat community platform.

I am also the administrator of the US Americans in Graz and Styria Facebook group and warmly welcome US citizens who are living in Graz or other parts of Styria to join my group!

* Because information about bureaucratic processes, official regulations, and other formal issues related to living in Austria as an expat is continually changing, I encourage people seeking this kind of information to visit the website of the U.S. Embassy in Vienna.

Remembering 9/11 – 20 Years later

Remembering 9/11 – 20 Years later

I believe that most US Americans who were alive at the time remember where they were and what they were doing on September 11, 2001. Here in Graz, two articles were issued in local newspapers that featured the thoughts and memories of US Americans living in the...

Who are the US Americans in Styria?

Did you know that 643 U.S. Americans call Styria their home and that 475 of these US Americans list their main residence as Graz (as of 1.1.2021)? Who are all these Americans and why have they chosen to live in Styria? To learn more, check out this recent article that...

The US Americans in Graz and Styria Facebook group

In March 2020, I decided to start a Facebook group for US Americans who were living in Graz and other parts of Styria. I created the group to provide access to information that is of specific interest to U.S. Americans living and/or working in Graz. The blogs on this...

Self Employment in Austria – How to Begin?

Today, I’d like to tell you about a website I recently found that provides helpful information for people who are considering self-employment in Austria: The Berufsanerkennung in Österreich website from the Austrian Integration Fund. Professional...

Choose Your Own Adventure: The Austrian Hardship Fund

The Austrian Federal Government has made it possible for people with businesses to apply for support from the Austrian Hardship Fund (Härtefall-Fonds) up until 31 December 2020 on a monthly basis. However, it’s sometimes really hard to figure out whether you...

How the SVS calculates your contributions

The SVA distinguishes among different groups of contributors. Each of these groups is assigned its own contribution base. The amount of the contribution is derived from this contribution base. As a general rule, self-employed persons are required to invest about 27% of their annual profit into pension and health insurance. However, the SVS needs to receive your income tax assessment (from the tax authority / Finanzamt) to calculate the exact amount.

Social Insurance for Self-Employed Persons (SVS)

Anyone who is directly or indirectly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to illness and/or quarantine or who expects massive business losses and, therefore, is experiencing difficulties making SVS payments (contributions) will receive the best possible support from the SVS. Those affected should contact the SVS directly. If necessary, the SVS can offer all SVS-insured persons the following options.