Chartered accountants – Recognition of firms

General information

A request for recognition must be filed for chartered accountancy professions (self-employed commercial accountants, tax consultants, statutory auditors) exercised by firms.

The Austrian Chamber of Tax Advisors and Public Accountants (Kammer der Steuerberater und Wirtschaftsprüfer) has to issue an official decision refusing recognition if the requesting party fails to meet any of the requirements for recognition.

The Austrian Chamber of Tax Advisors and Public Accountants (Kammer der Steuerberater und Wirtschaftsprüfer) must revoke a recognition-based licence to exercise a chartered accountancy profession if the party concerned fails to meet the requirements for recognition.

Requirements

Firms who want to exercise chartered accountancy professions must meet the following requirements for recognition:

• A corporate form which can be registered in the Austrian company register
• Written company statutes
• The company’s name has to contain the name of the profession
• The partners have to be natural persons or companies owning a professional licence
• Special trustworthiness
• Well-ordered finances
• A pecuniary damage liability insurance
• Existing office address

Recognition of firms will be refused if the requirements defined in section 68 of the Wirtschaftstreuhandberufsgesetz (WTBG) are not met.

Recognition will be revoked if the requirements defined in section 51 of the Wirtschaftstreuhandberufsgesetz (WTBG) are not met.

Deadlines

No special deadlines need to be observed.

Competent authority

Austrian Chamber of Tax Advisors and Public Accountants (→ KSW)^{German text}

Procedure

The request may be submitted personally or in writing to the competent authority.

Required documents

Certificates or supporting documents concerning satisfaction of requirements

Costs and fees

• Request
  • Euro 47.30 federal fee
  • attachment: Euro 3.90 per sheet
• Document
  • Euro 285.90 federal fee (depending on authorisation)

Legal bases

Sections 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 51 to 58 and 65 to 70 of the Wirtschaftstreuhandberufsgesetz (WTBG)