Austrian SVS social insurance contributions for trade licence holders (Gewerbetreibende), Neue Selbständige and FSVG freelancers such as doctors.
Drafted by OpenAccountants. The OpenAccountants engine wrote this Guide, figures and method, from the official pages it links, and it carries no accountant's name. Nobody has read or approved it yet, so it may be incomplete or wrong. An accountant in Austriawho reads it, corrects it and approves it takes the byline. General reference only; don't file or take a position on it without professional review.
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| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Country | Austria (Republic of Austria) |
| Authority | SVS (Sozialversicherungsanstalt der Selbständigen) |
| Primary legislation | GSVG (Gewerbliches Sozialversicherungsgesetz) |
| Supporting legislation | ASVG; FSVG (Freiberuflich); BSVG (Farmers); BMSVG (Selbständigenvorsorge); EStG |
| Pension rate | See the Section 4 rates table |
| Health rate | See the Section 4 rates table |
| Accident insurance | Fixed monthly amount, not a percentage. See Section 4 |
| Selbständigenvorsorge | Share of the provisional health insurance base. Compulsory for everyone in compulsory GSVG health insurance, including Neue Selbständige. Not compulsory for health insurance by opting in, or for freelancers health insured under GSVG Sections 14a and 14b. Voluntary for freelancers insured only in pension insurance because their profession opted out of GSVG health insurance, such as doctors. See Section 4 |
| Minimum and maximum monthly base | See the Section 4 thresholds table |
| Payment frequency | Charged quarterly (Beitragsvorschreibung); monthly direct debit possible |
| Due dates | 28 February (29 in a leap year), 31 May, 31 August, 30 November |
| Currency | EUR only |
| Contributor | Open Accountants |
| Validated by | Pending: needs an Austrian Steuerberater or Wirtschaftsprüfer |
| Validation date | Pending |
How the SVS (Sozialversicherungsanstalt der Selbständigen) charges pension, health and accident insurance and the Selbständigenvorsorge to trade licence holders (Gewerbetreibende) and Neue Selbständige under the GSVG, and pension insurance to FSVG freelancers. Figures are for tax year 2026, from SVS pages and the 2026 contribution sheet; the deduction rule is from the USP. Farmers (BSVG) and employees (ASVG) are out of scope.
Quick reference
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Country | Austria (Republic of Austria) |
| Authority | SVS (Sozialversicherungsanstalt der Selbständigen) |
| Primary legislation | GSVG (Gewerbliches Sozialversicherungsgesetz) |
| Supporting legislation | ASVG; FSVG (Freiberuflich); BSVG (Farmers); BMSVG (Selbständigenvorsorge); EStG |
| Pension rate | See the Section 4 rates table |
| Health rate | See the Section 4 rates table |
| Accident insurance | Fixed monthly amount, not a percentage. See Section 4 |
| Selbständigenvorsorge | Share of the provisional health insurance base. Compulsory for everyone in compulsory GSVG health insurance, including Neue Selbständige. Not compulsory for health insurance by opting in, or for freelancers health insured under GSVG Sections 14a and 14b. Voluntary for freelancers insured only in pension insurance because their profession opted out of GSVG health insurance, such as doctors. See Section 4 |
| Minimum and maximum monthly base | See the Section 4 thresholds table |
| Payment frequency | Charged quarterly (Beitragsvorschreibung); monthly direct debit possible |
| Due dates | 28 February (29 in a leap year), 31 May, 31 August, 30 November |
| Currency | EUR only |
| Contributor | Open Accountants |
| Validated by | Pending: needs an Austrian Steuerberater or Wirtschaftsprüfer |
| Validation date | Pending |
Monthly contributions at the minimum and maximum base, as SVS prints them
| What | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Source | all figures below | https://www.svs.at/cdscontent/load?contentid=10008.763406&version=1672393252 |
| Minimum monthly base, pension and health (GSVG) | EUR 551.10 | "Mindest 551,10 101,95 1 Gewerbetreibende/-gesellschafter" |
| Pension contribution at the minimum base (GSVG) | EUR 101.95 | "Mindest 551,10 101,95" |
| Health contribution at the minimum base (GSVG) | EUR 37.48 | "Mindest1) 551,10 37,48 1 Aktive Freiberufler" |
| Maximum monthly base, pension and health | EUR 8,085.00 | "Höchst 8.085,00 1.495,73" |
| Pension contribution at the maximum base (GSVG) | EUR 1,495.73 | "Höchst 8.085,00 1.495,73" |
| Health contribution at the maximum base (GSVG) | EUR 549.79 | "Höchst 8.085,00 549,79" |
| Accident insurance per month, as this sheet prints it | EUR 12.95 | "Monatsbeitrag zur Unfallversicherung: 12,95 Euro" |
| Maximum base per year | EUR 97,020 | "8.085,00 Euro monatlich (97.020 Euro pro Jahr)" |
SVS web pages print a different accident figure (Section 11). No SVS page prints a monthly total, so this Guide states none.
Legislation: GSVG Section 25
Provisional base from the fourth year: the SVS worked example
| What | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Source | all figures below | https://www.svs.at/cdscontent/?contentid=10007.816634&portal=svsportal |
| Insurable income 2023, incl. contributions charged, 10 insured months | EUR 32,000 | "32.000 ab versicherungspflichtigen Einkünften" |
| Revalued total for 2026 (factor 1.181) | EUR 34,784 | "32.000 x 1,181" |
| Provisional monthly base 2026 | EUR 3,478.40 | "(34.784 ÷ 10)" |
| Revaluation factor 2026, applied to 2023 income | 1.181 | "Faktor 2026 : 1,181" |
Gewerbetreibende vs Neue Selbständige
| Feature | Gewerbetreibende | Neue Selbständige |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Gewerbeberechtigung (trade licence) | No trade licence; freelancers, IT contractors, etc. |
| Insurance obligation | Automatic on registration (small-business exemption on application, Section 7) | Only if yearly income exceeds the Versicherungsgrenze below, regardless of other work or a pension |
| Health base, first two calendar years | Fixed at the minimum base, not re-assessed | Re-assessed like later years |
| Selbständigenvorsorge | Due (share of the health base) | Due (share of the health base) |
| Accident insurance | Mandatory | Mandatory once insurance obligation triggered |
Versicherungsgrenze for Neue Selbständige
| What | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Source | all figures below | https://www.svs.at/cdscontent/?contentid=10007.816855&portal=svsportal |
| Versicherungsgrenze 2026, per year, the same whether or not the client also has a job or a pension | EUR 6,613.20 | "6.613,20 jährlich" |
| Surcharge on pension and health contributions if the tax office reveals the excess | 9.3% | "Beitragszuschlag in Höhe von 9,3 Prozent" |
A client who ends up over the limit pays the insurance and Selbständigenvorsorge contributions later; the surcharge is avoided by reporting the excess within eight weeks of the income tax assessment.
Legislation: GSVG Sections 25-27; SVS contribution values, 2026
Rates table
| Component | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Source | all figures below | https://www.svs.at/cdscontent/?contentid=10007.816638 |
| Pension insurance (Pensionsversicherung), GSVG | 18.5% | "beträgt der Beitragssatz in der Pensionsversicherung 18,50 Prozent" |
| Health insurance (Krankenversicherung), GSVG | 6.8% | "in der Krankenversicherung 6,8 Prozent" |
| Pension insurance, FSVG | 20% | "beträgt der Beitragssatz in der Pensionsversicherung 20 Prozent" |
| Accident insurance (Unfallversicherung), fixed per month | EUR 12.96 | "12,96 monatlich" |
| Selbständigenvorsorge, share of the provisional health base | 1.53% | "Selbständigenvorsorge beträgt 1,53 Prozent" |
| Minimum monthly base, first three years (pension and health) | EUR 551.10 | "551,10 monatlich in der Pensionsversicherung" |
An FSVG-only freelancer who chooses the Selbständigenvorsorge pays the same share of the provisional pension base instead.
Thresholds table
| Threshold | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Source | all figures below | https://www.svs.at/cdscontent/?contentid=10007.816635&portal=svsportal |
| Maximum contribution base, per year | EUR 97,020.00 | "97.020,00" |
| Minimum contribution base, per year of full insurance (twelve times the monthly minimum; for fewer insured months the monthly minimum applies per month) | EUR 6,613.20 | "6.613,20 begrenzt" |
| Fixed health base, Gewerbetreibende, first two calendar years, per month | EUR 551.10 | "Wert 2026" |
The monthly minimum and maximum are in the Section 1 table.
Legislation: GSVG Zusatzversicherung (section number not confirmed on an allowed page)
Krankengeld opt-in table
| Option | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Source | all figures below | https://www.svs.at/cdscontent/?contentid=10007.816678&portal=svsportal |
| Zusatzversicherung, share of the provisional health base | 2.5% | "Zusatzversicherung beträgt 2,5 Prozent" |
| Minimum monthly contribution | EUR 30.77 | "Mindestbeitrag" |
| Maximum monthly contribution | EUR 202.13 | "202,13 monatlich" |
Krankengeld and Unterstützungsleistung amounts
| What | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Source | all figures below | https://www.svs.at/cdscontent/?contentid=10007.816735&portal=svsportal |
| Krankengeld, share of daily contribution base | 60% | "Ihrer täglichen Beitragsgrundlage" |
| Krankengeld, daily minimum | EUR 11.02 | "11,02" |
| Source | all figures below | https://www.svs.at/cdscontent/?contentid=10007.816734&portal=svsportal |
| Unterstützungsleistung per day, not income-related | EUR 40.04 | "40,04 (Wert 2026 )" |
Legislation: GSVG Sections 25-27
Legislation: GSVG Section 35; EStG Section 4(4)
Payment schedule table
| Quarter | Covers | Due date |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | January to March | 28 February (29 in a leap year) |
| Q2 | April to June | 31 May |
| Q3 | July to September | 31 August |
| Q4 | October to December | 30 November |
Source for the due dates: https://www.svs.at/cdscontent/?contentid=10007.816647&portal=svsportal
Tax deductibility table
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Are SVS contributions deductible from taxable income? | YES; GSVG contributions are deductible separately, even under the flat-rate expense method (USP Basispauschalierung page, Sources) |
| Which contributions are deductible? | Compulsory GSVG and Selbständigenvorsorge contributions (same page). Zusatzversicherung contributions too (SVS) |
| When are they deductible? | Legacy text: in the year paid; not confirmed on an allowed page (Section 11) |
| Does the Nachbemessung payment also get deducted? | Legacy text: yes, in the year paid; not confirmed on an allowed page (Section 11) |
SVS small business exemption limits
| What | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Source | all figures below | https://www.svs.at/cdscontent/?contentid=10007.816718&portal=svsportal |
| Yearly income limit 2026 | EUR 6,613.20 | "Einkommensgrenze" |
| Yearly turnover limit 2026 | EUR 55,000.00 | "Umsatzgrenze" |
The same yearly number serves three separate rules in 2026. (a) Versicherungsgrenze: a Neuer Selbständiger with yearly income at or below it is not insured at all; no application is needed, and there is no turnover test and no age test. (b) SVS small business exemption: a sole trader or FSVG doctor at or below it, and at or below the turnover limit, who meets the age and prior insurance conditions, may apply to leave pension and health insurance; accident insurance stays. (c) Minimum contribution base: an insured person whose income is lower still pays on this base. Never apply one rule's consequence to another rule's group.
Conditions: https://www.svs.at/cdscontent/?contentid=10007.846813&portal=svsportal
Situation: Client started self-employment 18 months ago, no prior tax assessment available. Resolution: Provisional base = minimum contribution base (Section 1), plus the Selbständigenvorsorge share. Warn the client: pension will be re-assessed, and high income means a large back-payment. For a Gewerbetreibender the health base of the first two calendar years stays fixed; a July start keeps it fixed for 18 months, because the rule counts calendar years.
Situation: Freelancer expects income below the Versicherungsgrenze and has no other employment. Resolution: Below the Versicherungsgrenze (Section 3), there is no GSVG compulsory insurance, whether or not the client has other work or a pension. A client can declare at registration that they will stay below it, and may opt into health and accident cover; SVS checks actual income later. A client outside insurance has NO health or pension coverage: flag this.
Situation: Client knows current-year income will be much higher than in the third prior year. Resolution: The client can apply to raise the provisional base (Hinaufsetzung) up to the maximum, stating the expected final base; this avoids a large Nachbemessung later. SVS warns: an over-estimate creates a large credit, and a raised base can become final for the pension if a pension starts first. A founder can also apply, at the latest with the pension application, to raise the first three calendar years' pension base to the maximum (Hinaufsetzung pages, Sources list).
Situation: Client has a Gewerbeberechtigung AND freelance (Neue Selbständige) income. Resolution: Legacy text: all self-employed income combines into one GSVG contribution base, with no double insurance obligation; not confirmed on an allowed page for this refresh (Section 11). Flag if activities fall under different regimes (GSVG vs FSVG).
Situation: Client lives in Austria but performs work in Germany. Resolution: Under EU Regulation 883/2004, social insurance is generally due in only one member state. Self-employed in Austria and employed abroad: the country of employment's law applies and Austria is insurance-free. Employed in Austria and self-employed abroad: Austrian law applies and SVS asks for the foreign tax assessment (Sources list). Other combinations need an A1 certificate determination; escalate to reviewer.
When a situation requires reviewer judgement:
REVIEWER FLAG
Tier: T2
Client: [name]
Situation: [description]
Issue: [what is ambiguous]
Options: [possible treatments]
Recommended: [most likely correct treatment and why]
Action Required: Qualified Steuerberater must confirm before advising client.
When a situation is outside Guide scope:
ESCALATION REQUIRED
Tier: T3
Client: [name]
Situation: [description]
Issue: [outside Guide scope]
Action Required: Do not advise. Refer to qualified Steuerberater. Document gap.
Input: Gewerbetreibender, year 1, no prior income data. Expected output: Minimum base. Pension and health as printed in Section 1; accident from the Section 4 rates table (see Section 11 on the two printed accident values); plus Selbständigenvorsorge. Health is final for the first two calendar years; pension is re-assessed.
Input: Gewerbetreibender, fourth year or later, the SVS example in Section 3. Expected output: Provisional base as in that table; apply the Section 4 rates, accident amount and Selbständigenvorsorge. Quarterly charge = three months.
Input: Gewerbetreibender with income well above the maximum base. Expected output: Base capped at the maximum. Pension and health as printed in Section 1; accident from the Section 4 rates table (see Section 11 on the two printed accident values); plus Selbständigenvorsorge.
Input: Freelance income below the Versicherungsgrenze, no other employment. Expected output: No GSVG obligation. Flag: no social insurance cover unless the client opts in. Same answer if also employed.
Input: Employed (ASVG) and self-employed (GSVG), combined bases over the yearly cap. Expected output: Differenzbeitragsvorschreibung. ASVG ranks first; the GSVG pension AND health base is cut to keep the total within the cap. Reviewed once all bases are final. Accident insurance is a flat amount.
Input: Gewerbetreibender on the minimum base in year 1; the assessment shows income far above it. Expected output: Pension re-assessed; back-payment in four quarterly instalments from next year's first quarter, or twelve quarters on application. Health, accident and Selbständigenvorsorge NOT re-assessed.
Input: GSVG self-employed, under 60, opts into the Zusatzversicherung. Expected output: Extra contribution at the Section 4 rate, within its minimum and maximum. Krankengeld from day 4 after a six-month wait. "Day 43" belongs to the separate Unterstützungsleistung.
This Guide and its outputs are provided for informational and computational purposes only and do not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Open Accountants and its contributors accept no liability for any errors, omissions, or outcomes arising from the use of this Guide. All outputs must be reviewed and signed off by a qualified professional (such as a CPA, EA, tax attorney, or equivalent licensed practitioner in your jurisdiction) before filing or acting upon.
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