The Economic Association is now specifically calling for the abolition of the obligation to issue receipts for amounts under 30 euros and, according to its own statement, wants to “set an example against bureaucracy and waste in everyday shopping”. According to an IMAS survey, almost two thirds of consumers and companies would support this.
2,000 spruces per year
Economic Association Secretary General Kurt Egger: “Amounts under 30 euros are usually everyday items, and the receipts are often not taken with you. For example, a coffee to go in the morning can produce a paper consumption of 560,000 kilometers per year, which is the equivalent of about 2,000 spruce trees. This unnecessary consumption can be stopped by abolishing the obligation to issue receipts for small amounts. The requirement to use cash registers means that the cash registers are directly connected to the Ministry of Finance anyway, which means that all transactions are reported automatically. This averts the risk of illegal sales.”
In response to a KURIER query, the Ministry of Finance said that it would like to digitalize the issuing of receipts as much as possible and is examining the proposal with experts. It is also about creating best practices to reduce the printing of invoices, which is already not legally mandatory. The BMF attaches “great importance to making a contribution to climate protection.”
The Social Democratic Business Association (SWV) under President Christoph Matznetter welcomes the campaign of the Economic Association, but refers to its own motion. On June 27, the SWV had already submitted a motion to the Economic Parliament of the WKO to review and adjust the obligation to issue receipts, which was also accepted.
“We are pleased that the Economic Association is now actively promoting the agreed change in the obligation to issue receipts. Your campaign shows that our idea has fallen on fertile ground,” explains Matznetter, who would even set the limit at 50 euros.
Since cash register requirement in 2016
The background is: The obligation to issue receipts, which was originally introduced with the cash register requirement in 2016, states that a receipt must be issued for every business transaction. This measure was intended to prevent tax evasion, but has led to a considerable bureaucratic burden for companies.
Matznetter: “If we do not pursue the increase in the limit to 50 euros, we will lose a valuable opportunity to further reduce the administrative burden on our entrepreneurs.”