Climate bonus
The climate bonus was introduced in 2022 as a bonus payment under the eco-social tax reform. All people who had their main residence in Austria for at least six months in the entitlement year received a climate bonus. The climate bonus was paid out automatically, either by bank transfer or in voucher form; the amounts, staggered by regional category, were set a new each year.
The climate bonus was limited to the years 2022 to 2024 by an amendment to the Climate Bonus Act. This is part of the government’s savings measures taken under the 2025/2026 double budget. Claims for past climate bonuses remain valid and can be asserted retroactively until December 2027. The prerequisite is that the eligibility criteria were met in the respective entitlement year.
Valid claims mainly concern people who did not collect their RSa/RSb letter together with the climate bonus vouchers from the post office in time, and the letter was returned as a result. Affected persons can apply for a retroactive payment of the climate bonus via the contact form on the climate bonus website. Claims for unpaid climate bonuses can be made until 31 December 2027. After that, the claim expires permanently.