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In Austria, unlike Germany, a cash register is mandatory above certain thresholds. This page reports the rules as the Austrian government’s business service portal and the finance ministry write them, with dates. It does not say whether the obligation applies to your business: your tax adviser does.

The thresholds

According to the business service portal, updated on 1 January 2026, a cash register and a receipt are needed when both thresholds are exceeded [14]:

• 15,000 € of annual turnover per business;
• 7,500 € a year of net cash takings.

The obligation starts at the beginning of the fourth month after the end of the VAT return period in which the thresholds were first exceeded [14]. In its frequently asked questions on associations, updated on 2 October 2026, the finance ministry specifies that the 7,500 € threshold is net and that cash takings also include payments by debit card and credit card [15].

A receipt, on the other hand, is due from the first cash sale, whether or not the register obligation applies [14]. For outdoor sales up to 45,000 € net of annual turnover the so-called «Kalte Hände» rule applies: the day’s takings can be determined by counting the cash [14]. Not having the register or the security device is an offence punishable by a fine of up to 5,000 € [14].

The signature

Every register must have protection against manipulation, a technical security device with an interface to a unit that creates the signature [14]. In the price lists we read, the signature is priced separately:

ready2order also offers, for a fee, registration of the register with FinanzOnline (69 € one-off) and checking of the annual receipt (70 € a year) [6]: the calculator does not count them, because in the price list they are separate services and we do not know whether you need them.

For the cost over three years with your takings, use the calculator for Austria.