The portal HELP.gv.at
The first place to go for questions about public authorities or eGovernment services is the
The HELP.gv.at site as a "one-stop-shop" portal and the application of the citizen card as a uniform system of electronic identification in Austria contributed significantly to its success. Entire procedures are able to be carried out electronically without changes in the type of media, starting from filling out an application form and paying fees, to internal processing (ELAK) and delivering official documents and notifications.
The website is designed to be barrier-free so that it can be used with ease by those with special needs or older people with diminished eyesight. The navigation was designed to be as simple and straightforward as possible so that users do not need to click around too much in order to find the desired area. All available content is listed from A to Z and also arranged according to topic into major categories and themes.
Categories such as Education (which includes forms for registering for school), Documents (like the form for applying for a passport), or Finances (where online income tax forms are located) can be found on HELP.gv.at.
The site also contains general information on eGovernment services and provides links to the corresponding solutions. The menu item "Forms/Online procedures" contains an exhaustive list of application forms for all public authorities in Austria, from A to Z. The application forms found here can be downloaded, filled out and sent to the corresponding authority by regular post or eMail. Many of the application forms can even be filled out and signed directly online, entirely paperless and without any further action necessary.
Businesses
The help platform is not only an essential information source for citizens, it isalso a gateway to eGovernment for businesses. The HELP.gv.at site offers a good overview of the Austrian government, and all information relevant to businesses.
The portal contains information and hintfull tips on more than 200 topics and has a comprehensive list of public authorities and forms that can be downloaded from thesite. Many transactions with public authorities can be performed online.
In the "business section" you find information on the public authorities that specifically deal with business and the economy. many transactions can be carried out online - HELP.gv.at is the perfect platform for both employers and employees on the Web.
Business categories
The business section of the HELP.gv.at site is arranged into six categories, in which business-relevant information on the respective topic can be found. They are "Außenwirtschaft" (Foreign trade), "Finanzen" (Finances), "Hilfreiche Informationen" (Helpful information), "Laufender Betrieb" (Ongoing business), "Mitarbeiter/innen" (Employees) and "Unternehmensgründung" (Starting a company).
For anyone who needs to get a visa for a business partner from another country would find the necessary information in the Foreign trade section. You will find not only comprehensive information on the topic in this section but also the required application forms.
For those with questions about municipal taxes, either on the tax assessment base or on calculating taxes, or for those who want to find out about available grants, they will find the answers in the Finances section.