Austria taxes bitcoin sales at ATMs at 27.5 percent capital gains rate

Selling bitcoin for euros at an automated teller machine in Austria generally creates a taxable event. For bitcoin purchased after February 28, 2021, gains on such sales are subject to a 27.5 percent tax rate. The taxable amount is calculated as the difference between the sale proceeds and the acquisition costs of the coins sold, not the full cash amount dispensed.

Two-way bitcoin ATMs allow users to send cryptocurrency from their wallet to an operator's address and receive banknotes in return once blockchain confirmations are complete. The Austrian financial market authority classifies these transactions as sales of cryptocurrency for euros, distinct from transfers between wallets the owner controls.

Under Austrian income tax law, disposing of cryptocurrency for legal tender—whether through bank transfer or immediate cash payout—constitutes a realised capital gain. The tax treatment does not change because no conventional exchange account is involved; what matters is the economic substance of the transaction. Withholding of capital gains tax by the ATM operator depends on the operator's tax status and how the transaction is settled. When withholding does not occur correctly, individuals must calculate the gain themselves and report it on their tax return.