Deduct desk and office chair in Austria: Claim home office expenses up to €300 annually

Have you already submitted your employee tax assessment (Arbeitnehmer:innenveranlagung) this year?

The ANV – formerly known as the “Steuerausgleich” – is your annual opportunity to reclaim overpaid income tax from the tax office. If you perform telework ¹, you can deduct certain purchases such as a height-adjustable desk or an ergonomic office chair as tax-deductible expenses, up to an annual limit of €300.

¹ Since January 1, 2025, there is a change: The term “home office” has been replaced by “telework” – and the benefits now also apply to additional workplaces such as co-working spaces or even the homes of close relatives.

What are the requirements?

For a height-adjustable desk or an office chair to be recognized as deductible work-related expenses in Austria, you must:

✅ perform at least 26 days of telework exclusively per year (until 2024: home office days)

❌ not claim tax expenses for a dedicated home office room

✅ and from 2025 onwards: ensure that telework days are listed on your payslip (Lohnzettel)

How much can you deduct?

Since 2021, up to €300 per year for ergonomic furniture can be claimed as tax-deductible. This maximum amount applies to all eligible purchases combined – for example, desk, office chair, and lighting. Costs that exceed this amount are carried over to the following years, as long as the requirements are met.

Which items are deductible?

Ergonomically suitable furniture includes, for example:

• a height-adjustable desk,
  

• an ergonomic office chair,
  

• or workplace lighting.
  
  

❗Other work equipment such as laptops, monitors, or printers are not covered by the €300 rule. They count as digital work equipment and can be deducted separately in the ANV.

How does it work in practice?

For example, if you buy the Yaasa Desk Pro in 2025 for an average price of €730.

This is how the tax deduction is distributed:

 

This means you can deduct the entire €730 cost of the desk over three years.

The deduction is made through the form L1 (Code 158) in your employee tax assessment (ANV).

What do you effectively pay for the desk?

How much you get back in the end depends on your income. If your marginal tax rate is 40% (see the current income tax table), €300 in deductible expenses saves you around €120 in taxes. Roughly, you can calculate this with the formula “Deductible amount × marginal tax rate = tax savings.”

When buying the Yaasa Desk Pro for €730, you get about €292 back through the ANV. This means the effective price of the height-adjustable desk drops to around €438.

⚠️ Important note: The actual tax savings are always personal and depend on your income and overall tax situation. This example is for orientation purposes only.

What happens if you buy a desk and chair together?

Let’s say you invest in a height-adjustable desk for €730 and an ergonomic office chair for €400. The total cost is therefore €1,130.

However, in the first year you may only deduct a maximum of €300. The remaining €830 will be carried over to the following years – provided you continue to meet the requirements and your telework days are listed on your payslip.

What role does the telework allowance play?

In addition to the €300 for ergonomic furniture, you can also benefit from the telework allowance. This covers partial costs for electricity, heating, and internet and is treated separately.

Employers can pay up to €3 per telework day tax-free, with a maximum of €300 per year (100 days). If less or nothing is paid, you can claim the difference as deductible expenses in your employee tax assessment.

From 2025 onwards: Only those telework days listed on your payslip will be recognized.

Conclusion

From 2025, the term “home office” in Austria will officially be replaced by “telework”. For employees, the principle remains the same: If you work at least 26 days per year exclusively outside the company office, you can deduct up to €300 per year for ergonomic furniture such as a height-adjustable desk or an office chair. In addition, there is the telework allowance of up to €300 annually.

Checking your employee tax assessment is worth it: Your desk could soon cost you significantly less!

Why is a Yaasa desk a smart choice?

A height-adjustable desk is an investment in health and productivity. Our height-adjustable desks are developed in Austria, combining modern design, high-quality technology, and durability. With up to ten years warranty, free shipping, and a 60-day return policy, you’ll get a piece of furniture that will accompany you for years – and one that you can also deduct from your taxes.

Discover our desks now!

Height-adjustable desks from Yaasa

Sources

WKO: Telework – Tax Treatment | BMF: Tax Tariffs & Deductions | BMF: Deductible Expenses & Home Office Allowance