Can my wages be garnished in Austria?
Yes — wages can be garnished, but the protected minimum always remains. Creditors can garnish wages via court enforcement, but an unseizable amount must remain. In 2026 the general basic amount is €1,308 a month (without special payments), and €1,526 with them. The protected amount rises per maintenance obligation (€261/month per dependant). The exact split comes from the garnishment tables of the justice ministry, applied to net pay. Some benefits, such as family allowance and care benefit, are entirely exempt. In short: yes, but never below the protected minimum.
📋 The rules
- Protected minimum 2026 general: €1,308/month
- With special payments: €1,526/month
- Per maintenance obligation: +€261/month
- Split by the garnishment tables
- Family allowance & care benefit are exempt
🔓 Exceptions
- Maintenance enforcement: a lower protected minimum
- Old severance: absolute protection cap €5,220/month (2026)
- Holiday and Christmas pay are garnished separately
⚠️ Penalties & fines
This is enforcement, not a fine. Once a garnishment order is served, the employer as third-party debtor must comply and file a declaration within 4 weeks. The seizable part of a severance is transferred only after 4 weeks. Beware a myth: "creditors can take my whole salary" is false — they can never go below the protected minimum of €1,308/month (general, 2026), which rises per dependant. Tip: check the garnishment table to see if the amount withheld is correct, and report maintenance obligations, since they raise your protected amount.
📎 Official sources
- WKO · calculating the protected minimum →
- Justice Ministry · third-party debtor declaration →
- WKO · employment-law values 2026 →
❓ Frequently asked
How much do I keep with a wage garnishment?
The protected minimum is protected. In 2026 the general basic amount is €1,308 a month without special payments and €1,526 with them. Per person you owe maintenance to, the protected amount rises, so you keep more.
How is the seizable part calculated?
The exact split between protected and seizable income comes from the justice ministry's official garnishment tables, applied to your net pay. The tables take account of the level of income and the number of your maintenance obligations.
Is all income seizable?
No. Certain benefits are entirely exempt, such as the family allowance and care benefit. Holiday and Christmas pay are treated as separate amounts and garnished separately. For old severance, an absolute protection cap of €5,220 per month applies in 2026.
What must my employer do?
Once a garnishment order is served, your employer as third-party debtor must comply and generally file a declaration within four weeks. They withhold the seizable part and pay it to the creditor, while the protected minimum remains with you.
Can creditors take my whole salary?
No. Creditors may never garnish below the protected minimum. You must always keep at least the protected basic amount, in 2026 that's €1,308 a month in the general case, and more if you have maintenance obligations. A full garnishment of wages isn't allowed.
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