Austrian Administrative Penal Act amended: on-the-spot fines now paid by QR-code bank transfer, 2-week deadline
BGBl. I Nr. 86/2026 amends the Verwaltungsstrafgesetz 1991 (VStG – Administrative Penal Act): on-the-spot penalty notices (Organstrafverfügung) and anonymous penalty orders (Anonymverfügung) must now be paid by bank transfer using a QR code within two weeks. The changes take effect on the day BGBl. I Nr. 86/2026 is published.
What changed
The old postal payment slip for on-the-spot fines (Organstrafverfügung, § 50 VStG) is replaced by a payment notice (Zahlungsaufforderung) containing IBAN, BIC and an identification number as text and QR code; the fine must be transferred within two weeks quoting the exact identification number. Anonymous penalty orders (Anonymverfügung, § 49a VStG) and summary penalty orders (Strafverfügung, § 47 VStG) may now explicitly be issued in automated form (§ 18a of the General Administrative Procedure Act, AVG). The overpayment refund threshold for both types rises from €2 to €4 — overpayments of €4 or less are not refunded. Cross-references to the AVG in § 24 VStG are also updated.
Who is affected
Anyone who receives an on-the-spot fine from a public enforcement officer (e.g. for a traffic or parking offence) or an anonymous penalty order is directly affected by the new payment procedure. Authorities that issue such fines must also adapt their payment infrastructure to the new QR-code system.
What to look out for
When you receive a payment notice, transfer the exact fine amount to the specified account within two weeks, quoting the identification number completely and correctly. If the transfer arrives late or the identification number is wrong, the payment is treated as refused and the authority will initiate formal enforcement proceedings. Overpayments of €4 or less will not be refunded.