The detailed data for these ratios is taken from Statistics Austria’s autumn 2011 compilation of public finance, as of 29 March 2012. The basis for the 2011 results have been the provisional annual public accounts for federal government, quarterly data for state and local units and provisional data for the social security funds, respectively. A first estimate of the numerous extrabudgetary units was made based on single available information.

91% of government revenue originates from taxes and social contributions, which amounted to €131.3 bn in 2011 (change rate on the previous year: 5.1%; €6.4 bn. Euro). The increase of taxes on production and imports (including the value added tax) at 4.0% was higher in relation to 2010 (2.6%). Revenue from current taxes on income and wealth (including the wage tax and the corporation tax) decreased in 2009 at -11.1% showed a slight increase in 2010 at 3.6% and a steep increase in 2011 at 7.1%. In 2011, total revenue of sector general government (€ 144.3 bn.) increased by 4.7% or €6.5 bn., respectively.

Total government expenditure shows an increase of 1.0% resp. €1.4 bn. in 2011 to €152.0 bn. 49% of government expenditure is in respect of social expenditure – this comprises monetary benefits (such as pensions, family allowance and unemployment benefits) and social transfers in kind (e.g. doctor’s and hospital payments). Social expenditure increased by 2.0% in 2011. The second largest expenditure item is compensation of employees with 19% of government expenditure (gross wages and social contributions) for public employees (+€400 mn, +1.3% on the previous year) and promotions (which include subsidies, current transfers and capital transfers) with 17% of government expenditure (-1.3% resp. €300 mn.). The decrease in the latter aggregate is due to expenditure positions that were paid only in 2010 and no longer in 2011 (e.g. and the KA Finanz AG (“Bad Bank”) or the €600 mn. write-off from participation capital to Hypo Alpe Adria Bank AG).

The difference between government revenue and expenditure according to National Accounts’ concepts is net lending (+)/net borrowing (-) (2011: -€7.8 bn.). For the calculation of the Maastricht indicator government deficit the flows on swaps and forward rate agreements are taken into account as interest payments/revenues; result for 2010: -€7.8 bn.

Quarterly data

The quarterly pattern which can be seen in the public deficit figures is as follows: Quarterly net lending/net borrowing shows a strong deficit in Q1, then increases in Q2, decreases again in Q3 and achieves the highest surplus in Q4. This pattern results primarily from the pattern of the revenue curve, which has a very similar run, whereas the expenditure curve lies well below the revenues in the first three quarters and has its highest peak in Q4.

You can see different patterns for several revenue and expenditure positions: monetary social contributions are higher in the middle quarters due to the 14 payments per year, while social transfers in kind are almost equally distributed over the year. A main factor for the quarterly pattern of expenditures are transfers which are recorded mostly in the 1st and 4th quarter of the year as well as gross fixed capital formation which take place mostly at the end of the year.

Regarding the pattern of the revenues taxes play a major role, especially the mineral oil tax, income tax and the corporation tax, but also social contributions which are higher in Q2 and Q4 due to the 14 payments.

In 2011 Q4, the public deficit reaches €1.4 bn and thus shows a public surplus for the first time since 2008 Q4.   This result is based on a 4.7% increase of general government revenue (+€1.9 bn) as well as a -1.5% reduction of general government expenditure (- €0.6 bn).  
As in the preceding quarters, the largest increase by value of General Government revenue may be observed in social contributions (+7.2%) and in current taxes on income, wealth, etc (+6.6%). Taxes with the largest increase by value are wage tax (+6.5%) and  tax on capital yields (+46.6%) . Also the introduction of a Financial Institutions Stability Fee contributes to the increase of tax income. 
The largest reduction by value of General Government expenditure can be observed in capital transfers (-30.0%), due to an extra payment to KA Finanz AG (“Bad Bank”) in 2010 Q4.