Kindergeld payment dates in Austria: When does Familienbeihilfe arrive?

Kindergeld payment dates in Austria: When does Familienbeihilfe arrive? Kindergeld (Familienbeihilfe) payment dates in Austria 2026: when is the money credited, Schulstartgeld school bonus, Kinderabsetzbetrag tax credit, and what to do if payment is late. Topics: Daily Life, Economy.

Kindergeld (officially Familienbeihilfe, the Austrian child benefit) is a monthly payment for families with children, disbursed by the Finanzamt Österreich (Austrian tax office). Around 1.2 million families receive this support, and the most common question from parents is: when does the money actually arrive? The short answer: by the 8th of each month at the latest, often as early as the 6th. This guide covers all Kindergeld payment dates in Austria for 2026, explains bonus payments (Schulstartgeld and Kinderabsetzbetrag), and tells you what to do if a payment goes missing. If you haven’t applied yet, start with our guide on how to apply for Kindergeld in Austria.

When does Kindergeld arrive in Austria?

Once your application is approved, Kindergeld is paid automatically every month — no further action is needed on your part. By law, the money must be credited to your account no later than the 8th of each month. In practice, it often arrives on the 6th, or on the 7th when the 8th falls on a weekend or public holiday.

According to the Bundeskanzleramt Österreich, the credit occurs regardless of Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays. This applies to transfers to accounts within the SEPA zone.

A key difference from Germany: Austria has no end-digit rule. All families receive their payments within the same window (6th–8th), regardless of their Kindergeld number. This makes Kindergeld payment dates in Austria much more predictable.

Full 2026 payment schedule

Here are the confirmed Kindergeld payment dates for 2026. As confirmed by finanz.at, dates may shift slightly due to weekends:

Month	Payment date	Weekday
January 2026	08.01.2026	Thursday
February 2026	06.02.2026	Friday
March 2026	06.03.2026	Friday
April 2026	08.04.2026	Wednesday
May 2026	08.05.2026	Friday
June 2026	08.06.2026	Monday
July 2026	08.07.2026	Wednesday
August 2026	07.08.2026	Friday
September 2026	08.09.2026	Tuesday
October 2026	08.10.2026	Thursday
November 2026	06.11.2026	Friday
December 2026	07.12.2026	Monday

Quick rule: In 6 out of 12 months, payment falls on the 8th. The remaining months see payment on the 6th or 7th due to weekend shifts.

What’s included in each payment?

When Kindergeld arrives, it’s not just the basic Familienbeihilfe. Several additional benefits are transferred automatically:

Kinderabsetzbetrag (child tax credit) — €70.90 per child per month: This “negative tax” has been paid together with Familienbeihilfe since September 2014. Even if you pay no income tax, you receive the full amount. Our comprehensive Familienbeihilfe guide covers all aspects of child benefits in Austria. For 2025–2027, the rate is fixed at €70.90 per child per month, as confirmed by oesterreich.gv.at.

Schulstartgeld (school starter bonus) — €121.40 in August: For every child aged 6 to 15, an extra school-cost payment of €121.40 is added to the August disbursement. No separate application is required — it arrives automatically. For details on the Austrian school system, check our full guide. In 2026, this applies to children born between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2020.

Mehrkindzuschlag (large-family supplement): From the third child onward, you automatically receive roughly €20 extra per month per child, bundled with the main Familienbeihilfe payment.

Kindergeld arrives as a single consolidated transfer from the Finanzamt Österreich. You see one payment that includes Familienbeihilfe, Kinderabsetzbetrag, and Mehrkindzuschlag where applicable. Only the Schulstartgeld in August appears as a separate line item.

— Finanzamt Österreich, Familienbeihilfe Department

How the payment works

Once your application (form Beih100) is approved, Kindergeld is paid automatically every month to the bank account you specified. No monthly action is needed.

Since July 2025, payment must occur by the 8th of each month at the latest, giving families reliable planning certainty. Before that, dates could vary by tax office.

Important: Familienbeihilfe can be claimed up to five years retroactively. If you missed submitting an application, you can receive all payments for the past five years as a lump sum — though without late-payment interest.

Your first payment after childbirth

For births on or after 1 May 2019 in Austria, the first Kindergeld payment happens automatically. The registry office (Standesamt) reports the birth to the Finanzamt, and payments begin without any action on your part. If you’re planning parental leave, our guide on Elternzeit in Austria has all the details you need.

Your first payment arrives retroactively from the month of birth. For example, if your baby was born on 15 March, you receive the full March amount — even though the child arrived mid-month. Payment comes on the next scheduled date (6 or 8 April).

For births before May 2019 or when moving to Austria from abroad, you must submit an active application. Our guide on applying for Kindergeld walks you through the process.

What to do if a Kindergeld payment doesn’t arrive

If a Kindergeld payment date passes without money appearing, here are the most common causes:

Changed bank account: Did you switch accounts? Update your banking details via FinanzOnline. Otherwise payments may go to your old, possibly closed account.

Entitlement review: The Finanzamt periodically reviews eligibility. If you didn’t return the review questionnaire (Datenblatt) on time, payments may be suspended. As the BMF explains, you will receive a written reminder to submit the required documents.

Age limit reached: Familienbeihilfe is paid until the child’s 24th birthday (exceptionally up to 25) as long as they are in education. Once education ends, so do the payments.

Technical delay: Some banks take an extra business day to process the transfer. Wait until the working day after the 8th before taking further action.

If the money still doesn’t arrive, contact the Finanzamt Österreich at 050 233 790 (Mon–Fri, 8:00–17:00) or use the FinanzOnline messaging system.

Kindergeld for students and trainees

Questions about Kindergeld payment dates often come from parents whose children are in higher education. The benefit continues as long as the child is in initial vocational training or higher education, up to the 24th birthday (exceptionally up to 25th).

Key conditions for continued payments:

• The child must be available for study on a daily and primary basis
• A mini-job up to the marginal earnings threshold (€551.10 monthly in 2026) is permitted
• Exceeding this limit may affect eligibility
• The Finanzamt may request proof of enrolment at any time

Payments continue automatically as long as eligibility holds. No annual confirmation is required — the Finanzamt only requests documents when necessary.

Special rules for cross-border situations

If you work in Austria but your child lives in another EU/EEA country, the Kindergeld payment dates remain the same (6th–8th of each month). However, transfers to foreign accounts may take 1–3 extra business days.

The benefit amount may be adjusted to reflect the cost of living in the child’s country of residence — this is called indexation. Since 2023, a gradual reduction of Familienbeihilfe for children living outside Austria has been in effect. The amounts are being progressively aligned with the rates of the child’s country of residence.

Kindergeld and your taxes

Many parents worry that receiving Kindergeld will affect their tax situation. The good news: Familienbeihilfe is tax-free and does not need to be declared in your tax return. It is not considered taxable income.

However, the Kinderabsetzbetrag (€70.90 monthly) is a negative tax. If your tax liability is lower than this amount, you still receive the full sum — the Finanzamt pays the difference together with Familienbeihilfe.

When filing your annual tax return (Arbeitnehmerveranlagung), you may also claim the Kinderfreibetrag (child allowance of €440 per year) if the child does not receive full Familienbeihilfe. This is especially relevant for separated parents. Learn more in our article about tax benefits for families in Austria.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Kindergeld paid each month?

Kindergeld payment dates in Austria are consistently between the 6th and 8th of each month. The exact day depends on weekends and public holidays. The full 2026 schedule is in the table above.

Why is the August payment higher?

August includes the Schulstartgeld (school starter bonus) of €121.40 per child aged 6–15. The August 2026 payment arrives on 7 August (Friday). No separate application is needed.

Do I need to apply for Schulstartgeld separately?

No. The Schulstartgeld is paid automatically with the August Familienbeihilfe. It arrives in the same transfer — no extra paperwork required.

How long does the first payment take after applying?

After submitting a complete application (form Beih100), processing typically takes 4–6 weeks. The first payment arrives retroactively — from the month you applied or the month of birth. Applications submitted via FinanzOnline are usually processed faster.

What if Kindergeld stops arriving?

First, check your mail — the Finanzamt may have sent a review questionnaire (Datenblatt). Also verify your bank account details in FinanzOnline. If everything seems correct, call 050 233 790 or send a message through FinanzOnline.

Planning your budget around Kindergeld payment dates

Kindergeld payment dates in Austria are reliable and easy to plan around. Here are the key takeaways:

• ✅ Money arrives by the 8th of each month, usually on the 6th or 7th
• ✅ Kinderabsetzbetrag (€70.90) and Schulstartgeld (€121.40 in August) are included automatically
• ✅ Familienbeihilfe is tax-free and does not affect other social benefits
• ✅ If delayed: check FinanzOnline or call 050 233 790
• ✅ You can claim retroactively up to 5 years

Plan your family budget around these fixed dates and subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed about any changes to Familienbeihilfe rates and payment schedules.