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Explainer: The Dienstleistungsscheck (DLS) system

Updated: Jan 3

This article about the Dienstleistungsscheck ("Household Services Vouchers" in English) is based on secondary research using the sources listed at the end. We would welcome any further insights in the comments or by email.


Background

The Austrian Dienstleistungsscheck system is a way of legally paying for typical household services such as cleaning, gardening or babysitting.


Advantages for service providers

The Austrian Dienstleistungsscheck system benefits service providers in a number of ways.

One of the main benefits is that it provides accident insurance from the first day of work. In addition there is optional health and pension insurance. Since the service provider is working legally they will have protected rights and be less vulnerable to exploitation.


Advantages for "employers"

Perhaps the main benefit of using the DLS system is that you will be employing your household help legally.

Of course the automatic accident insurance is also a benefit for the customer (the home owner). If your cleaner slips on the stairs or falls off a ladder you are covered.


How does it work?

You can buy Dienstleistungsschecks (literally paper vouchers that you can hand to someone who is working for you) in a post office or Traffik or in digital form via an app.

The purchase price is 2% more than the value paid to the employee. This extra 2% works out as: 1.2% to cover accident insurance and 0.8% for administrative charges. So if you buy €10 of DLS you will pay €10.20.

The DLS system is for short fixed term employment (for a maximum of one month). However the employment relationship can be repeated indefinitely by the same employer and service provider.

A DLS voucher must be issued for each day of employment (they are dated with the date of the employment).


Who can be paid by DLS?

DLS can only be used by people who have free access to the Austrian Labour market. This means:

  • Austrian citizens

  • Citizens of EU Member States

  • Citizens of EEA member states as well as Switzerland

  • Citizens of non-EU Member States with unrestricted access to the labour market in Austria (with a notice to this effect in their residence permits),

  • People who have been granted asylum, individuals granted subsidiary protection and

  • Asylum seekers who were admitted to the asylum process at least three months previously.


How much do I have to pay a service provider?

This is up to the employer to agree with the service provider. However the hourly pay must at least be above these minimum rates (2025):

Minimum hourly wages (2025)

per hour

Cleaner, household help without cooking or manpower for simple gardening

€16.22

Cleaner after professional work (e.g. following painting of the apartment)

€21.71

Household help with cooking

€16.73

Childcare

€17.49

Health/elderly care (personal services such as personal care or dressing support)

€21.80


Furthermore, an employee can only be paid a maximum of €710.19/month (2025, which is the marginal employment threshold of €551.10/month plus holiday pay) by one employer. If pay by a single employer exceeds this then a normal employment relationship exists and the employer is responsible for paying the employee’s social insurance.


If the service provider receives more than this amount in total from multiple employers then the service provider become subject to mandatory cover by health and pension insurance. They will receive notice from the ÖGK and will have to make monthly social insurance contributions of 14.7%.

Obligations of the employer

The employer only has to ensure that the service provider (employee) is entitled to work. They should ask to see proof of this evidence.

For the employer, all taxes are included in the price of the DLS provided the employer's total monthly payments to multiple service providers under the DLS scheme do not exceed 1.5 times the low income limit (i.e. €1065.29 in 2025). If this limit is exceeded the employer is liable for employer's social insurance contributions (Dienstgeberabgabe) at 19.4%.


Doing the paperwork

The first time you hand a DLS to a service provider there is a supplementary form to fill in which must be passed on to the BVAEB or the ÖGK together with the DLS cheque itself.

To complete a DLS cheque, the employer enters their name and social insurance number, the name and social insurance number of employee and the date of employment in the Household Services Voucher.

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When you receive a DLS

The service provider must submit the DLS Voucher either personally, by post (to the BVAEB or ÖGK) or via DLS-Online by no later than the end of the following month.

The BVAEB will then transfer the money to your bank account.


Optional health and pension insurance

The service provider can opt to make social insurance contributions of €77.81 per month (2025).


Sources and further information


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