Calculating Zakat in Austria: Step by Step in Euros (2026)

Calculating Zakat in Austria is easier than you think: add up your savings in euros, deduct your debts and, if you are above the Nisab, set aside 2,5%.

The difficulty lies in the details: Sparbuch savings books, gold jewellery, ETFs, crypto and loan instalments. In this guide we go through each item one by one and show three realistic worked examples.

Before Calculating Zakat: 3 Key Concepts

Before we start calculating, let us clarify three concepts. For a detailed explanation, see our guide “What is Zakat?”.

• Nisab: the minimum wealth required for Zakat. According to the Diyanet, 80,18 grams of gold.
• Hawl: one lunar year (about 354 days) that must pass after your savings reach the Nisab.
• Rate: one fortieth, i.e. 2,5%.

How Do You Find the Zakat Nisab in Euros?

The Nisab is not a fixed euro figure; it changes with the price of gold.

Formula: 80,18 × current price per gram of gold (€) = Nisab (€).

Price per gram of gold (example)	Nisab (approx.)
90 €	7.216 €
100 €	8.018 €
110 €	8.820 €
120 €	9.622 €

This table is only an example. Ask your bank or a jeweller for the current euro price per gram of gold and calculate your own figure.

Step-by-Step Zakat Calculation (Euros)

1. Set your Zakat date

The Hijri date on which your savings first reached the Nisab is the day on which you calculate your Zakat every year.

If you do not know the exact date, choose a reasonable one (for example day 1 of Ramadan each year) and use the same day every year.

2. Add up cash and bank accounts

• Cash at home,
• Your Girokonto (current account) balance,
• Sparbuch (savings book), fixed-term deposits, Bausparvertrag (building savings) balances,
• TL and foreign-currency accounts in Türkiye (converted into euros).

According to the High Council of Religious Affairs, salaries received during the year do not each have to wait a separate year; whatever you hold on your Zakat date is included in full.

3. Add gold and silver

Bullion, gold coins (çeyrek), bangles and gold jewellery are converted into euros by weight in grams at the current price.

According to the Hanafi view, the Diyanet considers gold jewellery worn by women to be subject to Zakat as well. If you follow another school of thought, consult an imam.

A 22-carat bangle contains less pure gold; the sale value quoted by a jeweller is a practical measure.

4. Add shares, ETFs and funds

According to the High Council of Religious Affairs, shares held for trading count as trade goods: 2,5% of their market value on your Zakat date is due.

For shares held long term for dividends, however, your share of the company's Zakat-liable assets is the basis. If you cannot obtain this information, the Council recommends calculating on the basis of a reasonable estimate.

In practice, many investors in Austria simply use the total market value of their securities account (Depot) to keep things simple; this is the more cautious approach.

5. Crypto assets: be careful

The High Council of Religious Affairs does not consider the use of cryptocurrencies permissible in their current form, as they carry serious uncertainty and risk of deception and have no backing of any kind.

Nevertheless, if you hold crypto assets, there are differing views on how they should be treated for Zakat.

Some scholars say that the euro value on your Zakat date of digital assets held for trading should be added to your savings. For a definitive ruling, we recommend that you consult an imam.

6. Take receivables into account

Receivables you are sure will be repaid (for example a loan you gave to a relative) are added to your savings.

Zakat on receivables that are doubtful is paid when they are collected.

7. Deduct debts

Debts due within one year of your Zakat date are deducted from your savings.

• Credit card debt, unpaid bills,
• The instalments for the next 12 months of a mortgage or consumer loan (not the whole loan),
• Personal debts.

8. Compare with the Nisab and calculate 2,5%

If your net savings are below the Nisab, no Zakat is due.

If they are above it, Zakat is 2,5% of the whole amount, not just of the part that exceeds the Nisab.

Zakat Calculation Examples (Euros)

The following examples are meant to illustrate the method. In each example the price per gram of gold is assumed to be 100 €; the Nisab is then approximately 8.018 €.

Example 1: a salaried employee in Vienna

Example scenario: a single, salaried employee living in Vienna.

Item	Amount
Girokonto balance	2.400 €
Sparbuch	6.500 €
Cash at home	300 €
Credit card debt	− 400 €
Net savings	8.800 €

8.800 € is above the Nisab (≈8.018 €). Zakat: 8.800 × 0,025 = 220 €.

Example 2: a family in Innsbruck with gold savings

Example scenario: a couple living in Innsbruck; the wife has gold jewellery and they also have joint savings. Zakat is calculated separately for each spouse's own wealth.

Item	Spouse 1	Spouse 2
Bank savings	5.000 €	1.000 €
Gold jewellery	—	60 g → 6.000 €
Loan instalments for the next 12 months	− 3.600 €	—
Net	1.400 €	7.000 €

Both spouses' net savings are below the Nisab → no Zakat is due this year.

But if the price of gold rises or savings grow, this may change; repeat the calculation every year.

This example shows that not every family with savings automatically has to pay Zakat. A voluntary Sadaqah donation is, however, always possible.

Example 3: a small business owner in Graz

Example scenario: someone who runs a grocery shop in Graz and also invests in shares.

Item	Amount
Business and personal bank accounts	18.000 €
Goods for sale in the shop (stock, at sale value)	22.000 €
Customer receivables certain to be collected	3.000 €
Shares/ETF account (market value)	12.000 €
Supplier debts (within 12 months)	− 9.000 €
Net savings	46.000 €

Zakat: 46.000 × 0,025 = 1.150 €.

Business fixtures and equipment such as the shop's shelves, till and vehicle are not included.

Quick Zakat Table: Zakat Amount by Savings

If your net savings are above the Nisab, you can quickly look up your Zakat amount in this table:

Net savings	Zakat (2,5%)
10.000 €	250 €
15.000 €	375 €
20.000 €	500 €
30.000 €	750 €
50.000 €	1.250 €
100.000 €	2.500 €

If your savings are below the Nisab, this table does not apply to you; no Zakat is due.

Types of Savings Specific to Austria

• Bausparvertrag: the amount saved under a building savings contract belongs to you and is therefore included.
• Lebensversicherung (life insurance) and private pension plans: scholars hold differing views on savings that cannot be accessed before maturity. For policies with a surrender (Rückkauf) value, consult an imam.
• Abfertigung (severance pay) and state pension: entitlements not yet received are included once they have been paid out and added to your savings.
• Rental deposit (Kaution): a deposit paid to the landlord and expected to be returned can be treated like a receivable; if unsure, seek advice.

Common Mistakes in Zakat Calculation

• Paying Zakat only on the part above the Nisab (correct: 2,5% of the whole amount).
• Deducting the entire mortgage as debt.
• Forgetting gold and accounts in Türkiye.
• Including the home you live in or your car.
• Using an outdated Nisab figure instead of the current gold price.
• Combining the spouses' savings into one item (each spouse is responsible for their own wealth).

Where and How to Give the Zakat You Have Calculated

Zakat is given to the eight categories listed in verse 60 of Surah at-Tawbah. We explain in detail who may and may not receive it in our article “Who can receive Zakat?”.

Through Austria Yetim Eli you can give your Zakat as an online Zakat donation of any amount. Once the payment is confirmed, your donation receipt is sent to your e-mail.

Whether from Vienna, Linz, Salzburg or Innsbruck, the process is entirely online. City guides: Zakat and Qurbani donations from Vienna · Innsbruck and Tyrol.

With voluntary contributions beyond your Zakat, you can also support lasting good works such as monthly orphan sponsorship or water well projects.

Sources: High Council of Religious Affairs — Zakat on income such as salaries and wages · High Council of Religious Affairs — Zakat on shares · High Council of Religious Affairs — Religious ruling on cryptocurrencies