The Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance Oct. 1 posted online Federal Finance Court Decision No. RV/7102987/2021, clarifying the tax treatment of losses from referral marketing activities. The taxpayer, an individual, engaged in referral marketing for nutritional supplements, incurring significant losses over several years, and eventually shifted focus to debt collection. The Tax Office classified the referral marketing activity as a hobby in assessing income tax, denying loss deductions. The taxpayer appealed, arguing that losses were due to supplier issues and high start-up costs, with future profits expected. On appeal, the Federal Finance Court found that: 1) the taxpayer failed to ...