Taxation in Hungary

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Hungary quick tax facts for Business (2017), Source: Deloitte.[1]
Corporate income tax rate 9%
Branch tax rate 9%
Minimum tax Applied to 2% of adjusted gross profit
Capital gains tax rate 9%
Tax basis Worldwide income
Participation exemption Yes
Loss relief Carryforward: Indefinite, but limitations apply
Carryback: Generally not available
Double taxation relief Yes
Tax consolidation For VAT purposes
Transfer pricing rules Yes
Thin capitalization rules Yes (ratio 3:1)
Controlled foreign corp. rules Yes
Tax year Calendar year,
but different fiscal year may be elected
Advance payment of tax Monthly/quarterly
Return due date Last day of the fifth month
following of the end of the fiscal year
Withholding tax Dividends: 0%
Interest: 0%
Royalties: 0%
Branch remittance tax: 0%
Social security contributions 22% of gross wages for the employer
(20% from 2018)
Capital tax No
Building tax/land tax May apply at municipal level
Real estate transfer tax 4% up to a value of HUF 1bn (€3.3 million)
and 2% on the excess,
capped at HUF 200 million (€0.65 million)
Local business tax maximum 2% of net sales revenue
Innovation contribution 0.3%
Financial transaction tax 0.3% of transferred amount
VAT 27% (standard), 18%, 5%
Hungary quick tax facts for Individuals (2017), Source: Deloitte.[1]
Income tax rate 15%
Capital gains tax rate 15%
Tax basis Worldwide income
Double taxation relief Yes
Tax year Calendar year
Return due date 20 May
(Tax authority prepares it electronically
to everyone automatically)
Withholding tax Dividends: 15%
Interest: 15%
Royalties: 15%
Healthcare contribution 14% or 22% on some income
maximum annual HUF 450 000 (€1460)
Social security contributions 18.5% of gross wages for the employee
Net wealth tax No
Inheritance and gift tax 9% or 18%
Real estate tax May apply at municipal level
VAT 27% (standard), 18%, 5%

Taxation in Hungary is levied by both federal and local governments. Tax revenue in Hungary stood at 39.3% of GDP.[2] The most important revenue sources include the income tax, Social security, corporate tax and the value added tax, which are all applied on the federal level. Among the total tax income the ratio of local taxes is solely 5% while the EU average is 30%.[3]

Income tax in Hungary is levied at a flat rate of 15%.[4] A tax allowance is given through a family allowance (családi adókedvezmény), which is equal to the allowance multiplied by the number of “beneficiary dependent children”. For the first children the allowance is HUF 66,670, while the second dependent children the allowance is HUF 100,000, in case of 3 or more children the allowance is HUF 220,000 per beneficiary dependent child.[5] The amount of tax allowance can be split between spouses or life partners.

The rate of value added tax in Hungary is 27% as standard rate, the highest in Europe, since 1 of January, 2012.[6] There is a reduced rate of 5 percent for the sale of most medicines and some food products. A reduced rate of 18 percent is applicable to internet connections, restaurants and catering, dairy and bakery products and hotel services and admission to short-term open-air events.[7]

From January 2017, under the new Corporate income tax regime, the corporate tax in Hungary is unified at a tax rate of 9% – the lowest within the European Union.[8] Dividends received are not subject to taxation, provided that are not received from a Controlled Foreign Company (CFC), capital gains are included in corporate tax, with certain exemptions.[9]

Employment income is subject to social security contributions, for the employer at a flat rate of 22%[10] Further more employers pay 1.5% into a training fund.[11] Capital gains is taxed at a flat rate of 15%[12]

History[edit]

Taxation in Hungary has varied over historical governments. After the Ottoman conquest of central parts of Hungary, the most common tax was the Ottoman administration's levy on Christians the dhimmi. During the time of Austria-Hungary, taxes was most of the time levied by the Austrian authorizes, but Hungary was later given more authority over its finances. This was largerly granted to Hungary in the compromise in 1867 with the Habsburgs.[13] In 1988 under the soviet Kádár governments liberalization under, a reform of taxes introduced a comprehensive tax system which mainly consists of central and local taxes, including a personal income tax, a corporate income tax and a value added tax.[14]

References[edit]