In Hungary, largest industries are the following:

As for the automotive industry, Hungary has become a major player in the CEE region in the fields on autonomous driving related R&D activities and e-mobility. This industry generates a significant part of total exports. More than a 100,000 people are active in this sector. There are production facilities of four large OEMs in the country: Suzuki, Audi, Opel and Daimler and also, serial production is taking place in Hungary. Altogether Hungary gives home for around 700 automotive companies.

The ICT sector with its 250,000 employees ranked no. 1 in the Quality of scientific research institutions in the CEE region. The sector has several R&D Centres in the country and has the most advanced IT outsourcing market in the CEE region as well. For the ICT sector Hungary can offer a large pool of exceptional professionals at reasonable cost. The ICT industry has several cooperation between higher education institutions and enterprises.

There are more than 90 BSCs in Hungary with more than 60,000 employees. Developed higher education with 67 institutions is a great base for this sector.

Hungary is also the most productive sector of electronics in Central Europe with more than 110,000 employees in this sector and by generating 5,3% of the GDP. Specialized education also corresponds with the needs of the industry.

The food industry is significant in the country as the geographical conditions are ideal with available quality ingredients being 100% GMO free. The climate and soil characteristics are also ideal for the food industry.

With 85 biotech companies and having 40% of Hungarian R&D spending owned, the sector of life sciences is the most innovative sector in Hungary. The higher education can fulfil the industry’s requirements and it currently has 14,000 direct employees. With a remarkable history of life scientists and high-quality education, a globally acknowledged human capital is available in the country at a reasonable cost.

Having the Pan-European corridors crossing Hungary, Logistics & Transportation is also a significant sector in the country with generating 6% of the GDP and employing 120,000 people around the country.

In Hungary, the strongest workforce belongs to the industries that are listed above.

In Hungary, around 63% of the workers are employed in sectors of services (ICT sector, BSCs, Logistics etc.) and 22% in manufacturing, such as in industries of automotive and electronics.

One of Hungary’s competitive advantages over other countries in the region is the Government’s strong commitment to streamlining business processes and increasing the competitiveness of SMEs and large firms in Hungary. To help achieve this, Hungary offers wide-ranging incentives – both refundable and non-refundable – to facilitate foreign direct investments and reinvestments by local enterprises. The main types of incentives are:

Most incentives are available regardless of the sector itself.

There is a wide range of tax allowances for new investments and R&D. Hungary provides tax exemption on holding structures, capital gains on shares and intellectual property under certain conditions are tax free, and a 50% tax allowance is applicable on royalty incomes. There is no withholding tax on dividends, interest and royalty paid by a Hungarian company to a foreign company. Hungary has a wide international treaty network with more than 80 double tax treaties.

The maximum aid intensity is 50% in Northern Hungary, Northern Great Plain, Southern Great Plain and Southern Transdanubia; 25% in Western Transdanubia; 35% in the Central Transdanubia region; and 0%, 20% or 35% in the Central Hungarian region. Parts of Central Hungary are ineligible to receive any funding because they are much closer to the EU average in development terms. The maximum available aid intensity decreases if the investment is a large investment (i.e., exceeds EUR 50 million).

In Hungary the government can provide subsidies based on individual government decision. The Hungarian Government considers asset investments, R&D projects and the creation or expansion of business service centres as priorities in the field of investment promotion. The subsidies aim at facilitating projects with high added value in Hungary.

One of the main objectives of the post-financed cash grant system is the promotion of R&D activity (industrial research and experimental development) of large enterprises and the creation of R&D centres in Hungary in accordance with the aim of increasing emphasis on “Invented in Hungary” type of investments. This provides opportunity to grant aid for R&D projects everywhere in the country up to the maximum aid intensity of 25%.

Hungary provides development tax incentives as well for the post-investment period which means an exemption for parts of the corporate income tax payable for 13 years following installation. In any given tax year, the tax incentive is available for up to 80% of the tax payable, but in total up to the state aid intensity ceiling. The minimum investment volume is HUF 3 billion and minimum of 50 new jobs, or HUF 1 billion and 25 new jobs in certain regions.

Further available subsidies are:

• Workshop establishment and development subsidy
• Training subsidy
• Subsidies from EU funds

Corporate income tax

The corporate income tax rate is 9% of the positive amount of the tax base. The tax base both for domestic and foreign businesses is the pre-tax profit modified by items declared in Act LXXXI of 1996 on corporate income tax such as loss carried forward, provisions, depreciation, declared share, declared intangible good, dividends, received royalties, research and development, costs incurred that are not in relation with the business’ interests, imposed penalties, thin capitalization, CFC.

The tax period for CIT in Hungary is the calendar year or accounting year.

Business associations need to submit their CIT returns by May 31st following the tax year. For taxpayers with a different tax year, the filing deadline is the last day of the fifth month following their business year.

Tax residence

A company is considered a resident in Hungary for CIT purposes if it is incorporated in Hungary.

Foreign companies may also be considered as Hungarian tax residents for CIT if their place of effective management is in Hungary, or a permanent establishment is formed based on the Hungarian legal provisions or on the corresponding international treatments.

VAT

The general VAT rate in Hungary is 27% in accordance with the EU VAT directive. On specific goods, a reduced rate of 5% and 18% applies.

VAT registration

In Hungary, all resident taxpayers are obliged to register for VAT by law. Before starting any business activity, taxable persons must be registered at least for a VAT number. It is possible to register for VAT retrospectively, but it brings a penalty risk for delay. There is no threshold that makes the registration obligation applicable or non-applicable.

Non-resident companies are obliged to register for VAT in Hungary before doing any activities subject to VAT, and whose place of performance is in Hungary. Distance sale falls under exception.

Other taxes