red tape
January 19, 2010, 09:25 CET
Ministry approves royalties on online film, music
Hungary's Ministry of Education and Culture has approved royalties on online music and film, the Artisjus Hungarian Bureau for the Protection of Authors Rights announced in an official gazette. The ministry approved a minimum royalty of HUF 18 per film... [read complete entry]
October 16, 2008, 01:03 CET
Budapest mayor's cabinet and District V battle over Fashion Street developments
The Budapest Mayor's Cabinet did not back a District V initiative to annul protection of 11 buildings at its October 14 meeting, reports Index.hu. State news wire MTI learned that the buildings would need to be demolished in order to... [read complete entry]
October 14, 2008, 03:24 CET
Residents launch late protest against BudaWest airport
Residents of the resort town of Balatonalmádi have started collecting signatures to protest against a planned new airport on the north shore of Lake Balaton to be opened in 2010, reports Népszabadság. The plot was donated to the two towns... [read complete entry]
October 03, 2008, 08:47 CET
Thoroughness cited for slow response time to EU tender complaints
Those companies who saw their European Union support tenders rejected submitted 1,200 complaints to various agencies between the previous September and June of this year, the National Development Agency (NFÜ) told daily Népszabadság, uniospenz.hu, a part of origo.hu reported. In... [read complete entry]
September 11, 2008, 12:38 CET
World Bank study finds Hungary an excellent place to start a failing business
Whenever Hungary is ranked in some global survey the results are always pounced on in the local media (and, if the news is good, by the government) as being oh so important. In the case of the Doing Business 2009... [read complete entry]
September 04, 2008, 09:20 CET
Cabinet mulls over Gyurcsány tax cut package
The government discussed for the first time formally a broad-ranging package of proposals that would take effect over several years at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, head of the Prime Minister's Office Péter Kiss said.... [read complete entry]
September 02, 2008, 08:25 CET
Market watchdogs vow coordinated crackdown on unfair business practices
The heads of the National Consumer Protection Office (NFH), Hungary's Competition Office (GVH) and Hungarian market regulator PSZAF on Monday signed an agreement regarding cooperation in the their effort to curb unfair business practices.... [read complete entry]
August 18, 2008, 12:26 CET
Hungarian tax authorities benefit from online auctions of seized goods
Online auctions to sell assets seized by tax office APEH from individuals who owe back taxes or other liability have increased the income of the state budget by Ft 200 million (over €840,000) since January, writes index.hu. The new online... [read complete entry]
August 08, 2008, 12:09 CET
Plan to extend limited-liability status to Hungary's individual entrepreneurs
The Hungary Ministry of Justice is planning to introduce a major change to the country's economic landscape by creating a new form of registered business that would extend the limited liability now enjoyed by corporations to firms owned by a... [read complete entry]
August 01, 2008, 09:08 CET
Rule change sparks surge in new business registration in Hungary
The number of registered businesses in Hungary jumped more than 22pc in the twelve months to the end of June because of new rules requiring subsistence farmers who sell their goods at market to acquire a tax number, the Central... [read complete entry]
July 29, 2008, 03:41 CET
No public shaming for bad workers, Hungarian ombudsman rules
Bare weeks after ruling that jobseekers cannot be subjected to lie detector tests, Hungarian Data Protection Ombudsman Máté Szabó has struck another blow against companies using unorthodox HR techniques, by decreeing that negative work evaluations for employees cannot be made... [read complete entry]
July 29, 2008, 03:14 CET
Liberals, MDF to push government on tax reform
Hungary's two small parliamentary parties, the liberal Free Democrats and the conservative Democratic Forum, may appear to many as an irrelevance given their paltry poll ratings, but their MPs' votes will be crucial to the minority Socialist government when it... [read complete entry]
July 28, 2008, 09:08 CET
New flats in Hungary to require energy consumption certificates in 2009
As of next year, newly-built apartments in Hungary will require certificates indicating the property's relative energy efficiency, while existing flats being sold or rented will need to have a "green card" by 2012, reports Hungarian newswire MTI. The certificates were... [read complete entry]
July 28, 2008, 07:47 CET
Gov't to set up new economic forum, heeding call from business sector
The government decided at a Friday meeting to set up an economic coordination forum to offer advice on regulations and measures concerning businesses, said development and economy minister Gordon Bajnai. The forum will comprise representatives from the ministries involved with... [read complete entry]
July 25, 2008, 12:18 CET
Land registry mistake may cost Budapest billions
A private company which came into possession of a bus station and garage thorough a decades-old mistake by the land registry office is locked in a battle with the city of Budapest, which refuses to compensate the firm for the... [read complete entry]
July 24, 2008, 01:05 CET
Tax authorities enjoy 10.8% jump in 1Q revenue, audits up 21.6%
Hungary's tax office APEH had revenue of HUF 4,446bn (EUR 19.44bn) in the first half of 2008, 10.8pc more than in the same period last year, APEH announced on Wednesday.... [read complete entry]
July 23, 2008, 09:13 CET
Discussions held over government's social benefit reform plan
The National Interest Reconciliation Council (OÉT) discussed the government's new "Way to Work" social benefits programme yesterday. The government has studied the possibility of launching a "social account", to which benefits would be paid and from which account holders could... [read complete entry]
July 23, 2008, 09:04 CET
Consulting firms working on Ft 1 trillion tax cut proposal
Multinational consulting firms are working on their own tax proposals that will be published next month, Népszabadság writes. The proposals include bringing down tax barriers by Ft 1,000 billion in the next few years in order to get the economy... [read complete entry]
July 22, 2008, 10:34 CET
APEH in hunt for illegal invoice booklets
Since the introduction of new, easily traceable invoice booklets, Hungarian tax authority APEH has discovered at least one illegal manufacturer of the bills, writes napi.hu Tax controllers have found several companies using old bill booklets which have not been valid... [read complete entry]
July 21, 2008, 08:57 CET
Number of insolvencies jumps in first half of 2008
The number of insolvent firms in Hungary grew by 13% in the first six months of 2008 compared to the same period of last year, continuing a trend that began in the first quarter of the year. According to a... [read complete entry]
July 21, 2008, 08:41 CET
Survey finds surge in popularity of non-wage benefits
About 58pc of Hungarian companies reported offering employees non-wage benefits in 2008, compared to 26pc in 2006, according to an Accor Services survey. The Accor Services survey indicated that 18.1pc of Hungarian companies offered their employees non-wage benefits worth between... [read complete entry]
July 18, 2008, 03:13 CET
Tip-hungry Hungarian waiters stew in goulash of gratuity taxes
Taxes on service charges depend on how the service charges are received and distrubuted. [read complete entry]
July 16, 2008, 12:44 CET
Companies hit by German labor crackdown sue Hungarian state
A number of companies are suing the state of Hungary for HUF 2.3bn in damages they allege they suffered because of the state's assistance in a shakedown by German authorities on illegal labourers in Germany, daily Népszabadság reported on Wednesday.... [read complete entry]
July 11, 2008, 09:41 CET
Rash of improper subscriber contracts found at Hungary's fixed-line telecos
Hungary's National Telecommunications Authority (NHH) has fined dozens of landline providers a total of Ft 30 million (€130,000) for signing "irregular" contracts with individual subscribers, reports Napi.hu. Of the 100 companies checked, only three followed all relevant regulations applicable to... [read complete entry]
June 26, 2008, 11:50 CET
One-hour online company registration available from July
Starting next month, a new company can be registered in Hungary within one hour, State Secretary Gábor Gadó has announced. From July 1, paper-based registration will no longer be available, and the procedure will be performed electronically at the company... [read complete entry]
June 20, 2008, 08:18 CET
Corruption deeply rooted in Hungarian business sector, international survey says
Corruption is inevitable in the Hungarian business sector, a recent report by Transparency International (TI) titled Corruption Risks in the Business Sector concluded. According to a summary of the report in Világgazdaság, it is extremely difficult or impossible to operate... [read complete entry]
June 13, 2008, 08:36 CET
Government rejects high-profile plan to reform social spending
Hungary' Socialist government, struggling to pinpoint resources to fund tax cuts while reluctant to pare back the country's generous social spending, has brushed off an alternative economic plan by a financial consultancy that proposed revamping social benefits in order to... [read complete entry]
June 12, 2008, 01:17 CET
Unions slam EU decision on extended workweek
Hungarian unions have voiced strong criticism against a decision by European Union ministers earlier this week to allow employees to work more than 48 hours a week. The EU ended a four-year deadlock on Tuesday, agreeing to allow employees to... [read complete entry]
June 09, 2008, 10:20 CET
EU decision on business relocation could hurt Hungary's tax income
A decision by the European Court of Justice Advocate General will allow companies to move their headquarters from Hungary while still remaining based here. [read complete entry]
May 29, 2008, 01:08 CET
Extreme Digital leads not-so-extreme growth in Hungarian E-commerce
Back when I was covering the larger world of "emerging markets" rather than just Hungary and Central Europe, there was a great, and wonderfully cruel, line which summed up the situation of one of the largest such countries. "Brazil is... [read complete entry]
May 29, 2008, 10:45 CET
EU grants and microloans seen as only hope for Hungarian SMEs
In a document ironically entitled "Hungary's most dynamically developing SMEs," Zoltán Dercze of credit reporting and debt collector Coface Hungary Kft painted a bleak picture of the economic outlook for small and mid-sized enterprises in Hungary, while another survey found... [read complete entry]
May 21, 2008, 10:07 CET
Hungarian customs most diligent "pirate fighter" among new EU members
The Hungarian customs authority is leading its peers among new EU member states in cracking down on pirated goods, the (Hungarian-nominated) EU commissioner for taxes and customs said on Monday. According to privatbankar.hu, László Kovács claims that, measured by the... [read complete entry]
May 19, 2008, 08:28 CET
Critics target tightening of consumer protection regulations
A new bill aimed at tightening Hungary's consumer protection regulations is arousing opposition from the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BKIK) and other trade groups, which fear some provisions not only are excessively harsh, but unconstitutional. The regulations have... [read complete entry]
May 14, 2008, 10:53 CET
An artistic illustration of Hungary's hideous anti-competition regulation
As you may have heard, the Hungarian government recently announced a crackdown on "cartels," including a legal change that would further put the burden of proof on companies to prove they aren't engaged in anti-competitive behavior. But anyone expecting this... [read complete entry]
May 07, 2008, 11:11 CET
APEH publishes debtor blacklist, gives up on Ft 287 billion
Nearly 3,000 companies and individuals owe Hungary's tax office APEH a total of Ft 500 billion (€1.9 billion), the same amount needed for a proposed tax reform, writes FigyelőNet. Of course, the tax reform is not dependent on the debtors... [read complete entry]
May 06, 2008, 07:52 CET
Government vows new crackdown on cartels
The Hungarian government is poised to make a new push against firms engaged in anti-competitive behavior, including significant changes to the laws governing unfair trading, as well as the public procurement law, cabinet spokesman Dávid Daróczi said. According to Privátbankár.hu,... [read complete entry]
May 05, 2008, 09:16 CET
EC bars subsidy for Japanese-owned firm in Hungary
A plan by the Hungarian government to provide approximately €9.5 million in "regional investment subsidies" has been overruled by the European Commission, on the grounds that the firm, Ibiden Hungary Gyártó Kft, is ineligible for the grants.... [read complete entry]
April 25, 2008, 10:25 CET
Hungarian culture fund chief defends proposed Internet tax against "false" arguments
Critics of the new taxes on Internet-related services the Hungarian government plans to implement are basing their opposition on "false" reasoning, the head of the country's National Cultural Fund (NKA) said yesterday. According to privatbankar.hu, NKA head László Harsányi said... [read complete entry]
April 25, 2008, 09:50 CET
Legal flaw leaves some foreign businesses unable to reclaim Hungarian VAT
Hungary's new VAT law, which came into force in January of this year, failed to lay down certain key provisions, as a result of which some non-Hungary-based taxpayers can no longer reclaim VAT, busines daily Napi Gazdaság reports.... [read complete entry]
April 23, 2008, 11:53 CET
Gyurcsány and Surányi: Similarly taxing names, similarly bad ideas about taxes
Gyurcsány and Surányi: Similarly taxing names, similarly bad ideas about taxes. [read complete entry]
April 14, 2008, 09:50 CET
Cable alliance protests internet, digital tax proposal
Organizations representing Hungary's cable TV companies and ISPs are protesting government plans for a new "digital" tax. [read complete entry]
April 14, 2008, 09:36 CET
Big haul for "springtime" labor code crackdown
A new crackdown by Hungarian labor authorities found almost two-thirds of companies investigated in violation of one or more regulations. [read complete entry]
April 11, 2008, 11:34 CET
New studies highlight dizzying complexity of Hungarian tax system
Two new studies have underscored the dizzying complexity of Hungary's tax code. [read complete entry]
April 09, 2008, 01:27 CET
Parliament to vote on extended "Kitsch Tax"
Parliament will vote on extending the so-called "Kitsch Tax," a levy on certain goods and services used to fund arts and culture. [read complete entry]
April 09, 2008, 10:01 CET
Buying property in Hungary as a foreign national
What permits do non-Hungarians need to buy property in Hungary and how can you go about getting them? [read complete entry]
March 19, 2008, 10:20 CET
Tax-cut fund slashed on back of S&P downgrade
Finance minister János Veres has reduced the scope for future tax cuts by Ft 100 billion after last week's S&P downgrade hit government securities. [read complete entry]
March 18, 2008, 11:05 CET
PM's tax reform plans slammed by experts
The government's three tax cut proposals received a lukewarm response from tax experts. [read complete entry]
March 18, 2008, 11:00 CET
Hungary must cut red tape by at least a quarter, says EU commissioner
Hungary must make dramatic cuts to state administration to make its enterprises more competitive, according to the European Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry. [read complete entry]
March 13, 2008, 11:05 CET
OECD study puts Hungary second on list of countries with highest labor taxes
Hungary imposes the second highest tax wedge in the OECD, according to the latest annual study on labor taxes by the rich-country club. [read complete entry]
March 10, 2008, 11:13 CET
Hungarian regulatory authorities launch new nationwide sweep
The first ten days of a new crackdown by labor, tax and consumer protection authorities in Hungary resulted in 4,900 inspections and yielded 1,500 fines. [read complete entry]
March 06, 2008, 09:49 CET
Changes to company law put price on "pre-naming," force banks to reveal new accounts
Reserving a name for a new company prior to the registration procedure will no longer be free from July 1 this year. [read complete entry]
March 05, 2008, 03:30 CET
Kákosy says no chance for flat tax; 2009 tax package to be ready by year end
Minister of Economy and Transport Kákosy again dashed the hopes of those pushing for Hungary to radically reform its tax system. [read complete entry]
February 19, 2008, 01:11 CET
Gyurcsány's big speech: The economic realities
At least superficially, yesterday's keynote speech to Parliament by Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány was music to the ears of Hungary's increasingly disheartened entrepreneurs, investors, or anyone who believes the country's future lies in a more business-friendly environment. In addition to... [read complete entry]
February 19, 2008, 10:21 CET
Hungarian competition office launches probe against credit-card issuers
Hungary's competition authority has launched an antitrust probe against several credit card companies and point-of-sale operators on suspicions of collusion. [read complete entry]
February 18, 2008, 04:01 CET
Moves against black economy netted Hungarian government Ft 90 billion in 2007
A series of extraordinary measures by the Hungarian government to fight against the country's vast "black" economy generated Ft 80 billion-Ft 100 billion (€304 million-€380 million) in extra revenue for the state last year, a committee set up to report... [read complete entry]
February 18, 2008, 10:50 CET
Toothpaste advertising dispute costs Colgate Hungary €1 million
The local unit of multinational consumer products giant Colgate-Palmolive has been hit with a fine of nearly €1 million for toothpaste commercials the Hungarian authorities dubbed misleading. [read complete entry]
February 13, 2008, 12:25 CET
Amendment tightens rules on financial reporting
From this year, company executives in Hungary are jointly liable for preparing annual reports in accordance with the applicable regulations. [read complete entry]
February 13, 2008, 11:20 CET
With so much talk of tax cuts, can they possibly raise the local business tax?
Hungary has scope for tax cuts of at least Ft 200 billion (€760 million), or 0.8% of GDP, next year, Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány has announced. Despite this, the government is said to be considering raising the ceiling on local business tax to fund high-profile public projects running over budget. [read complete entry]
February 11, 2008, 10:54 CET
Hungarian court rules some companies may retroactively deduct VAT
A Budapest court ruled that companies may deduct VAT retroactively, even in cases involving taxes paid before the company was officially registered. [read complete entry]
February 07, 2008, 11:51 CET
Investors threaten to bolt Hungary as government dawdles on tax reform
A long-awaited plan by the Hungarian government to reform the country's tax system is losing steam as the ruling Socialist-Liberal coalition's partners wrangle over just how much room is available for cutting taxes, leaving some investors to openly mull exiting.... [read complete entry]
February 05, 2008, 11:45 CET
Electronic tax returns made easier in Hungary
With electronic tax returns having already become a way of life in Hungary, the country's tax authority (APEH) is planning to add more features this year to make online tax declarations easier and faster for both businesses and individuals. APEH... [read complete entry]
February 05, 2008, 10:44 CET
Some glitches at Hungary's "Client-gate", but no scandal
After two years of operation, Hungary's so-called "Client Gateway" (Ügyfélkapu) portal has become an increasingly convenient and familiar way for individuals to interact with the Hungarian state online, despite what some users say are serious shortcomings. According to a recent... [read complete entry]
January 31, 2008, 09:08 CET
Hungary's new "minimum tax" targets serial money-losers
With Hungarian businesses liable for the minimum tax (minimumadó) for the first time this year, they are advised to think twice about the items they include on their tax returns, Adózóna reports. Under the minimum tax rule, which came into... [read complete entry]
January 30, 2008, 11:15 CET
Search for tax cheats yields APEH bumper crop of offenders in 2007
Last year the Hungarian tax authorities (APEH) initiated roughly 15,000 investigations into cases of suspected tax evasion by individuals, and this week revealed the outcome of the 11,000 such inquiries that were completed. According to business daily Világgazdaság, significant discrepancies... [read complete entry]
January 30, 2008, 09:55 CET
Budapest real estate property bribery scandal deepens
Péter Kovács, a Socialist politician and head of the Terézváros Asset Management Company (Terézvárosi Vagyonkezelő Zrt), the body responsible for managing property owned by Budapest's District VI, was led away from a board meeting in handcuffs by members of the... [read complete entry]
January 30, 2008, 09:35 CET
New regulations to govern "flea markets" in Hungary
New regulations controlling the operations of temporary "flea" markets and fairs in Hungary will come into force in April. [read complete entry]
January 28, 2008, 11:05 CET
Study finds most Hungarian companies "openly racist"
Most Hungarian companies are "openly racist" in dealing with employees of Roma (Gypsy) background, a new study revealed [read complete entry]
January 28, 2008, 10:41 CET
Government targets cash purchases of real estate
Home buyers in Hungary may be forced to use bank transfers to pay for property in the future if a tentative government plan to end cash-in-hand payments in real estate purchases is enacted into law, business daily Világgazdaság reports. As... [read complete entry]
January 28, 2008, 10:26 CET
MEP charges Hungarian banks with discrimination against elderly
A Hungarian member of the European Parliamentarian is charging that some Hungarian banks automatically exclude those over the age of 70 from being considered creditworthy. According to gondola.hu, Socialist MEP Edit Herczog was contacted by several elderly constituents late last... [read complete entry]
January 24, 2008, 11:34 CET
PM advisory body, Liberals outline tax reform plans
An informal working group advising Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány on tax matters has proposed an income tax regime from 2010 that would introduce three tax brackets, daily Magyar Hírlap reports. The SZDSZ, Hungary's Liberal party and junior coalition member,... [read complete entry]
January 17, 2008, 10:18 CET
When is a gift a gift, and when is it liable to tax?
Few Hungarians and probably even fewer non-citizens are aware that if they receive a present in Hungary worth more than Ft 150,000 (€600), they are bound by law to pay a gift tax on it even if it is from... [read complete entry]
January 16, 2008, 02:45 CET
Changes prove no deterrent to simplified tax payers
Despite changes to accounting rules governing Hungary's simplified tax system, only a handful of companies have joined or left the system before the recent deadline. [read complete entry]
December 19, 2007, 09:44 CET
Report shows Hungary among Europe's biggest givers of corporate subsidies
A recently-published report by the European Commission indicates that state subsidies to the corporate sector in Hungary are among the highest in Europe, writes vg.hu. Factoring out subsidies provided for the railway sector, grants and other aid to the corporate... [read complete entry]
December 19, 2007, 08:56 CET
Hungarian tax office investigating claims it employed workers illegally
Hungary's national tax office is investigating embarrassing claims that security guards working at one of its regional offices were working without legal employment contracts. [read complete entry]
December 18, 2007, 11:14 CET
Data show deep decline in Hungary's economic competitiveness
As Hungary stumbles its way through a painful round of public-sector reforms, a host of newly- published data indicate a weakening of the country's economic competitiveness. According to the latest regional competitiveness study by national economic researcher GKI and Microsoft... [read complete entry]
December 18, 2007, 08:51 CET
Hungarian consumer protection authority finds film PR stunt illegal
The National Consumer Protection Authority ruled that a film promotional campaign that involved planting false news about the "discovery" of non-existent archaeological findings was illegal. [read complete entry]
December 18, 2007, 08:32 CET
Hungarian police chief wants new anti-corruption unit
Hungary's national police chief said he wants to create a new police unit to focus on corruption and money-laundering, and to better coordinate the fight against economic crime. [read complete entry]
December 17, 2007, 09:21 CET
Christmas comes early for government inspectors in Hungary
Seven different Hungarian enforcement agencies - among them labor, tax, food and health inspectors - have joined forces in a six-week-long series of inspections, Gazdasági rádió reports. Only three weeks into the operation, named Csillagszóró ("Christmas sparkler"), the authorities have... [read complete entry]
December 14, 2007, 08:53 CET
EU-funded countryside disco embroiled in corruption probe
The operator of a dance club located in the southern town of Kiskunhalas is being forced to return Ft 24.7 million (€98,000) of EU funds after the National Development Agency (NFÜ) found irregularities involving the grant, reports news portal Index.hu.... [read complete entry]
December 14, 2007, 08:48 CET
Fines for economic crimes to climb in Hungary
Fines for certain economic offenses in Hungary will dramatically increase next year following passage by parliament of amendments to the relevant laws, Index reports. Another change involves a greater use of the national tax office (APEH) as a collection agent... [read complete entry]
December 14, 2007, 07:38 CET
Economy Minister initiates review of "flawed" electricity law
Hungary's new economy minister suggested that the recently-adopted law aimed at liberalizing the country's electricity market was instead hampering competition. Rising energy costs are considered a serious threat to Hungary's competitiveness and economic growth. [read complete entry]
December 13, 2007, 12:15 CET
Hungarian gov't looks to step up fight against "tender cartels"
A proposed new law will compel organizers of public tenders in Hungary to report any suspicions of anti-competitive practices before the awarding of contracts, in a bid to head off abuses by would-be cartels. [read complete entry]
December 13, 2007, 10:30 CET
Doubts mount over Hungarian government quarter project
Hungary's new government quarter cannot be built according to the winning design plans, because one of the plots of land in the area is not owned by the state, and the project is "stuck in a vice of Budapest bureaucracy,"... [read complete entry]
December 12, 2007, 08:37 CET
Laws governing Lake Balaton development to be amended
A patchwork of laws governing the development of Lake Balaton, Hungary's leading vacation destination, are expected to be significantly modified. [read complete entry]
December 11, 2007, 11:00 CET
Tax incentive for small businesses fails to live up to expectations
Hungary's small businesses are apparently not interested in the system of allowances designed to help them "whiten" their operations, and continue to prefer paying their employees the minimum wage plus cash, writes news portal Index.hu. It is possible that no... [read complete entry]
December 11, 2007, 09:51 CET
New Hungarian Economy Minister promises reform in "small steps"
New Economy Minister Csaba Kákosy said he favored small but sure steps over overblown promises to combat Hungary's sluggish growth. [read complete entry]
December 10, 2007, 12:12 CET
General Electric exec says Hungarian taxes threaten investments
An executive of General Electric, one of Hungary's biggest foreign investors, said that the country's "solidarity tax" may drive the company away. [read complete entry]
December 10, 2007, 08:01 CET
Survey finds nation of entrepreneurs wary of self-employment
A new international survey conducted locally by pollster Tárki shows that Hungarians vastly favor full-time employment over entrepreneurship or part-time work, this despite the vast numbers of entrepreneurs who exist, at least on paper, in Hungary. According to the research,... [read complete entry]
December 04, 2007, 08:29 CET
Land title, tax offices come last in survey of state administration
Everyone who does business in Hungary knows that if you need to get something done in one of Hungary's myriad public administration offices, it pays to know someone who works there - or to pay them. Now, a new survey... [read complete entry]
November 30, 2007, 02:55 CET
Kecskemét cuts taxes to attract investors
Kecskemét has decided to lower its local business tax to attract more investors to the city. Such local taxes recently survived a legal challenge on the grounds that they were not compliant with EU tax law. [read complete entry]
November 05, 2007, 12:26 CET
Gov't "double-crosses" banks on no-tax pledge
In a surprise move, Hungary's governing parties last week discarded a coalition amendment proposal that would have prevented the levying of a new tax on bank reserves, Index.hu reports. The change comes after the government previously backtracked on plans to... [read complete entry]