Holding Company Regime in Hungary

Hungary is relatively new entrant to the tax planning market thereafter the tax advantages for non-resident companies ended in 2005. The holding company regime is not the most flexible. The company management is not the cheapest and not the less bureaucratic in Europe. But with proper plannig and advice the Hungarian Holding Company can function tax and cost efficiently.

Introduction and Specific Advantages of a Hungarian Holding Company

Currently dividend income of a Hungarian Holding Company distributed by daughter companies is tax free. The capital gain of so called reported shares and reported intellectual properties is also tax free if the company meets the criteria. The dividend, interest and capital gain are not subject to local business tax neither. Hungary has extensive tax treaty network and offer the main tax characteristic what the most important when we want to find the best location for our holding company.

The specific advantages of Hungary as a holding location is the non-offshore status. The country were always on the OECD White List and the company structures are transparent.

Corporate and Local Business Tax

Corporate tax free the dividend income of the holding company in case the daughter company is not CFC of the Hungarian Holding. The capital gain of sold shares is also exempt if the holding held the shares of the sold company for 12 month at least. The capital gain of reported intellectual property also tax free. The company have to send the application for the registration of the reported shares and intellectual property within 75 days after the purchase or procreation, otherwise the tax benefit is not applicable.

The companies and branches registered in Hungary have to pay 2% local business tax calculated on the gross profit of the company. But the dividend and other financial income included the capital gain and intercompany interest as well are not subject to local business tax according to the rules.

The general rate of the corporate tax is 9%.

Hungarian Holding Companies can be VAT registered and may apply for VAT refund. In accordance with the general rules if the VAT reclaimable amount is exceed the HUF 1 000 000 for the VAT period, what is the calendar month in the first business year of the company.

Foreign Controlled Company Rules

The CFC rules of Hungary became very strict since 2009, very unreasoning since 2010 and would like to protect the corporate tax income of the Budget of Hungary. However, a Hungarian Holding Company controlled by non-residents are not targeted by CFC regime.

Withholding Tax

HU Holding or Trading companies can receive royalty, commissions, management or consulting fees and dividends free of withholding tax. Dividend to tax resident individuals subject to 15% personal income tax and double tax treaties can reduce the rate in case of non-residents.

Tax Treaty Network

Hungary has very extensive double tax treaty network, currently over 88 treaties, which generlally follows the OECD model treaty standards. Tax withheld by treaty is also creditable. Withholding tax credits are always capped at the effective corporate income tax rate of the company. Hungary also implemented exchange of information provisions according to the OECD standards.

Establishment

The formation of a company in Hungary is relatively simple: the processing time is short, VAT registration and certificate of tax residence are issued almost immediately. The tax authority will assess in advance whether or not it consents to the issue of the tax number of the company and VAT registration. If they find any natural person or legal entity among the owners or managers who/which have a high amount of overdue tax liabilities, or if their liquidated companies had such debts, then the authority may reject tax registration. And in this case the company court will also reject the registration of the company.

The KFT (Limited Liability Company) is the most popular company form. The ZRT (private company limited by shares) is less popular because of the costs of share allocations. The NYRT  is the public company limited by shares. BT (limited partnership) and KKT (general partnership) . BT/KKT is a special form, in that, as opposed to the rest of the company form. Another company may be the active partner in it, in charge of managing the company. A BT/KKT has to have at least two members, and the active partner must not be an active partner of another BT/KKT.

A member of a BT/KKT may be also be a foreign company, from any country of the world. Although the structure of the BT is similar to LLP used in the UK, it is not subject to flow-through taxation.

Maintainance

The taxpayer have to appoint an accountant to file the tax returns within 15 days after the registration of the company. Or the directors need to register themselfs at the tax office and the at the competent government authority as well. The choice of the registered office is also important. The registered address can be provided by only licensed corporate service provider. Otherwise the company has to rent office.

The non-VAT registered Hungarian Holding Company have to file registration forms 15 days after the formation. The CIT payers file the annual report, corporate tax and local tax once in a year. The VAT registered company have to file the VAT and VIES quaterly, monthly or annually depend on its payable VAT.

Residence

If we plan royalty turnover from a high-tax country, it is not mandatory, but recommended to employ a domestic citizen director. The Hungarian company has to report the effective place of management to the Registry and to the tax office. It may cause taxation problems in almost every country. In addition to the place of company management, the place of document storage may also be abroad. But at the request of the tax authority the company must present the documents to the tax auditors.

If a Hungarian company non-resident shareholder and/or director, opening a bank account is not a simple affair. Generally every bank requires the managing director to make a personal visit for account opening. The Hungarian company may open a bank account abroad and then need to report it to the tax office.

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