A company, which is domiciled in Hungary, is obliged to pay corporate income tax on its worldwide
income. A non-resident company is taxable on its Hungarian source income, as well as income
taxable in Hungary based on double taxation treaties. State companies, companies limited by shares
(Rt.), limited liability companies (Kft.), partnerships (Bt. and Kkt.), and branch offices of foreign
enterprises are subject to corporate income tax. In addition, permanent establishments of foreign
enterprises and foreign organisations may also, under certain circumstances, be liable to pay
corporate income tax in Hungary. The standard rate of income tax for Hungarian and foreign
companies is 16%.
Up to the tax base of HUF 50 million, the corporate income tax rate is reduced to 10% for companies
meeting certain conditions. The most important condition is that the taxpayer cannot benefit from
corporate income tax allowances.
From 1 July 2007, an expected minimum tax is levied on companies, whose corporate income tax
base does not reach the “expected” minimum tax base, i.e. 2% of the total revenue (reduced by
certain items, e.g. costs of goods sold and value of intermediated services). The "expected" tax base
is subject to tax on the general corporate income tax rates. Paying corporate income tax on the
“expected” tax base can be avoided by filling out a detailed declaration regarding the types of income
realized and costs of a given business year.
Companies that are obliged to pay corporate income tax are subject to “solidarity tax” as well (with
certain exceptions e.g. foundations) from 1 September 2006. The tax rate is 4% calculated on the tax
base. Similarly to the method applicable in the case of corporate income tax, the tax base can be
determined by adjusting the profit before tax with certain increasing and decreasing items. There is
also an advance payment obligation (quarterly, by the 20th day of the month following the given
quarter) and top-up obligation (by the 20th day of the last month of the given tax year) as well as
reporting obligation.
From 2006, the former offshore companies are subject to the general corporate income tax rate of
16% as well. However, companies engaged in financing activities can benefit from an effective 8%
corporate income tax rate on this activity.