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🇭🇺 Turnkey Company Formation in Hungary

Company Formation in Hungary — EU's Lowest 9% Tax

Kft. or Zrt. — Cégbíróság electronic registration in 1-3 weeks, NAV tax registration, OTP/K&H bank account included. Launch with the EU's most attractive 9% Társasági adó (corporate income tax).

Free ConsultationSee the Process
✓ Registration in 1-3 weeks✓ NAV tax ID included✓ OTP / K&H bank account
COMPANY EXTRACT (CÉGKIVONAT)
Registration NumberCg.01-09-987654
Company FormLimited Liability Company (Kft.)
Court of RegistrationBudapest Metropolitan Court — Cégbíróság
Date of Incorporation22 April 2025
✓ MAGYAR CÉGNYILVÁNTARTÁS

Our official partners

CégbíróságNAVMNBOTP BankK&H BankErste Hungary

Company Types

Which Company Type Should You Choose in Hungary?

In Hungary, 90% of businesses use the Kft. (Korlátolt Felelősségű Társaság) — low capital threshold, simple governance and limited liability. Investment vehicles and larger structures opt for the Zrt. (private joint-stock).

Kft. (Korlátolt Felelősségű Társaság) — LLC

✅ 90% of SMEs — The standard choice

💰 Min capital: HUF 3,000,000 (≈ €7,500)
📋 1+ shareholder · 1+ ügyvezető (managing director) · Cégbíróság registration

Perfect for e-commerce, software, consulting, light manufacturing, import-export and service SMEs. Liability is limited to share capital — personal assets protected. Capital may be paid in cash or in kind, and partly committed (deferred payment is allowed).

Zrt. (Zártkörűen Működő Részvénytársaság) — Private JSC

🏛️ Private joint-stock — institutional investors

💰 Min capital: HUF 5,000,000 (≈ €12,500)
📋 1+ shareholder · igazgatóság (board) or sole director · felügyelőbizottság (supervisory board)

Holding structures, real-estate vehicles, fintechs, investment funds. Shares are freely transferable but not publicly listed. More institutional appearance — preferred by startups raising European VC.

Bt. (Betéti Társaság) — Limited Partnership

👥 Partnership with one general + one limited partner

💰 No minimum capital
📋 2+ partners (1 beltag unlimited liability + 1 kültag limited liability)

Family businesses, professional partnerships (law, consulting, arts) and low-risk traditional ventures. The beltag (general partner) is personally liable; the kültag (limited partner) only up to their capital. Rare for modern digital businesses.

Egyéni vállalkozó (Sole Trader)

👤 Single individual — KATA / KIVA regimes

💰 No capital
📋 NAV registration · adóazonosító jel · ügyfélkapu (government portal) account

Freelancers, small craftspeople, digital nomads. May elect KATA (fixed monthly tax — up to HUF 18M annual turnover) or KIVA (small business tax 10%). Personal assets at risk — usually converted to Kft. once the business scales.

Formation Process

From Consultation to First Invoice — 2-3 Weeks

Thanks to the Cégbíróság's electronic registration system, Hungarian Kft. formation is one of Europe's fastest. Realistic schedule below.

  1. 1
    Day 0

    Consultation & Preparation

    Choose the entity type (Kft. vs Zrt.) with your partners. Company name (név), business activities (TEÁOR codes — Hungarian NACE) and shareholding structure are agreed. Banking preference (OTP, K&H, Erste, MKB, Wise) discussed.

  2. 2
    Day 1-3

    Articles & Hungarian Lawyer

    A Hungarian attorney (ügyvéd) is engaged — mandatory for company formation in Hungary. The társasági szerződés (articles of association) is drafted. Signing is arranged online or in person (apostilled documents for foreign shareholders).

  3. 3
    Day 5-10

    Cégbíróság Registration

    The electronic application (elektronikus bejegyzés) is filed with the Court of Registration (Fővárosi Törvényszék Cégbírósága). A cégjegyzékszám (registration number) is allocated. Publication in the official gazette (Cégközlöny). Approval within 1-3 weeks.

  4. 4
    Day 10-15

    NAV Tax Registration & ÁFA

    An adószám (tax number) is allocated by NAV (Nemzeti Adó- és Vámhivatal). ÁFA (VAT) registration is opened — standard rate 27%, reduced 18% and 5%. EU VAT number applied for intra-EU trade.

  5. 5
    Day 12-18

    Bank Account & Capital

    A corporate account is opened at OTP Bank, K&H, Erste Hungary or MKB. The cash portion of the minimum capital is deposited (the rest may be committed). Wise Business as a complement for EU exporters. Ügyfélkapu account is provisioned.

  6. 6
    Day 15-21

    Accountant & Fully Operational

    A Hungarian accountant (könyvelő) is appointed — mandatory in Hungary. Monthly ÁFA returns, quarterly iparűzési adó (local business tax), annual társasági adó cycle is set up. Your first invoice (számla) can be issued via NAV Online Számla e-invoicing.

Why Form a Company in Hungary?

With the EU's lowest 9% corporate tax, full single-market access, a skilled and affordable workforce and the Budapest BPO hub, Hungary is Central Europe's most attractive investment platform.

💰

9% Társasági Adó — Lowest in the EU

Hungary's 9% corporate income tax (Társasági adó) is the lowest in the entire EU. Ireland sits at 12.5%, Bulgaria at 10%, but Hungary leads with 9%. Holding structures benefit from participation exemption — foreign dividends and capital gains can be effectively tax-free.

🇪🇺

Full Access to the EU Single Market

Hungary is an EU member — your Kft. sells into 27 EU countries duty-free. 450 million consumers, OSS VAT system, automatic recognition of EU standards. Schengen membership means free movement and logistical advantages.

🏭

Budapest BPO Hub & Skilled Workforce

Budapest is Central Europe's capital for BPO and shared service centres. IBM, Morgan Stanley, BlackRock, Vodafone and 200+ multinationals have hubs here. University-educated workforce speaking English + German + French, at roughly half the cost of the EU average.

🚀

KAVOSZ Loans & HIPA Incentives

KAVOSZ (Széchenyi Kártya Programja) offers low-interest SME loans. HIPA (Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency) delivers cash grants, tax holidays and infrastructure support to foreign investors. Active EU funding pipeline (Horizon Europe, Cohesion Fund).

🌍

Strategic Central European Location

In the heart of Europe — Vienna, Prague, Warsaw and Bucharest within a 5-hour drive. East-West European trade corridor. Liszt Ferenc Airport handles 200K tons of cargo annually. Rail Cargo Hungaria connects the New Silk Road from Asia to the EU.

🏠

Hungarian Golden Visa & Residency

In 2024 Hungary relaunched its Golden Visa for property investors (min €250,000 real-estate investment). Business owners and executives qualify for purpose-based residence permits (tartózkodási engedély). Citizenship can be applied for after 8 years.

What We Need From You

Send us only these items — we handle the ügyvéd, Cégbíróság, NAV and bank workstreams.

  • ✓Passport copy (for each shareholder and director, apostilled)
  • ✓Proof of address (utility bill or bank statement, last 3 months)
  • ✓3 proposed company names (for Hungarian name availability check)
  • ✓Business activities (TEÁOR codes — we advise)
  • ✓Shareholding structure and capital allocation (committed + paid-in)
  • ✓Banking preference (OTP / K&H / Erste / MKB / Wise Business)

Hungary Company Formation Inquiry

Submit the form and within 24 hours you'll receive a tailored quote, a 9% tax optimisation outline and a detailed project timeline. Free consultation, no commitment.

COUNTRY-SPECIFIC

Built for the Hungary Market

Local marketplaces, carriers, payment methods and compliance frameworks — from a single panel

Local Marketplaces

  • eMAG
  • Vatera
  • Árukereső
  • Allegro HU
  • Auchan Online

Carrier Integrations

  • Magyar Posta (MPL)
  • GLS Hungary
  • DPD Hungary
  • Foxpost
  • Sameday HU

Payment Methods

  • SimplePay (OTP)
  • Barion
  • Stripe
  • PayPal
  • K&H mobilbank

Compliance & Legal

  • GDPR / NAIH
  • NAV Online Számla
  • EKAER
  • KEKKH
  • ÁFA %27
  • NAV Online Számla
SUCCESS STORY

A şarap/gurme yiyecek ihracatçısı in Budapest

"eMAG + Amazon DE entegrasyonuyla 7 ayda 42K€ AB cirosu"

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a foreigner open a company in Hungary?

Yes. Foreign individuals and legal entities can freely incorporate a Kft. or Zrt. in Hungary. EU citizens need no additional permits; non-EU citizens benefit from reciprocity treaties (no restrictions for most countries). You do not need a Hungarian residence permit to incorporate, but appointing a Hungarian ügyvéd (lawyer) and könyvelő (accountant) is mandatory.

Do I really only pay 9% corporate tax?

Yes — Társasági adó (corporate income tax) is a flat 9%, the lowest in the EU. There is an additional iparűzési adó (local business tax) capped at 2% of turnover (Budapest 2%, lower in some municipalities). Effective total burden is around 11%. Holding structures benefit from participation exemption — foreign-source dividends and capital gains are effectively tax-free. Dividend distributions to individuals face 15% withholding, often reduced by double-tax treaties.

Kft. or Zrt. — which should I choose?

Kft.: HUF 3M (≈€7,500) capital is enough, unlimited shareholders, simple governance — the right choice for 90% of SMEs. Zrt.: HUF 5M (≈€12,500) capital, more institutional share transfer mechanics, requires igazgatóság and felügyelőbizottság — suitable for venture-backed companies or holding structures. Most founders start with a Kft. and convert to Zrt. later if needed.

What are the VAT rates and when do I have to register?

ÁFA standard rate is 27% (the highest standard VAT in Europe), with reduced rates of 18% (some foods, hotel stays) and 5% (books, medicine, internet, eggs/milk). Annual turnover below HUF 12M (≈€30,000) qualifies for the alanyi adómentesség small-business exemption. Intra-EU B2B uses reverse-charge; B2C e-commerce uses OSS. NAV Online Számla e-invoicing is mandatory.

What are KATA and KIVA, and which suits me?

KATA (Kisadózó Vállalkozások Tételes Adója): for egyéni vállalkozó — a fixed monthly tax of HUF 50,000 up to HUF 18M annual turnover. Restricted to mostly B2C activities since 2022. KIVA (Kisvállalati adó): a 10% small-business tax for companies up to 50 employees, replacing standard CIT + social security — often attractive for service businesses. We assess the optimal regime with you.

Can I sell to other EU countries and worldwide?

Yes, fully. Free movement of goods and services across the EU (Schengen). Reverse-charge VAT for B2B EU sales; OSS for B2C e-commerce (€10,000/year threshold). Hungary inherits the EU's free-trade and customs union arrangements (e.g. with Turkey, the UK trade deal). HIPA provides free export advisory and market-entry support to Hungarian-registered companies.

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Setting Up a Company in Hungary

Hungary has the lowest corporate income tax in the EU at 9% (Társasági adó), which is why international groups use it as a holding and operations hub. The two most common entity types for foreign founders are the Kft. (limited liability) and Egyéni vállalkozó (sole proprietor).

Legal Forms Compared

  • Kft. (Korlátolt Felelősségű Társaság) — limited liability, HUF 3,000,000 (~€7,500) capital, the SME default.
  • Bt. (Betéti Társaság) — limited partnership, no minimum capital, mixed liability.
  • Zrt. (Zártkörűen Működő Részvénytársaság) — closed joint-stock, HUF 5M capital, suited to larger investments.
  • Egyéni vállalkozó — sole proprietor, no capital, unlimited personal liability, popular with freelancers.

Cégbíróság Filing — Step by Step

  1. Reserve company name (check Magyar Cégnévtár and Cégjegyzék registry).
  2. Draft articles of association (Társasági szerződés) — Hungarian lawyer (ügyvéd) countersignature is mandatory.
  3. Deposit share capital (at least HUF 1.5M paid up for a Kft., balance within 12 months).
  4. Electronic filing with Cégbíróság (Company Court) — 1–8 business days.
  5. Receive Cégjegyzékszám (registry number), Adószám (tax ID), Statisztikai szám.
  6. Register with NAV and elect ÁFA regime.
  7. Open business banking with OTP, K&H, Erste, MKB, Raiffeisen or UniCredit.

Tax Structure: 9% Corporate, 27% VAT

Corporate income tax is a flat 9%, the lowest in the EU. Local business tax (helyi iparűzési adó) is typically 2% of net revenue. ÁFA standard rate is 27% (highest in the EU), with reduced 5% / 18% on basic foods, books and medicines. Dividend withholding tax is 15%.

KATA Reform — 2022 Aftermath

The KATA simplified flat-tax was reformed in 2022 to apply only to true sole proprietors (Egyéni vállalkozó) serving B2C clients under HUF 18M annual revenue. B2B invoicing is no longer allowed under KATA, pushing most former KATA users to standard SME tax regimes.

Banking and Forint Risk

Tier-1 banks: OTP Bank (largest), K&H (KBC), Erste, MKB Bank, Raiffeisen, UniCredit. Multi-currency accounts (HUF/EUR/USD) are standard. To hedge HUF volatility, 90-day forward contracts from OTP Treasury or UniCredit are typical.

Timeline and Cost

  • Total time: 1–3 weeks (express filing in 1 day).
  • Lawyer (Ügyvéd) fee: HUF 150–400k.
  • Cégbíróság registration fee: HUF 50k.
  • NAV registration: free.
  • Kft. share capital: HUF 3M (HUF 1.5M paid up).

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