Maksym Stepanenko
Managing Partner, Crystal Tax
International client projects since 2012: company structures, tax, immigration, DUNS and NCAGE. 50+ jurisdictions.
- Telegram
Turnkey company formation in Hungary: we prepare the documents, register your Kft, obtain tax numbers, help open a bank account and keep your books.
Since 2012 · 50+ jurisdictions · 9% corporate tax · registration filed electronically by a lawyer
In brief
- For a non-resident, company registration in Hungary usually means a Kft, a limited liability company. The minimum share capital is HUF 3 million, and if the articles allow it, the cash contribution can be paid in after registration.
- A lawyer files the application with the registry court (Cégbíróság), electronically only. The court obtains the tax number from NAV itself and, by law, decides within 1 business day under the simplified procedure and up to 15 business days under the standard one.
- Corporate tax is 9%, VAT is 27%, and the local business tax (HIPA) is up to 2%. A small company can opt for KIVA: 10% on a special base that also includes staff costs. KIVA replaces both corporate tax and the 13% social tax.
- There is no government fee for registering a Kft. If a member or director lives abroad, or a member is a foreign company, the application must name an agent in Hungary to receive official mail.
- In our experience, it usually takes 3–6 weeks from signing the contract to a working company with a bank account. The timing depends on the founders' documents, the bank, government agencies and force majeure.
Your situation
Pick the situation closest to yours: a short outline of the route and the first step.
IT specialist or freelancer moving to a company
We register a single-member Kft, choose the tax regime (standard corporate tax or KIVA) and set up invoicing for clients inside and outside the EU.
Example. A developer from Ukraine works for a client in Germany. We register a Kft, obtain the tax number and EU VAT number, open a bank account, and the accountant sets up the books and prepares the first invoices to the client.
Discuss this case →Trade or logistics in the EU
A Kft with a Hungarian EU VAT number can work with suppliers and buyers across the EU. We check in advance which permits the goods require.
Example. A Ukrainian company supplies spare parts to buyers in Poland and Austria. We register a Kft, obtain the EU VAT number and agree with the accountant on the paperwork for intra-EU supplies.
Discuss this case →You only need an EU bank account
A bank opens a company account after checking the owners and the business. We prepare a package that meets the bank's requirements: business description, contracts, source of funds.
Example. A consulting firm receives payments from EU clients. After registering the Kft, we put together a bank package with contracts and statements and prepare the director for the bank interview.
Discuss this case →Moving to Hungary with your business
For a company manager from outside the EU, the law provides a separate residence permit. It comes with requirements for the company and a time limit, so we check the conditions before registration.
Example. The owner of a small agency from Ukraine plans to live in Budapest. We register a Kft, check the residence permit requirements and prepare in advance the company documents needed for the application.
Discuss this case →You already have a company and need accounting
We take over the books from your previous accountant, check for arrears and deadlines, and handle reporting from then on.
Example. A Kft was registered two years ago and its accountant stopped responding. We request data from the tax portal, restore the books and file the missed returns.
Discuss this case →Choosing between Hungary and another country
We compare taxes, timelines and bank requirements for your business model and recommend one option with our reasoning.
Example. A founder is choosing between Hungary, Poland and Romania for an e-commerce business. We calculate the tax burden in all three countries on his turnover and recommend one.
Discuss this case →What turnkey registration includes
We take your company from choosing the legal form to its first reports. You sign the documents and pass the bank's checks; we handle everything else.
- Legal form and tax regime. Kft or another form, standard corporate tax or KIVA, and whether you need an EU VAT number from day one.
- Documents. Articles of association, resolutions, director's consent, beneficial owner details. If documents are signed abroad, we tell you where to have the signature certified and whether an apostille is needed.
- Registered address and agent. A registered address (székhely) under a contract with a provider, or your own office. If members or the director live abroad, we find an agent in Hungary to receive official mail, as the law requires one to be named.
- Filing with the registry court. Our partner lawyer files the application electronically and responds to the court's comments.
- Tax numbers. The company receives its tax number automatically on registration. If you need an EU VAT number right away, we apply for it together with the registration.
- Bank account. We prepare a package to the bank's requirements and support you until the account is open.
- Company electronic address. After registration, the company must have an official electronic address for mail from government agencies. We set it up within 8 days, as the law requires.
- Accounting and reporting. We register the company for accounting and keep the books from then on. More in the section below.
Accounting for a company in Hungary
A Kft keeps full double-entry books. If revenue exceeds HUF 20 million a year, the law requires a licensed accountant (mérlegképes könyvelő) to manage the books and prepare the annual report; the director signs the report. That is why we work with Hungarian partners and take responsibility to you for the result.
- Bookkeeping and source documents. Invoices, bank statements, contracts: you send them electronically, and we post and store them.
- VAT. A new company files VAT returns monthly in the year of registration and throughout the following year. After that, the frequency depends on the amount of tax: monthly, quarterly or annually.
- Payroll. If you have employees: payroll calculation, taxes and contributions, monthly returns.
- Annual report and corporate tax. The annual report is filed electronically, and so is the corporate tax return; for a calendar financial year, both are due by 31 May of the following year.
- Dealing with the tax authority. We respond to NAV requests, track deadlines and notify you of payments in advance.
A statutory audit is required if average revenue over the two previous years exceeds HUF 600 million or the average headcount exceeds 50; for a new company, the expected figures are used. Most small Kfts do not need one.
If your company is already operating, we take over the books from your previous accountant. First we check which returns have been filed and whether there are any arrears.
Registration timeline
In our experience, it usually takes 2–3 weeks from signing the contract to a registered company, and 3–6 weeks including a bank account. The timing depends on how quickly the founders' documents are ready, on the bank, on government agencies and on force majeure.
Official deadlines apply only once the application is complete. NAV completes its tax check within 1 business day, or up to 8 business days if an additional review is needed. The court then decides within 1 business day under the simplified procedure with model articles and up to 15 business days under the standard procedure. In practice, signing documents abroad and the bank's checks take the longest.
How much registration costs
We quote each project individually. There is no government fee for registering a Kft, so the price is made up of the lawyer's work, the registered address, the agent for official mail and our own work. It depends on four things: how many founders there are and where they live, whether you need an EU VAT number and a bank account, the volume of accounting, and whether you have employees.
We work under a contract and issue an invoice and a completion certificate. Accounting is priced separately, by volume.
Describe your project in two or three sentences, and we will estimate the cost and timeline within one business day.
Why clients trust us with registration
Registration is the first step. After that, the company needs a bank account, tax numbers and on-time reporting. Clients trust us with the whole chain:
In business since 2012
For fourteen years we have been registering companies, opening accounts and handling tax matters in 50+ jurisdictions. We know the requirements of registries, banks and tax authorities from our own cases.
Registration, bank account and accounting in one place
One team takes your company from choosing the legal form to its first reports. Crystal Tax lawyers and accountants work together with local partners, so you do not have to find contractors one by one.
We see the job through
We respond to comments from the court, the tax authority and the bank and revise documents at no extra charge until the company is up and running. Where the law requires a local lawyer or accountant, we bring in a partner, and we remain responsible to you for the result.
We understand clients from Ukraine
Most of our clients are Ukrainian entrepreneurs and IT specialists. We know which documents banks usually ask them for and how to prove the source of funds.
Contract and confidentiality
The scope of work, timelines and confidentiality are set out in the contract. We disclose information about you and your company only to the extent required by the court, the bank and the tax authority.
How to register a company in Hungary: our process
Company registration in Hungary goes through six stages, and we handle all of them ourselves.
- Inquiry and review. We find out what the company will do, who the founders are and where they live, and whether you need an EU VAT number, a bank account and employees.
- Form and taxes. We propose the company form and tax regime and agree on the name and address.
- Documents. We prepare the articles and resolutions, arrange signing and, if needed, legalization of documents.
- Registration. The lawyer files the application with the registry court, and we respond to comments.
- Numbers and account. Tax number, EU VAT number, company electronic address, bank account; the bank submits beneficial owner data to the register.
- Company up and running. We set up the accounting and file reports on time.
Documents you need
Scans are enough to get started; originals and certification will be needed at the signing stage:
- passports of the founders and the director;
- proof of residential address (for example, a bank statement or utility bill);
- for a corporate founder: a registry extract and documents confirming the signatory's authority, with an apostille and translation;
- a short description of the business, client countries and expected turnover;
- for the bank: documents on the source of funds and client contracts, if you already have them.
The full list depends on the bank and the founders. After your inquiry, we will send a list tailored to your case.
Company taxes in Hungary
Main taxes for a Kft in 2026:
| Tax | Rate | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate income tax (TAO) | 9% | Return due by 31 May of the following year |
| Small business tax (KIVA) | 10% | Replaces corporate tax and social tax; for companies with up to 100 employees and revenue and balance sheet up to HUF 6 billion |
| VAT (ÁFA) | 27% | Standard rate; reduced rates apply to certain goods and services |
| Local business tax (HIPA) | up to 2% | Rate set by the municipality |
| Employer social tax (SZOCHO) | 13% | On employee salaries |
| Employee contributions and tax | 18.5% + 15% | Withheld from salary |
| Dividends to individuals | 15% | For a Hungarian resident, 13% social tax is added up to an annual cap. For a resident of Ukraine, the tax treaty caps Hungarian tax at 15%. Hungary does not withhold tax on dividends paid to a foreign corporate member |
Rates were checked against official sources as of the date at the end of this page. Before you decide, we will check them against your situation: the tax regime is chosen to fit the business model.
Types of companies in Hungary
Non-residents most often choose a Kft: members' liability is limited to their contribution, and one person can be both the sole member and the director.
| Form | Minimum capital | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Kft (korlátolt felelősségű társaság) | HUF 3 million | Small and medium businesses, IT, trade, holding |
| Zrt (private limited company by shares) | HUF 5 million | Large projects and raising investment |
| Branch of a foreign company | none set | Operating on behalf of an existing foreign company |
Residence permit through a company
Registering a company does not by itself give the right to live in Hungary. For a non-EU/EEA national who manages a company, including their own, the immigration law provides a residence permit for self-employment (vendég-önfoglalkoztatás).
The permit is issued for up to one year and can be extended for up to two more years, within three years of the first issue; after that, a new application can be filed in Hungary. The company must meet requirements: for at least six months it employs at least five full-time Hungarian or EEA nationals, or the manager's presence is essential to its operations, and it has no tax debts. We check the conditions before registration and prepare the application together with our immigration partners.
How to get started
Describe your project in the form or message us: what the company will do, who the founders are, and whether you need a bank account and accounting. Within one business day we will reply with the route, timeline and cost.
Other services
Sources
Ptk. — Civil Code of Hungary, 3:161–3:163 (Kft capital), 3:212 (Zrt capital); Ctv. — Company Registration Act 2006. évi V. (lawyer, court deadlines, agent); Tao. — Corporate Tax Act, § 19 (rate), § 27 repealed (no tax on dividends to companies); Katv. — KIVA Act, § 16, 21; Áfa tv. — VAT Act, § 82; Htv. — Local Taxes Act, § 40; Art. — Tax Administration Act (tax number, filing deadlines); Itv. — Duties Act, § 45; Számv. tv. — Accounting Act, § 151–155; Szocho tv. — 13% social tax; Tbj. — 18.5% employee contributions; Szja tv. — 15% personal income tax, dividends; Dáptv. 2023. évi CIII, § 26 — official electronic address; Pmt. 2017. évi LIII, § 7 — customer identification by banks; 2021. évi XLIII, § 7 — beneficial ownership register; 1997. évi CXXXII — Act on branches of foreign companies; Act 2023. évi XC. on foreign nationals and OIF: vendég-önfoglalkoztatás permit; Ukraine–Hungary Double Taxation Convention, Art. 10. Checked: 27 September 2026.
Page rating5 / 5
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to register a company in Hungary?
Can I register a company in Hungary remotely?
What is the minimum share capital for a Kft?
How long does Kft registration take?
What taxes does a company pay in Hungary?
How are dividends taxed for a resident of Ukraine?
Do I need a registered address and an office in Hungary?
Does a Kft need an accountant?
When do I need an EU VAT number?
Does a company in Hungary give you a residence permit?
If you find an error or inaccuracy in the text, select it and press Ctrl + Enter
- Telegram
What clients say
5.0
Client reviews on Google Maps
-
“Crystal Tax provided invaluable assistance in setting up our company in the United Arab Emirates…”
Yevelina K.2 years ago · Google Maps
-
“Opening a bank account abroad sounded scary at first, but Crystal Tax made it super easy. They knew exactly which banks to approach, what paperwork was needed…”
Sergei M.a year ago · Google Maps
-
“As a fast-growing startup, we needed clear, actionable tax advice — and Crystal Tax delivered exactly that. No jargon, no fluff.”
Inna M.a year ago · Google Maps
Order a service
Briefly describe your task: the country, the business activity and the timing. That is enough for us to propose a solution and the order of work.
We reply within one business day.
Or message us
Telegram
WhatsApp