Hungarian Tax Authority Granted 20‑Year Asset Probe Powers

The Hungarian government announced that the National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) will receive new authority to examine the wealth of politicians and their relatives retroactively for up to 20 years.

In a podcast interview, legal director Ligeti Miklós evaluated the move, noting that the focus should shift from decades‑old holdings to more recent asset scrutiny. He also discussed ongoing investigations into the Hungarian National Bank’s (MNB) foundations, which have yet to yield results, and the newly effective regulation on private‑equity funds that, despite being in force since July 1, still limits public access to true ownership data.

Ligeti further commented on former foreign‑trade minister Péter Szijjártó’s transfer to Chinese automaker BYD, the 12‑year limit on parliamentary mandates, and the political debate surrounding the nomination of a new president. The conversation highlighted broader concerns about transparency, the effectiveness of anti‑corruption measures, and the practical impact of the expanded NAV powers.