Hungary to replace corporate tax-based sports funding with direct budget support

The Hungarian government has announced that the current corporate tax-based sports support system, known as the 'sport-tao', will be replaced by direct budgetary funding starting in 2027. The transition aims to ensure that resources are distributed transparently, based on professional justification, and free from political influence.

To support this transition, the Prime Minister’s Office released an interactive data report detailing the history of the 'sport-tao' system from the 2015/16 season through the 2025/26 season. The data shows that between 2015 and 2026, support certificates totaling 1,408 billion forints were issued. The report covers six major team sports: football, handball, basketball, water polo, ice hockey, and volleyball.

While the government emphasizes transparency, critics note that previous regulations already required professional approval and accountability. The shift changes the mechanism of funding from corporate tax incentives to direct state allocation. Additionally, officials stated that budgets for major sporting events are being reviewed to reduce costs compared to previous administrations, with an emphasis on auditing past expenditures to ensure fiscal efficiency.