Hungarian fiscal policy and retail tax developments

Hungary has reported a reduction in its central budget deficit, with the balance improving by 1,200 billion Forint over a four-month period. Despite this progress, the Költségvetési Tanács lowered the national GDP growth forecast from 4.1 percent to 2.0 percent, citing energy prices and geopolitical tensions. To further manage finances, Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced a new wealth tax scheduled for January 1, 2027, targeting assets exceeding 1 billion Forint.

The fiscal landscape is also impacting the retail sector through changes to the special retail tax. The retail group Spar has filed a complaint with the European Commission, describing recent tax law changes that allow for potential corporate restructuring to avoid taxes as “absurd and a harassment.”

Proposed 2027 budget plans indicate a shift toward progressive tax rates that may disproportionately affect medium-sized, typically Hungarian-owned food chains like COOP, CBA, and Prima. For companies with a tax base between 1 billion and 50 billion forints, the tax rate is projected to increase from 0.15 percent to 0.45 percent, effectively tripling the rate for that bracket.