Hungarian wealth tax proposal garners strong public backing, mixed business reaction

GKI’s latest surveys reveal that most Hungarians favor a wealth tax on individuals whose net assets, after loan deductions, surpass one billion forints, a measure that would include real estate, investments, corporate shares and certain movable assets. The proposed rates are 1% on the amount above the threshold and 1.5% on the portion exceeding 100 billion forints, with self-assessment and a first payment deadline of August 31, 2027.

Public support is widespread across regions and education levels, though it is slightly lower among households earning under 300 thousand forints per month. In the corporate sector, 18% of respondents anticipate adverse effects such as reduced profitability, slower domestic investment and possible job cuts, while 51% see no impact. Larger firms, especially those with more than fifty employees, are more prone to expect negative outcomes, including restructuring or moving activities abroad. The tax could generate roughly 200 billion forints in revenue, representing about 1.5% of the total taxable profit of the corporate sector in 2025.