Hungary announces abolition of the mandatory annual HUF 5,000 chamber contribution
On 17 September 2026, the Hungarian Government announced its decision to abolish the mandatory annual HUF 5,000 chamber contribution payable by businesses. According to the Government’s announcement, the measure may affect approximately 900,000 enterprises.
What is changing?
Under the legislation currently in force, businesses are generally required to pay an annual chamber contribution of HUF 5,000. The contribution is payable to the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MKIK) by 31 March of the respective year.
According to the Government’s September announcement, this mandatory contribution will be abolished. The measure forms part of a broader review of the operation and financing of the Hungarian chamber system.
When will the payment obligation cease?
It is important to note that the detailed legislative amendments implementing the Government’s decision have not yet been published.
The currently effective Act CXXI of 1999 on Economic Chambers still provides for the annual HUF 5,000 chamber contribution.
Therefore, the Government’s announcement does not in itself terminate the existing statutory payment obligation. The exact effective date and any transitional provisions will become clear once the relevant legislative amendments are adopted and published.
What about the 2026 chamber contribution?
The payment deadline for the 2026 chamber contribution was 31 March 2026. Based on the legislation currently in force, no legislative amendment has yet been published that would retroactively cancel this already due obligation.
Businesses with an outstanding chamber contribution liability for 2026 should therefore continue to take the currently effective rules into account.
Will the chamber registration requirement also be abolished?
The Government’s announcement specifically concerns the abolition of the annual HUF 5,000 chamber contribution.
At this stage, it cannot be concluded that the existing chamber registration requirement will also be abolished. Further details are expected to be provided in the upcoming amendments to the legislation on economic chambers.
What should businesses do?
No specific action is required solely as a result of the announcement. Until the relevant legislative amendments enter into force, businesses should continue to comply with the existing legislation.
Once the detailed rules are published, businesses should review:
- the exact effective date of the abolition;
- any transitional provisions;
- the future rules applicable to chamber registration; and
- the treatment of outstanding chamber contributions relating to previous periods.
