The Office of the Prosecutor General recently published its customary annual statistics on crime in Hungary. According to the data, the overall number of criminal offenses has increased significantly over the past two years (by 6.2% in 2023 and by 31% in 2024). An even more pronounced increase can be observed in the number of economic crimes: compared to the previous year, such offenses rose by approximately 24% in 2023 and by around 35% in 2024. A major shift is also visible in the structure of economic crime: while traditional forms of crime (such as budget fraud or bankruptcy-related offenses) are declining, the number of cybercrime offenses is rising dramatically.

As is well known, just over a week ago, Donald Trump's new executive order came into force, aiming to remedy “the persistent and significant trade deficit caused by international trade practices” by introducing import tariffs. We have examined how these measures may affect Europe and, within it, Hungarian businesses.

The National Tax and Customs Authority of Hungary (NAV) has published its 2025 audit plan, which, similarly to the previous year, emphasizes a differentiated, risk-based approach. NAV continues to refine its audit selection process through the application of its vast data assets and artificial intelligence. Based on this data-driven methodology, the type of audit will be determined according to the taxpayer's compliance behavior. The types may include a newly introduced data reconciliation procedure, as well as previously utilized methods such as the supportive procedure, compliance review, or tax and customs audits.

Manufacturers have less than a month left - until June 30, 2024 -  before they must comply with the rules for products subject to the mandatory Deposit Refund System (DRS) when placing them on the market. Compliance with the new regulations will result in a price increase of HUF 50 per product, which consumers will have to bear - unless they return the relevant beverage cans and bottles.

The approaching October 20 deadline has been kept the Hungarian business sphere on edge for quite some time. This is the cutoff for submitting the first EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) declarations. While many details are still unresolved, it is already clear that attempting to deceive or withhold information is not worth it.

As part of the implementation of the European Union's waste management directives, Hungary will also need to apply the rules of the ‘Extended Producer Responsibility’ (EPR) legislation as from 1 July 2023.

Already last year, it was noticeable that after several years of decline, the Hungarian Tax Authority conducts more and more tax audits. In 2022, the number of tax audits increased by 6.2% compared to the previous year. Experience shows that this trend is expected to continue even more strongly this year. The most commonly audited tax category remains VAT.

Implementing private property investments using company assets is slowly becoming a national sport. While the approach seems tempting, it carries a lot of risk. And the tax authority, NAV, has this type of arrangement firmly in its sights.