The Hungarian Tax and Customs Office (NAV) is ready to enforce the special immigration tax on NGOs that will come into effect on August 25th, László Sors, the head of NAV told Magyar Idők.
The Hungarian parliament this June passed an amendment to the country’s tax legislation, requiring NGOs who help migration to pay a 25 percent tax on all types of financial assistance to migration. The organizations will also have to register these activities with NAV by August 25th and the first tax payment is due on September 15th.
Sors said that NAV will do exactly the same as with other taxes: inform, verify and – if required – sanction. The NAV homepage has a separate page informing NGOs of their duties and also offers guidance and assistance in completing the forms.
He said activities helping migration are defined by the law as media campaigns and media seminars, building and operating support networks and propaganda presenting migration in a positive light. The law also stipulates that income from the immigration tax can only be spent on border defense.
The law also says that political parties and their foundations as well as international organizations protected by international or bilateral treaties are exempt.
