Company modification in Hungary

Company data are public data

First of all, you should know that most company data are public data in Hungary. Not down to the tiniest detail, but basic information such as name, activity, and ownership, as well as yearly performance. Company data are available online, so when you start doing business with a new partner, you can quickly and easily check if their business is legit and if the person you are meeting is indeed authorized to represent the company. Of course, your new partner can this way verify your data too.

When there is a change to your company data, you must report it to the relevant authorities (either the Tax Authority or the Court of Registration, or both). The procedure depends on which data are changed. In this sense, we can divide company data into core data and additional data.

Company modification for core data

If you want to change core data of your company, you will need the company modification procedure. These are data that let partners identify, verify, and contact your Hungarian company, and they include the following:

• Company name: Some rules apply; the same as when you chose the first name of your company.
• Registered seat: The main contact address; messages sent here are considered delivered.
• Locations: Sites other than the main address, such as shops, offices, warehouses (this is a complex issue, ask for advisory).
• Online locations: Website, email address. You are not required to have a website or to list it in the company data, but if it is there and it changes, you should update it.
• Main activity
• Owners and representatives: Changes to either the persons, their share ratio, or their personal data, such as name or permanent address.

To modify company data, the majority of the owners must be in agreement. The required majority (simple, three-thirds, or unanimous) depends on the data being changed; please ask for advisory. The owners should come together to discuss the matter, and make a note of their decision, which then can be forwarded to the company lawyer who can report the changes to the Court of Registration within 30 days of the change.

If you are the sole owner and managing director of your Hungarian company, of course you do not need authorization from anyone else. You just need to send a written note to your company lawyer based on which they can take care of the company modification.

Simple reporting for additional data

Updating data relevant for administrative purposes does not need a full company modification procedure. These data include:

• Additional activities: Your company can have as many activities as you like. As long as the main activity remains the same, your accountant can add or remove activities as you see fit by reporting this to the Tax Authority. The Company Register will be updated automatically.
• Additional bank accounts: When you open a new corporate bank account, the bank will report it within 8 days, and the Company Register will update automatically. However, please make sure to let your accountant know.

Company modification at Helpers

The Helpers Team has ample experience in business assistance to foreign-owned companies in Hungary. While our main focus is company setup, company modification is also a part of our daily life, especially:

• Changing owners and managing directors: If you decide to buy an existing company instead of setting up a company of your own.
• Changing the seat address: If you decide to upgrade your registered seat address to a virtual office operated by Helpers, we take care of the company modification, and do it free of charge.

Naturally, we are happy to help with Hungarian company modification in other cases too. If you are not sure whether a change needs the official procedure, ask your accountant first; if the intended change is in their territory, they should know.

Otherwise feel free to ask for advice from our expert team. Just fill in the form below, and contact us today.

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