Hungary to tighten tax oversight on Airbnb hosts, couriers and crypto traders
In early September, National Economy Minister Márton Nagy submitted two bills to Parliament that could radically reshape the taxation of digital economy players. The aim is clear: to channel more money into state coffers from sectors that have, until now, been difficult to regulate. This includes Airbnb landlords, gig economy couriers, and cryptocurrency traders, all of whom can expect increased scrutiny from the tax authority.
Automatic data sharing between tax authorities
According to HVG, the essence of the proposals is to align Hungarian law with an international framework developed by the OECD. These rules require platform operators and crypto service providers to report detailed user data, which will be automatically shared with national tax authorities on an annual basis.
The Hungarian Tax Authority (NAV) will thus no longer have to rely solely on self-declarations, gaining direct access to income data on Hungarian individuals and companies from foreign service providers. The Hungarian authorities will share this information annually with countries they reach agreements with, from Japan and Switzerland to the Cayman Islands.
Who is affected? From Airbnb to couriers and crypto
The new legislation could apply to virtually anyone active in the sharing economy or cryptocurrency trading. This means a private individual renting out a flat on Airbnb, a courier working for Wolt, an Uber driver, or even an investor trading cryptocurrencies via Revolut or Binance will all fall under the watchful eye of NAV.
As of 2026, service providers will be required to submit the following information, among other data:
- Company name, registered address, and tax number,
- All platforms the operator controls,
- And detailed information on Hungarian users: name, address, tax ID, date of birth, and volume of transactions.
These details will be transmitted to authorities in a standardised format, making tax evasion significantly more difficult.
Government goal: higher revenues, tighter control
The government justifies the tightening of the rules by noting that many in the digital economy fail to fully report their incomes, hence the need for direct data flow. According to the cabinet, the system will not only curb tax evasion but also help improve overall tax compliance.
With these changes, tax revenues are expected to rise significantly as NAV gains a clearer picture of how much money couriers, drivers, and landlords earn, and the volume of crypto trading among Hungarian individuals and businesses.
New system to launch in 2026
If passed by Parliament, the new regulations will take effect on 1 January 2026. From that point onwards, companies operating digital platforms and crypto service providers will be required to collect and transmit all necessary data — regardless of whether they are based in Hungary or abroad.
The move could have significant implications both for small-scale operators, such as individuals renting out flats for extra income on Airbnb, and for larger-scale crypto traders. Previously opaque areas of the digital economy will now clearly fall within NAV’s scope of oversight.
To read or share this article in Hungarian, click here: Helló Magyar
Taxation is theft.
It is pretty much a DUTY of a hard-working person to fiddle his tax return at least a little. It’s called being an adult.
If they want to tax all my income, then I need to have a say in how every single thin cent of my taxes is spent. Or, better, tax the bare minimum to enable national defense, law enforcement, and criminal justice to operate, and put everything else up on GoFundMe. Whoever wants to contribute to their infinite agencies and projects can; the rest don’t and won’t.