As of July 1, 2025, cash payment is becoming a constitutional right in Hungary. This means that apart from specific cases, Hungarian businesses are required to make it possible for their customers to pay with cash if that is their preferred method. Read on to learn if this will affect your operation.

Cash vs. electronic payment in Hungary

While the proportion of electronic payments and online purchases have been increasing rapidly over the last decade, cash is still an important element of Hungarian economy. Half of all offline purchases are paid in cash, and there are more than HUF 8,500 billion of cash in circulation, while still not everybody has a bank card or even a bank account. Even though there are more than 9.9 million retail bank accounts open in Hungary with an average of 1.1 bank card / person, it seems that at least 10% of the population is without a bank account.

Since January 1, 2021, shops that have an online cash register must accept digital payment (bank cards). The new regulation coming into force on July 1, 2025, was meant to consider the other side of the coin, making cash payment also a mandatory option at most sellers. This is supposed to allow customers to choose the payment option of their preference, and thus increase their sense of security.

Cash also has a key role in EU strategy according to the European Central Bank. In the EU, cash should be accessible and acceptable everywhere. In this sense, this current regulation is created in line with EU directives.

Will your business need to offer cash payment options?

The short answer is: probably yes. There are only a few types of businesses that are exempt from accepting cash payment, and these are the following:

• Online service agreements (e.g. online journal subscriptions)
• Cross-border purchase agreements (e.g. online streaming service providers, cloud data storage providers)
• Automated self-service shops (where there is no staff on location)

To comply with the new regulation, the following options are available to your business:

• If you have a shop with various cash registers, it is enough if at least one accepts cash (this sole cash register might even be automatized).
• You may start issuing and/or accepting non-cash means of payment (e.g. top-up cards, gift cards).
• If you deliver, you should offer to take cash on delivery.
• Instead of online payments, you may offer to accept either a postal payment slip (“yellow check”) or a cash deposit to your corporate bank account.

Please note: even if your Hungarian business will need to accept cash payments, that includes only HUF payments, since HUF (Hungarian Forint) is the national currency of Hungary. While some businesses accept cash payment in EUR or in other currencies, that is not a requirement. Such shops apply their own exchange rates and provide change only in HUF.

Critique of mandatory cash payment options

The National Commercial Association of Hungary collected various arguments against the introduction of the new requirement, but they were overruled by the government. In its analysis, the Association called attention to the following main concerns:

• In some cases, there might not be an actual demand for cash payment solutions.
• Implementation of a cash payment solution might put unreasonable expenses on sellers.
• Taking cash on delivery puts delivery personnel at undue risk.
• Taking cash on delivery is actually forbidden in some cases, e.g. when the worth of items delivered to the same partner is above HUF 1.5 million in a given month.

What to do next?

To determine if and how the latest regulation change impacts your Hungarian business, consider what kinds of products you offer and how you accept payment for these. Are you exempt from accepting cash payment based on the above list? Do you have an online or an offline store? Do you have a cash register? Review your workflows and consult your accountant.

Helpers Finance offers not only precise accounting and bookkeeping services, but also advisory on various topics, with a focus on assisting foreign business owners operating in Hungary. Should you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us to make the most of your Hungarian venture.

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