Retail surtaxes do not contravene EU Law

Government welcomes the decision of the European Court of Justice confirming that the Hungarian retail tax did not constitute discrimination among different forms of retail organisations.

Government welcomes the decision of the European Court of Justice confirming that the Hungarian retail tax did not constitute discrimination among different forms of retail organisations.

The Government welcomes the decision of the European Court of Justice confirming that the Hungarian retail tax did not constitute discrimination among different forms of retail organisations.

The European Court of Justice has come to a decision on the compatibility of the now expired retail tax with European Union law. In accordance with the ECJ’s decision, taxes like the Hungarian surtaxes on specific sectors do not contravene the EU ban on discrimination in general, and the principle of freedom of movement in particular. This means that the last remaining EU procedure investigating Hungarian sectoral surtaxes has been closed, with a successful outcome for Hungary.