Hungary's 30–37.5% cash rebate.
Hungary's film tax rebate explained: a 30% cash rebate structured to 37.5%, EU-approved, uncapped, no minimum spend, bankable and monetizable upfront. Worked examples and current 2025–26 figures.
A 30% cash rebate, structured to 37.5%
Hungary refunds 30% of your qualifying local spend as cash. It is approved by the European Union, uncapped, and carries no minimum or maximum spend. Because up to 25% of the eligible budget can be non-Hungarian cost, the effective return on your Hungarian spend rises to 37.5%.
It is a genuine post-financing cash rebate — not a transferable tax credit you have to sell at a discount. It is bankable: US, UK and Hungarian banks lend against it. And through Dopamine we can arrange to monetize it upfront, one of very few partners in Hungary or Europe able to do so.
Four worked examples
| Hungarian spend | Non-Hungarian spend | Rate | Cash rebate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000,000 | $0 | 30% | $3,000,000 |
| $10,000,000 | $2,000,000 | 37.5% | $3,750,000 |
| $10,000,000 | $10,000,000 | 37.5% (capped) | $3,750,000 |
| $20,000,000 | $0 | 30% | $6,000,000 |
The third row is the key lesson: qualifying foreign costs lift the rate to 37.5%, but only up to 25% of the Hungarian spend counts, so beyond that threshold the rebate stops growing. Structuring the split correctly is exactly the kind of thing we do before you lock a budget.
What makes it bankable
- EU-approved at 30%, with a clear legal basis and a program secured through 2030.
- 100% cash rebate — paid, not brokered.
- Uncapped, no minimum — works for a $500k indie or a $50m feature.
- Cash-flow loans available from US, UK and Hungarian banks against the rebate and against VAT.
- Upfront financing arrangeable through Dopamine, so the rebate funds the shoot.
Add qualifying foreign costs and 30% becomes 37.5%. Structure it wrong and you leave money on the table.
The 2026 picture
2025 was a transitional year: a June 2025 decree raised the collection account from HUF 69 billion to HUF 81 billion, and an annual ceiling on new registrations was briefly introduced — and fully absorbed. That registration cap was lifted in July 2026. For 2026 the rate is unchanged at 30% (37.5% structured), the collection account is set at HUF 70 billion, there is no cap on new registrations, no minimum spend and no per-project ceiling, and the program is EU-approved through 2030. The message to international producers is simple: the program is open and the money is there.
See the mechanics in detail on qualifying spend, the cultural test, and the audit and payment process — or model your own numbers.
Questions producers ask us
What is Hungary's film tax rebate rate?
Is the Hungarian rebate a cash rebate or a tax credit?
Is there a cap or minimum spend?
Can the rebate be financed before it is paid?
Related insights
Bring your production to Hungary.
Tell us the budget and territory. We'll model the rebate and plan the floor — and we can arrange to monetize the rebate upfront.
Model Your Rebate