Dear Customer!
We would like to inform you that in accordance with Government Decree 508/2023 (20.11.2023), adopted on 20.11.2023, the Government has published the amount of the compulsory minimum wage (minimum wage) and the guaranteed minimum wage for 2024.
The provisions of the legislation for the first time for the month of December 2023 shall apply.
Mandatory minimum basic salary for full-time workers (minimum wage) for full-time work;
- HUF 266,800 if a monthly salary is applied,
- HUF 61.340 if a weekly wage is applied,
- 12.270 forints if a daily wage is applied,
- 1.534 HUF per hour.
By way of derogation from the above, the basic salary for a worker in a job requiring at least upper secondary education or vocational training shall be guaranteed minimum wage for full-time work;
- HUF 326,000 if a monthly salary is applied,
- 74.950 forints in the case of weekly wages,
- 14.990 HUF if a daily wage is applied,
- 1.874 forints per hour.
We would like to ask that, on the basis of the above, you kindly revise the amount of the wages set for employees, which should be at least equal to the above rate from 1 December 2023.
In the case of minimum wage workers, it is necessary to amend the employment contract in connection with the increase in the minimum wage. The binding content of the employment contract is the employee's basic salary, so the employment contract can only be amended by mutual agreement.
In order to ensure compliance with the law, it is proposed to amend the employment contract, with the proviso that any employment contract which sets a basic salary lower than the minimum wage or guaranteed minimum wage laid down in the legislation in force will be invalid. In other words, the contract will be invalid as of the entry into force of the new legislation, in this case from 1 December 2023, and will be replaced by the minimum wage or guaranteed minimum wage laid down in the government decree. The employee will therefore receive the minimum wage even if the parties have agreed a lower rate of pay in the employment contract.
In view of the use of the minimum wage beyond its role as a basic wage, it is also necessary to review the benefits and obligations attached to it.
According to the provisions of Government Decree 508/2023 (20.11.2023) on the entry into force of the new provisions, while the new provisions will apply to wages from 1 December 2023, the following provisions will apply the new minimum amounts may only be taken into account for the determination of benefits, allowances and allowances based on the amount of the minimum wage or the guaranteed minimum wage from January 2024. The new provisions on early retirement benefits and the discontinuance of service pension will also only apply for 2024. In these cases, the statutory minimum wage (minimum wage) and the guaranteed minimum wage in force on 30 November 2023 (2023) will apply until 1 January 2024 (not including budgetary support for the operation of institutions and the provision of services granted under the legislation).
Therefore, on the basis of the above IMPORTANT highlight that, contrary to expectations, the change in the minimum wage with effect from 1 December 2023 is health insurance and other will only affect the amount of benefits from 1 January 2024. Benefits assessed and paid for the month of December 2023 will be based on the previous minimum wage of HUF 232,000.
There is no different provision in the legislation regarding minimum contributions, the assessment of insured status and the public charges to be determined on the basis of the minimum wage on the liability side, so in these cases the amount of the public charge must be assessed on the basis of the Personal Income Tax Act and other relevant legislation.
Different legislation refers to the concept of minimum wage in different ways. There are also definitions of the minimum wage, the minimum wage on the first day of the year, the annual minimum wage, the current minimum wage or even the minimum wage at a particular point in time.
We have collected the definitions that we need to be aware of:
- The taxable amount under the Income Tax Act minimum wage means: unless otherwise specified, the monthly amount of the statutory minimum wage in force on the first day of the year.
- The taxable amount under the Income Tax Act annual minimum wage: twelve times the monthly amount of the statutory minimum wage in force on the first day of the year.
- Under the Social Insurance Act governing health insurance, the minimum wage: the statutory minimum monthly amount of the basic monthly wage for a full-time worker in force on the first day of the month concerned. (For the purposes of the provisions on the payment of contributions by the insured sole proprietor and co-entrepreneur, the monthly amount of the guaranteed minimum wage applicable on the first day of the month in question, for full-time work, if the main activity of the sole proprietor or the main activity of the co-entrepreneur requires at least upper secondary education or upper secondary vocational training.)
We would like to highlight a few examples - without claiming to be exhaustive - to illustrate in which cases we can expect changes from December 2023 and which areas will be affected from January 2024, as in previous years:
| Benefit / Obligation | Legal requirement | November 2023 | December 2023 | 2024. January | Legal background |
| Streamlined employment public charges | A first day of the month based on the applicable minimum wage for 1 day: for seasonal agricultural and tourist work 0,5% for casual work 1% for film industry extras 3% | 1 200 Ft/day 2 300 Ft/day7 000 Ft/day | 1 300 Ft/day 2 700 Ft/day 8 000 Ft/day | 1 300 Ft/day 2 700 Ft/day 8 000 Ft/day | EFO tv. (LXXV of 2010.) |
| Minimum wage in the case of simplified employment | At least 85% of the statutory minimum wage, or 87% in the case of a guaranteed minimum wage | 1 134 HUF/hour (minimum wage) 1 483 HUF/hour (minimum wage) | 1 304 HUF/hour (minimum wage) 1 630 HUF/hour (minimum wage) | 1 304 HUF/hour (minimum wage) 1 630 HUF/hour (minimum wage) | EFO tv. (LXXV of 2010.) |
| Exempted financial envelope for simplified employment | From on the first day of the tax year is determined on the basis of the minimum wage and minimum wage in force | 13 871 HUF/day (minimum wage) 17 719 Ft/day (minimum wage) | 13 871 HUF/day (minimum wage) 17 719 Ft/day (minimum wage) | 15 951 Ft/day (minimum wage) 19 487 Ft/day (minimum wage) | EFO tv. (LXXV of 2010.) |
| Maximum amount of tax-free advance on wages | With a maximum repayment obligation of six months, up to a maximum of valid on the date of disbursement minimum wage five times the monthly amount | 1 160 000 Ft | 1 334 000 Ft | 1 334 000 Ft | Income tax tv. (CXVII of 1995.) |
| Normal taxable part next to EKHO | A first day of the month based on the applicable minimum wage | 232 000 HUF/month | 266 800 HUF/month | 266 800 HUF/month | Ekho tv. (CXX of 2005.) |
| Obligation to pay contributions under a contract of agency | Insured person and liable to pay contributions if his/her income for the current month in respect of which contributions are payable is 30% of the minimum wage in force on the first day of the month in question, or, for calendar days, one thirtieth part thereof | 2 320 Ft/day | 2 668 Ft/day | 2 668 Ft/day | Tbj. (CXXII of 2019.) |
| Minimum threshold for the payment of duties | The contribution base is at least 30 percent of the minimum wage per month | 69 600 HUF/month | HUF 80 040/month | HUF 80 040/month | Tbj. (CXXII of 2019.) |
| Maximum daily amount of daily allowance | The amount due per day may not exceed valid on the starting date of entitlement thirtieth of twice the minimum wage | 15 466,67 Ft/day | 15 466,67 Ft/day | 17 786,67 Ft/day | under the different enacting provisions of Government Decree No 508/2023 |
| Health insurance benefits based on minimum wage | A minimum wage on the starting date of entitlement based on | 232 000 HUF/month | 232 000 HUF/month | 266 800 HUF/month | under the different enacting provisions of Government Decree No 508/2023 |
| Maximum amount of childcare allowance, adoption allowance | Every month at most the current minimum wage 70 per cent of twice as much | 324 800 HUF/month | 324 800 HUF/month | 373 520 HUF/month | under the different enacting provisions of Government Decree No 508/2023 |
| Maximum reimbursement for teleworking (in emergency situations) | Tax-free per month for monthly minimum wage on the first day of the tax year an amount equal to 10 percent of | 23 200 HUF/month | 23 200 HUF/month | 26 680 HUF/month | In the absence of any provision to the contrary, according to the Tax Act (1995. évi CXVII.) |
| Low value gift | A minimum wage goods and services of a value not exceeding 10 percent | 23 200 HUF/year | 23 200 HUF/year | 26 680 HUF/year | In the absence of any provision to the contrary, according to the Tax Act (1995. évi CXVII.) |
| Tax-free admission to sporting events, season tickets or cultural services | Each year up to a maximum of minimum wage up to the amount of | 232 000 HUF/year | 232 000 HUF/year | 266 800 HUF/year | In the absence of any provision to the contrary, according to the Tax Act (1995. évi CXVII.) |
| ECHO election ceiling | If, in the tax year, the individual has made at least annual minimum wage income subject to the general rules, you can apply the ecus to income of HUF 60 million | 2 784 000 HUF/year | 2 784 000 HUF/year | 3 201 600 HUF/year | Ekho tv. (CXX of 2005.) |
| Taxable amount of personal allowance | The benefit per month of entitlement the statutory minimum wage in force on the first day of the year one third, rounded to one hundred forints | 77 300 HUF/month | 77 300 HUF/month | 88 900 HUF/month | In the absence of any provision to the contrary, according to the Tax Act (1995. évi CXVII.) |
| REHAB contribution amount per person, per year | A minimum wage valid on the first day of the year based on | 2 088 000 HUF/person/year | 2 088 000 HUF/person/year | 2 401 200 HUF/person/year | In the absence of any provision to the contrary, according to the Tax Act (1995. évi CXVII.) |
| Basis for social contribution tax credits (and upper limit for contribution relief for disabled workers) | Every month at most minimum wage up to the amount of, to varying degrees depending on the type specified | 232 000 HUF * X%/month | 232 000 HUF * X%/month | 266 800 HUF * X%/month | In the absence of any provision to the contrary, according to the Tax Act (1995. évi CXVII.) |
| Dividend, wagering fund after exchange rate gains maximum | A minimum wage 24 times the rate | 5 568 000 HUF/year | 5 568 000 HUF/year | 6 403 200 HUF/year | In the absence of any provision to the contrary, according to the Tax Act (1995. évi CXVII.) |
Please note that this client information is based on the legislation in force on 23 November 2023, does not constitute payroll advice and is for information purposes only.
If you have any questions about any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact our accounting and tax advisory team.
Moore Hungary
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