The government aims to help all families acquire a home of their own. In addition to the CSOK home purchase subsidy scheme and the preferential VAT rate on home construction, families can also receive assistance with their housing loan repayment or home purchase from employers as part of the cafeteria benefit system, Tállai said.

The state secretary said this option could benefit more than 600,000 housing loan holders. In addition to housing loan repayment, the tax-free support can also be used for buying a new or resale home, home construction, refurbishment or making a home wheelchair-accessible or expanding it by at least one bedroom.

Employers can offer 30% of the value of the home or a maximum five million forints over five years as tax-free support for this purpose.

Data submitted to the tax authority show that, in 2016, 41,000 employees reduced their housing loan by a combined 18 billion forints thanks to this option, Tállai added.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.