Modelled on the government portal, the so-called business gate has now been created. Affected companies have until 30 August 2017 to register their official contact details for online communication, but there is a grace period until the end of 2017.
But what is the business gate?
Based on the government portal that can be used by private individuals, the business gate is mandatory for companies. The business gate is used for electronic communications with official bodies and authorities, i.e. companies can send and receive documents online in official matters. The law may enable companies to handle certain procedures online that otherwise require a representative to appear in person, so in principle this could make it easier to take care of official matters.
Where can you knock on the business gate?
The registration page for the business gate can be found at cegkapu.gov.hu. During the registration process, the person representing the company or their proxy log into the application (this step may require access to the government portal), select the type of company to be registered, and enter the required data. Afterwards, the registration application contacts the relevant certified public registers and carries out checks; if the registration is successful the application stores the registered data and sends certified confirmation electronically.
Who has to register?
Act CCXXII of 2015 on the General Rules of Electronic Administration and Trust Services obliges companies in operation from 1 January 2017 onwards to register their contact details for electronic communications, in line with the law, by 30 August 2017 (more information on this can be found on the website of Nemzeti Infokommunikációs Szolgáltató Zrt. (National Infocommunications Service Company – NISZ). Based on the relevant government decree, the NISZ provides all business organisations with storage of 300 MB for electronic communications, free of charge. However, the NISZ ensures that all documents sent will be received regardless of their size.
Transitional rules
There is a grace period until 31 December 2017, which means if a company must register for electronic communications based on the law, and the body handling this electronic administration does not know the electronic contact details of that company, then initially contact will be made in a letter, drawing the company’s attention to the fact it may only file its submissions and documents electronically, and highlighting the legal consequences of failing to do so. According to the Act on Business Associations, the business gate, i.e. a company’s official electronic contact details, must be included in the company register from 1 January 2018; prior to this date, companies may request that this information be registered.
