Transfer tax
Austria
When the shares in an Austrian company are directly or indirectly transferred, no transfer tax (stamp duty) of the consideration is payable in relation to the transfer of shares in such Austrian company. An exception therefrom applies if Austrian real estate is involved in the case of which a share transfer (either directly or indirectly) may trigger Austrian real estate transfer tax.
Czech Republic
When the shares in a Czech company are directly or indirectly transferred, no transfer tax (stamp duty) of the consideration is payable in relation to the transfer of shares in such Czech company.
Poland
Transfer of shares in a Polish company generally attracts taxation with Civil Law Activities Tax (CLAT), a transfer tax which is due at 1% of the transaction (market) value and is payable by the buyer. Certain exemptions exist which are worth exploring prior to the transaction, which depend on the type of the equity subject to transfer and the parties to the transaction.
Hungary
In transactions involving the direct or indirect transfer of shares in a Hungarian company, no general transfer tax or stamp duty is payable on the consideration for the share transfer. However, Hungarian law provides a key exception where the target company qualifies as a real estate holding company. In such cases, the transfer of shares may trigger real estate transfer tax (RETT).
RETT becomes applicable if the purchaser, either alone or jointly with others being non-independent natural or legal persons, acquires at least 75% of the shares in a company that owns Hungarian real estate, and such real estate constitutes at least 75% of the company’s total assets. If both thresholds are met, the transfer, whether direct or indirect, is subject to RETT.
The tax is levied at 4% on the portion of the real estate's market value up to HUF 1 billion, and 2% on the portion exceeding that threshold, with a cap of HUF 200 million per property.
Slovakia
In Slovakia, there are no stamp duties or real estate transfer taxes. Transfers of individual assets, entire businesses, or shareholdings are therefore only subject to relatively minor administrative fees, such as notarial certification of signatures or registration charges in the relevant public registers.