The tax treaty
Ended
The United States ended its income tax treaty with Hungary, so treaty rates no longer apply. Dividends, interest and royalties from US sources are withheld at the standard 30%. The United States ended the treaty with effect from 2024.
Stripe
Available locally
Stripe takes businesses registered in Hungary, so you don't need a US company to use it. A US LLC gets you a US Stripe account instead, paid out in dollars to a US bank, which helps when most of your customers are American.
Banking
Mercury available
Mercury opens accounts remotely for US companies whose founders live in Hungary. It asks for the EIN, the formation documents, your passport, a real business address and a description of the company's existing or planned US operations. Relay asks a non-US owner for a US address, an ITIN or Social Security Number and a US operating presence, so it rarely suits a founder living in Hungary.
The time difference
UTC+2
New York is 6 hours behind Hungary in summer. Everything we do is in writing, through your dashboard and email, and we reply within one business day, so the time difference rarely slows anything down.