The annual amount of fringe benefits for the SZÉP card (recreation amount) remains up to HUF 450,000 in 2025. In terms of usability, minor changes have been made to the scope of the restricted-access payment account (accommodation services, hot kitchen dining venues, leisure activities):

Instead of the physical well-being activities (TEÁOR’08 96.04), bathing, sauna, and steam bath activities (TEÁOR’25 96.23) have been added.

Two additional new services can also be used with the SZÉP card:

• for physiotherapy care (TEÁOR’25 86.95) and
• for traditional, complementary, and alternative medical care (TEÁOR’25 86.96).

II. Use of SZÉP Card amounts for home renovation

A significant change is that in 2025, up to 50% of the recreational amount on the SZÉP card available as of 1 January 2025, and the amounts transferred by the employer during the year, can be used for home renovation.

The usage for home renovation is restricted to products purchased from merchants engaged in the following activities:

• Hardware, construction materials, paint and glass (retailers according to TEÁOR’25 47.52, excluding sauna, swimming and massage pool retail)
• Furniture, lighting equipment, dishes, cutlery and other household items (retail activities from TEÁOR’25 47.55 for furniture and lighting equipment)
• Non-food mixed goods (retailers according to TEÁOR’25 47.12, excluding clothing, cosmetics, jewellery, toys, sports goods)
• Carpets, wall, and floor coverings (retail activities from TEÁOR’25 47.53 for wall and floor coverings)

It is important to note that the SZÉP card funds cannot be used for labour costs (services) related to home renovation.

III. Active Hungarians sub-account

A novelty is that the annual amount of fringe benefits on the SZÉP Card in 2025 is supplemented by a maximum of HUF 120,000 per year, which can be transferred to a new sub-account, the Active Hungarians sub-account.

There is no interoperability between the amounts credited to the restricted-access payment account (accommodation services, hot kitchen catering, leisure "pockets") and the Active Hungarians sub-account. This means that the amounts can only be recorded in the account specified by the employer (restricted-access payment account or Active Hungarians sub-account) and can only be used to pay for the services corresponding to the account.

The employer may transfer a benefit of up to HUF 60,000 per calendar semester to the Active Hungarians sub-account for the employee. The next semester's benefit is conditional on the employee declaring to the employer that they have already spent 80% of the amount transferred to the Active Hungarians sub-account in the previous semester.

The amounts transferred to the Active Hungarians sub-account can only be used by the cardholder. In contrast, the restricted-access payment account allows close relatives with a supplementary card to have the same rights over the SZÉP Card benefit amount as the cardholder.

The usability of the Active Hungarians sub-account and the restricted-access payment account is partially the same. However, certain leisure services can only be accessed from the restricted-purpose payment account or the Active Hungarians sub-account. Details are summarized in the tables below.

 

Services available from restricted-access payment account and Active Hungarians sub-account
Activity	TEÁOR Code
Fitness activities	TEÁOR’25 93.13
Operation of sports facilities	Rental of sports fields, sale of swimming pool tickets and passes from TEÁOR’25 93.11
Activities of sport clubs	TEÁOR’25 93.12.
Sports and recreation education	TEÁOR’25 85.51.
Renting and leasing of recreational and sports goods	TEÁOR’25 77.21

 

Services available only from restricted-access payment account
Activity	TEÁOR Code
Sports activities not classified elsewhere	Activities of competition and riding stables, sport fishing, and registration fees for sports events and leisure sports events from TEÁOR’25 93.19
Amusement and recreation activities not classified elsewhere	Services from TEÁOR’25 93.29 including leisure park and beach services, ski slope and sports marina services, as well as rental of equipment for relaxation and leisure provided by the operator of the leisure facility

 

Services available only from Active Hungarians sub-account
Activity	TEÁOR Code
Passenger transport by cableway, ski lift	TEÁOR’25 49.34, excluding freight transport by cableway
Sports activities not classified elsewhere	TEÁOR’25 93.19.
Amusement and recreation activities not classified elsewhere	Rental of leisure and entertainment equipment as an integral part of recreational facilities, operation of airsoft and paintball fields, and operation of picnic areas from TEÁOR’25 93.29

 

IV. Digital SZÉP Card

According to the new regulations, from 1 September 2025, the Széchenyi Pihenő Card must be issued by the financial service provider as a cash-replacement payment instrument that can be digitized onto an info-communication device in plastic form, which can be read by an electronic acceptance terminal. This means that the card will continue to be used for limited purposes (such as accommodation, meals, relaxation), but will also be usable on digital devices, i.e., through mobile applications or digital wallets.