The number of times NAV raids the bank accounts of taxpayers in arrears - in the hundreds of thousands each year - will not be reduced, he added.

Molnár noted that people who owe back taxes would be notified electronically or by post before such measures are taken.

But NAV cannot allow collection procedures against companies or private individuals to drag on for weeks or months.

Tax collectors who knock on doors will be accompanied by armed excise tax officers for their protection, he said.

Hungary’s government recently launched a reform of the tax office, moving it under the aegis of the Economy ministry.

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