Bulgaria outcompetes other EU member states by offering the best of both worlds and offers fabulous opportunities for both companies and individuals.
Several European countries apply an attractive corporate tax regime but tend to neglect the personal income tax aspect. Bulgaria outcompetes other EU member states by offering the best of both worlds and offers fabulous opportunities for both companies and individuals. Bulgaria’s flat tax framework is undoubtedly exceptional from a EU perspective.
1. Corporate tax: Bulgaria has one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the EU, namely 10%. Bulgaria also signed nearly 70 double tax treaties!
2. Personal income tax: Bulgaria has the LOWEST personal income tax rate in the EU, 10% and a dividend tax of only 5%.
3. Wages: The wages in Bulgaria are one of the lowest in Europe. Also the minimum salary is the lowest in the EU.Furthermore,the social security contributions on salaries are very low.
4. Business costs: Bulgaria is a very cheap country for doing business. The business costs are the lowest in the EU.
5. Labour force: Bulgaria has a highly-qualified, well-motivated, flexible and multilingual labour force. A few figures:60 000 students annually graduate from 51 universities, 98% of the high school students study a foreign language (usually English) and 73% study a thirdlanguage (mainly German, French, Spanish, Russian).
6. Outsourcing: Bulgaria is the best destination in Europe for the development of outsourcing based on the ranking of ‘Cushman & Wakefield’.
7. Less financial risk: The Bulgarian lev (BGN)is fixed to the EUR(1 EUR = 1.9558 BGN). Banking is possible in euros. You will find that all the major banks in Bulgaria provide English E-banking.
8: Company incorporation: It takes only one day to register a new company. The minimal start-up capital is only 1 EUR and you will be provided with your VAT-number several working days later. In general there are less restrictions and administrative procedures than for instance in Western Europe.
9. EU-funds: There are plenty of opportunities to get EU-funding for your projects in Bulgaria. Government policy is also focused on building a favourable business climate for foreign investors.
10: Safe and stable:Bulgaria has a low crime rate. Bulgaria is a stable democracy and full part of the EU, WTO and NATO with the second lowest government debt in the EU.
Bulgaria is situated in South Eastern Europe and is bordered by Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, the Black Sea to the east and Romania to the north. The capital is Sofia, Bulgarian is the official language and Cyrillic is the official script.
Bulgaria has a population of 7.4 million people and the official currency is the lev (BGN), which is pegged to the euro at the fixed rate of EUR 1 for BGN 1,95583. 
Bulgaria applies a worldwide income tax system and residents are taxable on their worldwide income. Bulgarian companies are subject to a flat tax rate of 10% and the taxable profit is the annual financial result adjusted for tax purposes.
Bulgaria also levies a flat personal income tax rate of 10%.
Taken into account certain limitations and conditions (including the EU state aid restrictions), a tax holiday allows companies to reduce the amount of the annual corporate income tax due on their profits derived from manufacturing activities.
Special purpose investment companies, close-ended licensed investment companies and collective investment schemes authorized for public offering in Bulgaria are exempt from corporate income tax.
There are special corporate tax regimes applicable to (1) commercial maritime shipping companies, (2) gambling businesses, and (3) other entities such as governmental institutions.
Taken into account certain limitations and conditions (including the EU state aid restrictions), a tax holiday allows companies to reduce the amount of the annual corporate income tax due on their profits derived from manufacturing activities.
Special purpose investment companies, close-ended licensed investment companies and collective investment schemes authorized for public offering in Bulgaria are exempt from corporate income tax.
There are special corporate tax regimes applicable to (1) commercial maritime shipping companies, (2) gambling businesses, and (3) other entities such as governmental institutions.
Saving taxes is one of the reasons why many businesspeople and companies have chosen to set up a company in Bulgaria. Bulgaria offers an excellent fiscal climate: a flat corporate income tax rate of 10%, a flat personal income tax rate of 10%, a dividend tax of 5% (dividends distributed to parent companies in the EU are taxed at 0%) and a wide network of double tax treaties.
Bulgaria is situated in South Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, the Black sea to the east, and Romania to the north. The territory of the country is 110,994 square kilometres. The population is estimated at 7,37 million people. Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic and is a member of the EU, NATO, the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The capital is Sofia, Bulgarian is the official language and Cyrillic is the official script. The currency is the lev (BGN).
Doing business in Bulgaria and enjoying Bulgaria’s fiscal friendly climate is easier than you might think. Bulgaria offers excellent opportunities to companies and entrepreneurs from within the EU to minimise taxes. According to the EU’s freedom of movement principle, you are allowed to do business anywhere in the EU. The European Court confirmed that the freedom of movement also includes moving (part of) a company to another member state for taxation purposes only.
There are six types of companies which are appropriate for doing business in Bulgaria. All Bulgarian companies, irrespective of the type, should be registered in (1) the commercial register of the district court located in the area where the business will be situated, (2) the local tax office, and (3) the National Statistical Institute.
Limited liability company (OOD)
A limited liability company (OOD) is a commercial company formed by one or more natural or legal persons who are liable for the company’s obligations up to the amount of their contributions to the company’s registered capital. The minimum start-up capital is BGN 2, which must be divided into shares with registered value of no less than BGN 1. In case the registered capital of the company is higher than BGN 2, a minimum of 70% of the share capital must be paid upon foundation of the company. A OOD is governed by a board of directors.
Single person limited liability company (EOOD)
An OOD of which the capital is owned by a single natural or legal person is called a single person limited liability company (EOOD). The person who owns the capital appoints a board of directors (or a managing director) to run the business. The legal requirements for the foundation of an EOOD are the same as the requirements for an OOD.
Joint stock company (AD)
A joint stock company (AD) is a company of which the capital stock is divided into shares. The company is liable for its obligations and duties with its assets. Bulgarian law requires insurance companies and banks to be registered as AD. A joint stock company can be formed by one or more natural or legal persons. There is a minimum capital requirement of BGN 50,000.
Holding company
According to the Bulgarian Commercial Code, a holding company must be a joint stock company, a partnership limited by shares or a limited liability company. The purpose of a holding company is to participate, under any form, in other companies or in their management. At least 25% of the capital stock of a holding company must be invested directly in subsidiary companies. A subsidiary company is a company in which a holding company owns or controls, directly or indirectly, at least 25% of the stocks or shares and is in a position to appoint, directly or indirectly, a majority of the directors.
Joint venture
A company formed jointly by a Bulgarian and a foreign partner is also known as a joint venture. There are no limitations regarding the extent of the foreign participation in a joint venture. It can be established as one of the forms of the business entities mentioned in the Bulgarian Commercial Code.
Branches
A legal entity registered in another country can establish a branch in Bulgaria. However, this can be done only if the necessary legal registration in the country of domicile has been completed. A registered branch is not regarded as a legal entity.
The corporate income tax applies to companies and partnerships established under Bulgarian law and permanent establishments of non-resident entities in Bulgaria. The corporate tax rate is 10% and is calculated on the taxable profit. The taxable profit is the annual financial result adjusted for tax purposes.
The taxable income for calculating withholding tax includes seven types of income when accrued to a non-resident entity:
The withholding tax rates are as follows:
If tax treaties are applicable, the rates of withholding tax can be reduced.
Tax holiday
Taken into account certain limitations and conditions (including the EU state aid restrictions), a tax holiday allows for a reduction of the amount of the annual corporate income tax due on profits from manufacturing activities.
Exemptions from corporate tax
Special purpose investment companies, close-ended licensed investment companies and collective investment schemes authorised for public offering in Bulgaria are exempt from corporate income tax.
Special corporate tax regimes
There are special corporate tax regimes for (1) commercial maritime shipping companies, (2) gambling businesses and (3) other entities, such as government institutions.
Bulgaria has concluded double tax treaties with the following countries Albania (2005), Algeria (2007), Armenia (2005), Austria (2005), Azerbaijan (2009), Belarus (2005), Belgium (2005), Canada (2005), China (2005), Croatia (2005), Cyprus (2005), Czech republic (2005), Denmark (2005), Egypt (2005), Estonia (2009), Finland (2005), France (2005), Georgia (2005), Germany (2005), Greece (2005), Hungary (2005), India (2005), Indonesia (2005), Iran (2007), Ireland (2005), Israel (2005), Italy (2005), Japan (2004), Jordan (2009), Kazakhstan (2005), Kuwait (2005), Lebanon (2005), Luxembourg (2005), Latvia (2007), Lithuania (2007), Macedonia (2005), Malta (2005), Morocco (2005), Moldova (2005), Mongolia (2005), The Netherlands (2005), Norway (2005), Poland (2005), Portugal (2005), Romania (2005), Russian Federation (2005), Spain (2005), Singapore (2005), Slovakia (2005), Slovenia (2005), South Africa (2007), South Korea (2005), Sweden (2005), Switzerland (2005), Syria (2005), Thailand (2005), Turkey (2005), Ukraine (2005), United Arab Emirates (2009), United Kingdom (2005), United States (2009), Uzbekistan (2007), Vietnam (2005), Zimbabwe (2005)