You have a company in Bulgaria — now what? Accounting and obligations, in plain language

What do I have to do, monthly and yearly?

The rhythm is simple:

• monthly: accounting kept up to date; if you're VAT-registered, the VAT return + payment are due by the 14th of the following month (note: in Romania the deadline is the 25th — don't bring your home reflex with you);
• yearly: the annual financial report + the tax return + payment of the profit tax.

Nothing exotic, but it must be done on time — in Bulgaria deadlines are respected, and delays bring penalties.

Is it more bureaucratic than in Romania?

On the reporting side, it's generally easier:

• the monthly VAT return + payment are due by the 14th of the following month (in Romania, the deadline is the 25th);
• there's no (yet) mandatory e-Invoice and e-Transport like in Romania — for an ordinary company, less daily digital bureaucracy. (Honestly: Bulgaria is gradually introducing SAF-T reporting, but in 2026 only for large companies, expanding through 2030; small companies aren't targeted yet.)

And the difference that's felt most — how a tax audit unfolds (electronic, by email in Bulgaria, versus trips and hauled archives in Romania) — we treat separately, at length, on the dedicated tax-audits page (you'll find it below, under related articles). In short: from our experience, the relationship with the tax authority is more relaxed and more predictable.

We're not saying Romania is hell and Bulgaria heaven. We're only saying, from our experience, that the relationship with the tax authority is much more relaxed, more predictable and less stressful in Bulgaria — and for someone used to the pressure back home, that's felt day after day.

Do I absolutely need an accountant in Bulgaria?

In practice, yes. The company's accounting is kept according to Bulgarian rules, and for that you need someone who knows them — usually through a contract with a local accounting firm. It's not an expense to avoid; it's what keeps the company clean and trouble-free at an audit. With us, this part comes bundled — we don't leave you to find an accountant on your own in a language you don't speak.

How do I take the money out of the company, in practice?

The money the company earns as profit you take out for yourself as a dividend. In Bulgaria, the dividend is taxed at 5%. That's it — in Bulgaria.

But here's the nuance too many people miss: if you're a Romanian tax resident, the dividend received from the Bulgarian company is also discussed in Romania. As a resident you declare worldwide income; through the RO–BG treaty (art. 10), the 5% withheld in Bulgaria is deducted from the Romanian dividend tax (16% in 2026), via the tax-credit mechanism — in practice, you top up the difference to the Romanian rate, without double taxation. So "what actually stays in your pocket" depends on where you're resident — it's not just 5%. It's exactly the kind of calculation we do on your situation, not on a general rule.

How much does it cost me to keep the company, per year?

Mainly: the monthly accounting + the registered office (if it's an address made available to you) + possibly VAT costs. Predictable amounts you know from the start — not "surprises". These we put on the table up front, so you can compare correctly with what it costs you now in Romania.

And if I have no activity for a while?

The company still exists and still has minimum obligations — for example, if you're VAT-registered, you file the return even for months with no activity ("nil"). You can't simply "forget" about the company; but the obligations during a period with no activity are minimal and cheap to keep up.