A VAT Refund Guide to
Bulgaria
How to get VAT Refunds from Bulgaria for your business
Businesses registered in countries outside of Bulgaria can claim VAT refunds on any costs incurred in Bulgaria.
The below information details the requirements needed to be eligible for a VAT refund. This includes claimable expense types, Bulgaria VAT rates, deadlines and claiming periods.
Where is your company based?
EU
based businesses
VAT-registered businesses in an EU member state are eligible to recover VAT on business costs from Bulgaria under the EU VAT Refund Directive.
NON-EU
based businesses
VAT-registered businesses outside of the European Union are eligible to recover VAT on business costs from Bulgaria under the 13th Directive.
Which countries have reciprocity with Bulgaria?
All countries can claim.
For a more detailed explanation on what reciprocity means within the scope of VAT, click here:
What expenses are claimable in Bulgaria?
ENTERTAINMENT & HOSPITALITY
Entertainment
0%
Hotels & Accommodation
9%
Restaurants
20%
EVENTS
Conferences, Trade Shows & Exhibitions
20%
Training Courses & Seminars
20%
GENERAL EXPENSES
Goods
20%
Inter-company charges
20%
Office Expenses
20%
Marketing Costs
20%
Professional Fees & AP invoices
20%
TRAVEL RELATED
Car Rental
0%
Fuel
20%
For trucks only
Public Transport
20%
Taxis
0%
Additional Information
How far back can your business claim VAT from Bulgaria?
January to December of the previous year
What’s the foreign VAT deadline in Bulgaria?
30 June of each year (Within 6 months of the end of the calendar year in which the tax was incurred)
How long does it take to receive a VAT refund from Bulgaria?
Depending on the complexity of your application and the capacity at the VAT authority, it can take up to 5 months to receive a VAT refund from Bulgaria
Need help with your VAT refund from Bulgaria?
You don’t have to do this alone. We’ve been helping companies reclaim foreign VAT refunds for over 20 years. We have the knowledge and technology to process your refunds quicker as well as attend to any unforeseen VAT authority queries that may arise.
Download a full international VAT guide and never miss a deadline
