Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Finance Ministry proposes increase of VAT for restaurant business back to 20%

Photo: Ani Petrova, BNR

The VAT rate for restaurateurs to become 20% again is one of the measures in the tax laws proposed by the Ministry of Finance. During the Covid epidemic, the tax rate for the industry was reduced to 9%. According to Minister Asen Vasilev, its restoration to pre-coronavirus levels has been discussed with the restaurant industry.

Assen Vassilev has received the assurance of their representatives that they will develop measures to lighten the business, as well as to raise the insurance thresholds of workers above the minimum wage. "If the effect of lightening is greater than raising the rate, we can consider possibly to keep the 9% rate, but only if a very serious complex of measures comes into play", emphasized the minister.

Among other measures discussed is the return of the patent tax for the smallest traders. Basic taxes for citizens and businesses remain unchanged.

As for next year's state budget, the goal is to keep the deficit within the 3% of the Gross Domestic Product permitted under Maastricht.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

The Vezhen to continue its voyage to South America

Navigation Maritime Bulgare (Navibulgar) has announced that the sulphur-laden Vezhen, released by the Swedish authorities, will stop in Denmark for repairs and then continue its voyage to South America - Uruguay and Argentina - with minor crew changes...

published on 2/3/25 3:48 PM

Government may request extraordinary convergence report after February 17, says PM Zhelyazkov

The government will request an extraordinary convergence report to assess Bulgaria's readiness to join the eurozone. This is what Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov told journalists in Brussels, quoted by BTA.  He confirmed that joining the eurozone..

published on 2/3/25 3:09 PM

Swedish authorities release cargo ship Vezhen

The Vezhen, detained for damaging a fibre optic cable in the Baltic Sea, has been released. The investigation found no evidence of sabotage. This was announced by the Swedish prosecutor's office. A few days ago, the Bulgarian vessel Vezhen, flying..

published on 2/3/25 2:04 PM