Bulgaria officially adopts SAF-T requirements starting in 2026
On March 21, 2025, the Bulgarian National Assembly adopted the 2025 State Budget, which formally introduced the obligation for businesses to submit the Standard Audit File for Tax (SAF-T). As outlined in the Tax and Social Security Procedure Code, SAF-T reporting will become mandatory for large enterprises starting January 1, 2026, with a phased implementation that will gradually extend to all enterprises by 2030, subject to a few exemptions. The adoption of these requirements means that affected businesses must now begin preparing to report detailed economic activity and accounting data in a standardized electronic format to the National Revenue Agency (NRA), ensuring full compliance with the new audit and tax transparency standards.
What is the SAF-T Report?
The Standard Audit File for Tax Purposes (SAF-T) is an international standard developed by the OECD to allow the electronic exchange of accounting data between businesses and tax authorities. In Bulgaria, the SAF-T report will include detailed information on business activity and accounting data. The report must be submitted in a standardized format either monthly, annually, or upon request, depending on the type of information it contains.
Scope
Under the new legislation, the obligation to submit SAF-T reports applies to all enterprises defined in Article 2 of the Accountancy Act. However, several exemptions are recognized. These include micro-enterprises not registered for VAT, certain non-commercial entities, and specific categories of organizations such as budget-funded bodies and political parties. All other entities falling under Article 71h(1) will be required to comply.
Implementation Timeline
The rollout of SAF-T obligations in Bulgaria will follow a phased approach between 2026 and 2030, depending on the size and financial activity of the enterprise. Starting from January 1, 2026, large enterprises with over BGN 300 million in 2023 revenue, or BGN 3.5 million in net tax payments will be required to submit SAF-T reports. In 2027 and 2028, the scope will widen to include smaller enterprises meeting similar or slightly reduced financial thresholds. By 2029, all large, medium, and small enterprises will be covered, regardless of revenue. Full adoption will be completed by January 1, 2030, when all remaining entities within the scope of Article 71h(1) must comply. The first monthly report will be due by February 14, 2026, while the first annual report for 2026 will be due by June 30, 2027.
Submission Requirements and Format
SAF-T reports must be submitted electronically in a standardized format defined by an upcoming order of the Executive Director of the National Revenue Agency (NRA). This order will detail the file structure, nomenclatures for standardizing reportable data, and validation rules.
Monthly submissions are required for general accounting data, with files due by the 14th of the month following the reporting period. Data on fixed assets is to be submitted annually by the corporate income tax return deadline, while inventory-related data must be provided upon request by the revenue authority.
Businesses are not required to submit SAF-T files for the first six months after becoming liable. Corrections are allowed during the following six months and are considered timely if resubmitted by the seventh month’s deadline. Corrections are only permitted for the first six reporting periods.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Failure to submit a SAF-T report on time, will lead to administrative sanctions. Legal entities and sole proprietors face fines of between BGN 5,000 and BGN 15,000, which double for repeated violations, ranging from BGN 10,000 to BGN 30,000. The NRA may also request SAF-T reports on demand, and failure to comply will be penalized accordingly.
How can SNI help you?
The SNI SAFT Bulgaria solution is equipped with a set of customizable tables designed to capture all the necessary information required by the Bulgarian Tax Authority. These tables can be easily mapped and configured according to your specific business needs, ensuring seamless integration with local tax reporting standards. By leveraging this configuration, the solution enables the generation of desired reports in the prescribed XML format, which comply with OECD standard, ensuring full compliance with Bulgarian tax requirements. Furthermore, all generated reports are conveniently collected and displayed in a user-friendly cockpit, making it simple to manage and track your compliance activities. With the SNI SAFT Bulgaria solution, you can confidently ensure your business stays fully compliant with the SAF-T regulations in Bulgaria.