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 applies in phases from January 1, 2026, starting with the first group of large enterprises and gradually extending to other in-scope enterprises by 2030, subject to specific exemptions.
The adoption of these requirements means that affected businesses report detailed economic activity and accounting data in a standardized electronic format to the National Revenue Agency, NRA, supporting audit readiness, tax transparency, and compliance with Bulgaria’s digital reporting framework.
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 is submitted in a standardized electronic format on a monthly basis, annually, or upon request, depending on the type of data reported.
Scope
Under the legislation, the obligation to submit SAF-T reports applies to enterprises defined in Article 2 of the Accountancy Act, where they fall within the applicable phased implementation criteria.
Several exemptions are recognized, including certain micro-enterprises not registered for VAT, non-commercial entities, budget-funded bodies, political parties, and other exempt categories under the applicable rules.
All other entities falling under Article 71h(1) are included in the SAF-T scope according to the relevant implementation phase.
Implementation Timeline
The rollout of SAF-T obligations in Bulgaria follows a phased approach between 2026 and 2030, depending on the size and financial activity of the enterprise.
- From January 1, 2026, the obligation applies to large enterprises that meet the first-phase criteria, including net sales revenue exceeding BGN 300 million for 2023 or net tax and social security payments exceeding BGN 3.5 million for 2023.
- From January 1, 2027, the obligation applies to large, medium, and small enterprises meeting the corresponding BGN 300 million revenue or BGN 3.5 million tax and social security payment thresholds based on 2024 data.
- From January 1, 2028, the obligation applies to large, medium, and small enterprises meeting the reduced thresholds of BGN 15 million net sales revenue or BGN 1.5 million tax and social security payments based on 2025 data.
- From January 1, 2029, the obligation applies to all large, medium, and small enterprises, regardless of revenue or tax payment thresholds.
- From January 1, 2030, the obligation extends to the remaining in-scope entities, including micro-enterprises where no exemption applies.
The first monthly SAF-T report for the initial 2026 phase is due by February 14, 2026, while the first annual report for 2026 is due by June 30, 2027.
Submission Requirements and Format
SAF-T reports must be submitted electronically in a standardized format defined by the National Revenue Agency. The NRA has issued technical documentation covering the SAF-T XML format, data structure, nomenclatures, 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. For each implementation wave, the first six monthly SAF-T reports may be corrected within the applicable correction window and are treated under the transitional correction rules.
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.