New Rule: No Receipt, No Payment - Bulgarian MPs Announce Policy Change

Bulgarian MPs have greenlit a significant shift in consumer rights, deciding that individuals won't be obliged to pay for goods or services if they haven't received a proper receipt. This groundbreaking decision alters the landscape for customers who previously had little recourse if they didn't receive a receipt.

The revised policy allows consumers who fail to obtain a receipt for a purchased item or service to withhold payment until they are provided with the necessary documentation. This change in legislation, proposed by Venko Sabrutev of the WCC-DB party, diverges from the previously popular notion colloquially known as the "free lunch" rule.

Interestingly, the approval of this measure was leveraged by Irena Dimova of GERB-SDS in advocating to maintain the 9% VAT for restaurateurs.

Another significant amendment to the Corporate Income Tax Act was also passed, imposing a 15% tax rate on companies with turnovers exceeding 750 million euros. However, this tax won't apply to investments and is set to be effective from January 1, 2025.