What are advance corporate tax instalments in Bulgaria?
Bulgarian companies whose net sales revenue in the year before the previous year was above €153,387.56 pay advance corporate tax instalments. Companies up to €1,533,875.64 pay quarterly, on 15 April, 15 July and 1 December, with no Q4 instalment. Companies above that pay monthly.
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Detailed Explanation
Bulgaria requires companies above a net sales threshold to pay advance corporate income tax during the year, based on their expected taxable profit.
Who pays advance instalments?
The NRA sets the type by net sales revenue in the year before the previous year:
- Above €1,533,875.64: monthly advance instalments
- €153,387.57 to €1,533,875.64: quarterly advance instalments
- Up to €153,387.56: no advance instalments
Newly established companies pay no advances in the year of formation and the following year, except companies formed by conversion, which pay quarterly in the year of conversion and the following year.
Quarterly instalments: due dates
- Q1: by 15 April
- Q2: by 15 July
- Q3: by 1 December
- Q4: no instalment
Monthly instalments: due dates
January, February and March instalments are due by 15 April. April to November instalments are due by the 15th of each month. The December instalment is due by 1 December.
Declaring the instalments
A declaration under Articles 87a and 88 CITA states the type and amount of advances for the year. It is filed electronically with a qualified electronic signature between 1 March and 15 April, and changes can be filed by 15 November. A change takes effect only after it is filed. To change the December monthly instalment or the Q3 quarterly instalment, file by 15 November.
Late payment
Late payment is subject to sanction interest under Article 89 CITA. The NRA page does not state the rate. The final balance of the tax is paid with the annual return, by 30 June of the following year.
Source: nra.bg
Real-World Examples
Quarterly payer
A Bulgarian OOD had net sales of €500,000 in the year before the previous year. It pays quarterly advances: Q1 by 15 April, Q2 by 15 July and Q3 by 1 December. It makes no Q4 payment. The remaining balance is paid by 30 June of the following year.
Monthly payer
A larger OOD had net sales of €2,000,000 in the year before the previous year. It pays monthly advances: January to March by 15 April, April to November by the 15th of each month, and December by 1 December.
New company in first year, no instalment obligation
A startup EOOD incorporated in March 2026 pays no advance instalments in 2026 or 2027. It pays its tax with the annual return, by 30 June of the following year.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the old dates of 15 October and 15 December: the Q3 instalment is due by 1 December and there is no Q4 instalment.
- Basing the obligation on prior-year tax: the NRA uses net sales revenue in the year before the previous year.
- Forgetting to declare the type and amount of advances between 1 March and 15 April.
- Missing the 15 November deadline to change the December monthly or the Q3 quarterly instalment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I miss a quarterly advance CIT instalment payment?
Late payment is subject to sanction interest under Article 89 CITA. The NRA page does not state the rate.
Do advance instalments apply to VAT as well as CIT?
No. Advance instalment obligations apply only to corporate income tax. VAT is paid with the monthly VAT return by the 14th of the following month.
Can I change my advance instalments during the year?
Yes. A change to the declared advances, up or down, can be filed by 15 November. It takes effect only after it is filed.
Practical Tips
- At the start of each year, check your net sales for the year before the previous year against the €153,387.56 and €1,533,875.64 thresholds, and set reminders for the quarterly or monthly dates.
- Declare the type and amount of advances between 1 March and 15 April.
- Build the instalments into your cash flow forecast, with Q3 due by 1 December and no Q4 payment.
- Keep records of every advance payment with its date and amount.
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