Bulgaria SAF-T 2025

Plans for OECD-based Standard Audit File for Tax of transactional-level VAT data

Bulgaria is set to join other countries implementing SAF-T, the OECD-backed standard schema for the exchange of information between tax payers and authorities. With the support of the European Commission, it has been reviewing existing EU implementations – including France, Poland and Portugal – for best practises before a launch potentially in 2025. This will include reviewing ledger formats, scope of data requests and transmission technical specifications.

The regime will apply to resident and non-resident tax payers (with a Bulgarian VAT number).

It is planned to announce in 2024 the formats and phased launch schedule. This indicates a likely launch of 2025 for the largest taxpayers.

Whilst SAF-T was launched over 10 years ago to standardise transaction-level data exchange for VAT reporting, most countries that have implemented it – around 10 in the EU – have diverged from the recommended schema. This creates problems for companies trading across the Single Market and the interoperability & reusability of code and processes for reporting. VATCalc’s transaction-level VAT Filer, which can produce European SAF-T reports which are fully reconciled to VAT returns.

Bulgaria e-invoicing plans are still to emerge following a public consultation in 2021.

Austria is planning to relaunch its version of SAF-T. Denmark SAF-T is due in 2024. Ukraine will implement SAF-T from 2025.

OECD Standard Audit File for Tax (SAF-T)

The OECD launched v1 of SAF-T as a standard for tax authorities and taxpayers to efficient exchange information. It is XML-based. Over 10 European countries have already adopted it.

1. General Ledger: journals;
2. Accounts Receivable: customer master files; invoices; payments;
3. Accounts Payable: supplier master file; invoices; payments;
4. Fixed Assets: asset master files; depreciation and revaluation; and
5. Inventory: product master files; movements.

Standard Audit File for Tax SAF-T countries