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.
- General Ledger: journals;
- Accounts Receivable: customer master files; invoices; payments;
- Accounts Payable: supplier master file; invoices; payments;
- Fixed Assets: asset master files; depreciation and revaluation; and
- Inventory: product master files; movements.
Standard Audit File for Tax SAF-T countries
Country (click for details) | Date | Scope | |
13 | Ukraine | Jan 2025 | Phased 2025 to 2027 implementation |
12 | Bulgaria | Jan 2025 | Phased introduction over two years |
11 | Denmark | Jan 2024 | Phased implementation from 2024 |
10 | Romania | Jan 2022 | Mandatory monthly filings initially large taxpayers (due Jan 2023) |
9 | EU OSS & IOSS | Jul 2021 | On-demand for sellers, marketplaces or Intermediaries |
8 | Norway | 2020 | Replaced VAT return 2022 |
7 | Angola | 2019 | On-demand |
6 | Lithuania | 2019 | On-demand; residents and non-residents above €30,000 sales threshold |
5 | Poland | 2016 | Mandatory, monthly replaced VAT return Oct 2020 |
4 | France | 2014 | On-demand |
3 | Luxembourg | 2011 | On-demand |
2 | Austria | 2009 | On-demand |
1 | Portugal | 2009 | Monthly for residents and non-residents (Jun 2022) |