site.btaNational Revenue Agency Has Imposed Fines Totalling BGN 200,000 Over Euro Changeover Violations

The National Revenue Agency (NRA) has imposed fines amounting to almost BGN 200,000 due to violations during the introduction of the euro , said Anna Mitova, head of NRF’s communications department, following a joint inspection by NRA inspectors and the Commission for Consumer Protection (CCP) at a parking lot in the centre of the capital.

At present, the NRA is imposing the minimum fine, which is BGN 5,000. “We will inspect all establishments that have raised prices again, and if a repeated violation is found, the fine may reach BGN 100,000,” she said, adding that inspections are ongoing.

“Our data show that traders are generally compliant, and violations are found in less than 10% percent,” Mitova said.

According to her, the NRA is currently processing a large amount of information from inspections, as traders have five working days to submit documents containing information about prices before January 1 and afterwards, and if there has been any increase, they must provide an explanation for the reason behind it.

The NRA has received about 1,000 reports, and inspectors are working on them as a priority, she said, adding that the reports concern various commercial establishments, many of them related to food products. According to her, citizens also submit supporting evidence with their reports.

Mitova stressed that the NRA’s regular and planned inspections are being reduced, with priority given to work on submitted reports.

Tsvetislava Lakova, a member of the Commission for Consumer Protection, stated that the Commission is also receiving many reports. “Last week we began joint inspections together with the NRA,” she said.

Lakova explained that 14 commercial establishments had been inspected, and in five of them unjustified price increases were identified.

Regarding the inspection of the parking lot in central Sofia, she said that a report had been received about prices being increased by more than 50%. “We have inspected over 80 parking facilities across the country, and in 15 of them we have identified price increases,” Lakova added.

Anna Mitova denied reports circulating in the public space that the period of dual circulation of the lev and the euro would be extended beyond January.