site.btaEuro Information Campaign Takes to Six More Cities

The benefits for Bulgarian tourism from the adoption of the euro, whether price tags on goods will need to be changed after January 1, 2026, and in which currency incomes will be declared and taxes paid starting next year were among the topics discussed on Wednesday during information meetings across the country. The meetings, part of the National Campaign for the Introduction of the Euro in Bulgaria, took place in Smolyan, Devnya, Oryahovo, Dimitrovgrad, Popovo, and Zemen.

“Bulgaria is becoming an even more attractive and secure tourist destination as part of the eurozone,” said Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh during an information event in Smolyan. According to him, the sector is ready for the euro, as hoteliers, restaurateurs, and tour operators have long been working with the single European currency. Borshosh noted that joining the eurozone will not make Bulgaria a better or worse economy, but rather a more competitive one. He emphasized the major role of Bulgarian tourism in less economically developed regions, adding that the jobs created by the sector can be one of the solutions to the demographic crisis in the less developed parts of the country.

During an information meeting in Popovo, Antoniya Stoycheva, Director of the Targovishte office of the National Revenue Agency, explained the obligations of taxpayers in the context of the transition from the lev to the euro.

Tax and social insurance declarations in Bulgaria will continue to be submitted in leva until January 1, 2026, after which they will be submitted in euro for income received after that date. In tax declarations filed for a future tax period, amounts must be reported in the currency that is official in the country at the time of submission.

After January 1, 2026, all public payments owed to the state and municipalities, including income taxes, will be paid and collected in euro. During the dual circulation period, when cash payments for public obligations are allowed, payments may still be made in leva. This generally applies to local taxes and fees. However, for public liabilities owed to the National Revenue Agency (NRA), since those are paid non-cash, they will be in euro, explained Stoycheva.

During an information meeting in Oryahovo, experts from the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) said that starting October 8, traders who violate the requirements of the Euro Introduction Act will be sanctioned. According to them, it is important that price labels are in a single color to avoid misleading consumers.

“If the price in euro is marked in one color and the price in leva in another, this could mislead customers,” said Galya Stefanova from the office in Vratsa.

In response to a merchant’s question about whether labels must be changed after January 1, it transpired that this is not necessary. What matters is that after August 8 next year, all prices must be displayed only in euro.

Sanctions for traders who do not comply with the requirements of the Euro Introduction Act will be significant, said Alexander Kolyachev, acting chairman of the Consumer Protection Commission, during another information meeting held on Wednesday in Dimitrovgrad.

According to him, traders are adapting well to the current situation, which is a good sign for a smooth transition from the lev to the single European currency. Overall, the number of violations so far has been insignificant compared to the number of inspections carried out, added the acting CPC chairman.

In cases where consumers notice problems, they are advised to use the mobile application developed by the Consumer Protection Commission. The application includes a currency conversion calculator, and recently, a label scanning function has been added to check the accuracy of price displays.

During an informational meeting in Devnya, CPC experts pointed out that after January 1, traders will be required to give change only in euro, and only in leva if there is not enough euro available, but not a mix of both currencies.

For discounted items, the old price should be shown only in leva, while the new price must be displayed in both currencies.

At an informational meeting in Zemen, CPC representatives drew attention to the risk of fraud targeting elderly people in small settlements. They warned against trusting strangers who approach them on the street or come to their homes offering to “help” exchange their pensions or savings into euros.

“This is clearly a scam. Please don’t place blind trust in such people and be cautious,” said Katerina Sheremeteva, Chief Inspector at the CPC’s Blagoevgrad Regional Office.