Bulgaria expat tax guide
Europe · how a foreigner who moves to Bulgaria is taxed · 2026 · Mixed
If you move to Bulgaria, you become a tax resident when 183+ days in any 12-month period, or a permanent address with centre of vital interests in Bulgaria. As a resident you are taxed on a worldwide basis — Bulgarian tax residents are taxed on worldwide income at the 10% flat rate; non-residents only on Bulgarian-source income. The top personal income tax rate is 10%. A foreign pension is treated as: Taxed at the standard 10% flat rate (no dedicated pension regime); most treaties assign pension taxing rights to Bulgaria as residence country. Bulgaria has no special expat or retiree tax regime, so movers are taxed under the ordinary rules. It has a US tax treaty and lacks a US totalization agreement. Overall it reads as mixed for an inbound mover. General information, not tax advice — verify with Bulgaria's tax authority.
Source: PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries. Data as of June 2026.
Bulgaria expat tax at a glance
| Question | Bulgaria (2026) |
|---|---|
| When you become tax resident | 183+ days in any 12-month period, or a permanent address with centre of vital interests in Bulgaria |
| Residency day-count trigger | 183 days |
| How residents are taxed | Worldwide — Bulgarian tax residents are taxed on worldwide income at the 10% flat rate; non-residents only on Bulgarian-source income. |
| Top personal income tax rate | 10% |
| Foreign pension treatment | Taxed at the standard 10% flat rate (no dedicated pension regime); most treaties assign pension taxing rights to Bulgaria as residence country |
| Foreign capital gains / dividends | Capital gains taxed at 10% flat for residents; dividends (Bulgarian or foreign) subject to 5% final tax |
| Special expat / non-dom / retiree regime | None |
| US income tax treaty | Yes |
| US social-security totalization | No |
Source: PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries. Data as of June 2026.
Compiled from the primary source for Bulgaria, cross-checked against PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, the OECD, the IRS US-treaty list and the SSA totalization list. Rules change — confirm with the official tax authority. This is not tax advice.
What this means if you relocate to Bulgaria
The first thing that matters is tax residency: 183+ days in any 12-month period, or a permanent address with centre of vital interests in Bulgaria. The 183-day line is the headline trigger, but a home, family or business ties can make you resident sooner — so counting days alone is risky.
Once resident, Bulgaria taxes your worldwide income, so income earned abroad is in scope unless a treaty or special regime says otherwise. The top 10% rate only bites at the highest income band — an average earner pays less.
Foreign pensions and investments
Foreign pension: Taxed at the standard 10% flat rate (no dedicated pension regime); most treaties assign pension taxing rights to Bulgaria as residence country. Foreign capital gains and dividends: Capital gains taxed at 10% flat for residents; dividends (Bulgarian or foreign) subject to 5% final tax. These outcomes can be overridden by a double-tax treaty, which decides whether the source country or Bulgaria taxes each stream — a key reason retirees should map their specific income against the relevant treaty.
US citizens and social security in Bulgaria
| Question | Bulgaria |
|---|---|
| US income tax treaty? | Yes |
| US social-security totalization agreement? | No |
| Tax basis for residents | Worldwide |
| Top personal income tax | 10% |
A US tax treaty with Bulgaria helps reassign taxing rights and reduce withholding, and US citizens lean on the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and Foreign Tax Credit to avoid double income tax. With no totalization agreement, you can be exposed to social-security-type charges in both the US and Bulgaria. See our guides on FEIE vs the Foreign Tax Credit and totalization agreements.
Countries with a similar expat-tax profile to Bulgaria
| Country | Tax basis | Top income tax | Special regime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria (this country) | Worldwide | 10% | None |
| Romania | Worldwide | 10% | None |
| India | Mixed | 30% | Resident but Not Ordinarily Resident (RNOR) |
| Malta | Remittance basis | 35% | Remittance basis + residence programmes |
| Ireland | Mixed | 40% | Non-dom remittance basis + SARP |
| Chile | Mixed | 40% | 3-year foreign-income exemption |
Frequently asked questions
When do you become a tax resident of Bulgaria?
183+ days in any 12-month period, or a permanent address with centre of vital interests in Bulgaria. The headline trigger is 183 days. Once resident, Bulgaria taxes you on your worldwide income. This is general information for 2026, not tax advice — verify with the official authority.
How does Bulgaria tax a foreign pension?
Taxed at the standard 10% flat rate (no dedicated pension regime); most treaties assign pension taxing rights to Bulgaria as residence country. Tax treaties can reassign who taxes a pension, so the outcome depends on your nationality and the source country. Confirm with a cross-border adviser before relying on this.
Does Bulgaria have a special expat tax regime?
No. Bulgaria has no dedicated expat, non-dom or retiree income-tax regime in our dataset — a mover is taxed under the ordinary rules (worldwide basis, top rate 10%).
Is Bulgaria good for US citizens or retirees?
Bulgaria has a US income tax treaty and does not have a US social-security totalization agreement. Without a totalization agreement, you can owe social-security-type contributions in both the US and here. US citizens are taxed on worldwide income wherever they live, but the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and Foreign Tax Credit usually prevent double income tax. Not tax advice.
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Sources & accuracy
Profile for Bulgaria compiled from its primary source, cross-checked with PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, the OECD, the IRS US-treaty list and the SSA totalization list. Lowest flat PIT in the EU (10%, unchanged since 2008). No special non-dom/retiree regime. US treaty in force since 2008. No US totalization agreement. Data as of June 2026 (2026 position). This page is general information, not tax advice — tax residency and special regimes are fact-specific and change often, so verify with Bulgaria's official tax authority and a qualified cross-border adviser before acting. See our methodology and disclaimer.
Last updated: 2026-06-21