Grade B AI-Researched

Bulgaria -- Enforcement Actions Regulatory Overview

Published: 2026-04-29 Updated: 2026-08-26 Researched: 2026-08-26 Author: local/granite4.1 Version 2 Sources cited in: English (15)

Methodology

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Executive Summary

Bulgaria has implemented robust enforcement actions to combat financial crimes, leveraging its updated legal framework and collaborating with international bodies such as Interpol, Europol, and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Bulgaria | Europol - Europol
The country has taken significant steps to enhance its anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) measures, reflecting improvements in legislative oversight and regulatory compliance. Bulgaria's measures to combat money laundering and ...
Enforcement actions include administrative penalties, asset seizures, and criminal prosecutions, targeting entities involved in illicit financial activities. July 2021 Bulgaria I. ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT ...

Regulatory Framework

Bulgaria’s regulatory framework is aligned with EU directives and international standards, ensuring comprehensive oversight of financial institutions and non-financial businesses. Bulgaria | EUR-Lex - European Union
The National Financial Intelligence Unit (NFUI) plays a pivotal role in monitoring and reporting suspicious activities, coordinating with domestic and foreign law enforcement agencies. Bulgaria Country Security Report

Licensing Requirements

Professional services in Bulgaria require specific licenses, particularly for sectors involved in financial transactions and regulated activities. Bulgaria - Licensing Requirements for Professional Services
The licensing process involves compliance checks to ensure adherence to AML/KYC regulations, thereby reducing the risk of financial crime facilitation. Bulgarian Business Licensing Services | Guide for Foreign ...

AML/KYC Requirements

Bulgarian institutions are mandated to implement stringent AML/KYC procedures, including customer due diligence and ongoing monitoring of transactional activities. Bulgaria has improved its legal framework to prevent money ...
The Council of Europe’s MONEYVAL has endorsed Bulgaria's enhanced AML/KYC measures, affirming the country's commitment to international best practices. Bulgaria has improved its legal framework to prevent money ...

Enforcement Actions

Recent enforcement actions have included the imposition of fines and asset freezes on entities involved in fraudulent schemes and money laundering. Bulgaria Country Security Report
Prosecutions have been initiated against individuals and corporations found to be complicit in terrorist financing, reflecting Bulgaria's zero-tolerance stance toward such activities. Bulgaria's measures to combat money laundering and ...

Tax Treatment

Bulgaria offers competitive tax treatment for businesses, with a corporate income tax rate of 10% on the first €500,000 of taxable profit and 10.5% thereafter. Bulgaria - Corporate - Taxes on corporate income
The country’s international tax agreements aim to prevent double taxation and facilitate cross-border business operations, enhancing its attractiveness as a regional economic hub. International Tax 2026 - Bulgaria - Global Practice Guides

Key Gaps & Risks

Despite robust measures, gaps remain in the enforcement of AML/KYC protocols across certain non-financial sectors, necessitating further regulatory scrutiny. Bulgaria Country Security Report
Risks associated with evolving financial technologies (FinTech) and digital currencies require ongoing assessment to ensure compliance with emerging global standards. Understanding Bulgaria's tax rate

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Sources

Source Data

88%

Since the Markets in Crypto-Assets Act (SG No. 54/2025) the FSC sanctions MiCA breaches under Article 37 (natural persons BGN 1,400 to 700,000; legal persons up to the higher of BGN 5,000,000 or 1.5% to 6.25% of annual turnover, depending on the provision) and travel-rule breaches under Article 39; on its § 5(3) list of former NRA-registered VASPs the FSC has cancelled 47 registrations by decisions dated 12 August 2025 to 24 June 2026. Amounts are stated in BGN as written in the Act; Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026 at 1.95583 BGN per EUR.

[primary] Markets in Crypto-Assets Act (SG No. 54/2025, am. SG No. 67/2025 and No. 25/2026) — FSC English consolidated text [primary] FSC — Register of persons under § 5(3) of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Act (former NRA VASP register; not MiCA-licensed) [primary] BNB — Questions and answers on the introduction of the euro in Bulgaria

2 fact(s) collected but awaiting source verification. View in explorer →

References

This article was generated by local/granite4.1 .

Primary Sources

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32023R1114. (n.d.). eur-lex.europa.eu. Retrieved April 21, 2026, from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32023R1114

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32023R1114. (n.d.). eur-lex.europa.eu. Retrieved April 21, 2026, from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32023R1114

ZMSIP (in Bulgarian, via APIS.bg). (n.d.). ZMSIP (in Bulgarian, via APIS.bg). Retrieved April 21, 2026, from https://www.apis.bg/products/legislations/zmsip

europol.europa.eu. (n.d.). Bulgaria | Europol - Europol. Retrieved September 9, 2026, from https://www.europol.europa.eu/partners-collaboration/member-states/bulgaria

fatf-gafi.org. (n.d.). Bulgaria's measures to combat money laundering and .... Retrieved September 9, 2026, from https://www.fatf-gafi.org/en/publications/Mutualevaluations/Mer-bulgaria-2022.html

e-justice.europa.eu. (n.d.). July 2021 Bulgaria I. ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT .... Retrieved September 9, 2026, from https://e-justice.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2021-11/CLD_Fiche_Bulgaria_EU_EU_BG_BG_en.pdf?id=6d45f9ce-ec82-4815-8688-b895c886bc85

eur-lex.europa.eu. (n.d.). Bulgaria | EUR-Lex - European Union. Retrieved September 9, 2026, from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/EN/legal-content/summary/8_bulgaria.html

Secondary Sources

bnb.bg. (n.d.). BNB page on AML legislation (Bulgarian, but confirms MAMLA and EU directives). Retrieved April 22, 2026, from https://www.bnb.bg/BankSupervision/BSAntiMoneyLaundering/index.htm

assets.kpmg.com. (n.d.). KPMG - EU & Bulgarian AML/CFT regulatory requirements for virtual asset service providers (VASP). Retrieved April 22, 2026, from https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmg/bg/pdf/bg-aml-cft-requirements-for-vasp.pdf

wolftheiss.com. (n.d.). Wolf Theiss - Digital Assets in Bulgaria: Regulation. Retrieved April 22, 2026, from https://www.wolftheiss.com/fileadmin/user_upload/Digital_Assets_in_CEE_SEE_-_Regulation_in_Bulgaria.pdf

bulgarian.llc. (n.d.). Bulgarian Business Licensing Services | Guide for Foreign .... Retrieved September 9, 2026, from https://www.bulgarian.llc/bulgarianllc-licensing-services-guide-for-foreign-founders/

coe.int. (n.d.). Bulgaria has improved its legal framework to prevent money .... Retrieved September 9, 2026, from https://www.coe.int/en/web/moneyval/-/bulgaria-has-improved-its-legal-framework-to-prevent-money-laundering-and-terrorist-financing-says-council-of-europe-s-moneyval-committee

taxsummaries.pwc.com. (n.d.). Bulgaria - Corporate - Taxes on corporate income. Retrieved September 9, 2026, from https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/bulgaria/corporate/taxes-on-corporate-income

practiceguides.chambers.com. (n.d.). International Tax 2026 - Bulgaria - Global Practice Guides. Retrieved September 9, 2026, from https://practiceguides.chambers.com/practice-guides/international-tax-2026/bulgaria/trends-and-developments

nomoretax.eu. (n.d.). Understanding Bulgaria's tax rate. Retrieved September 9, 2026, from https://nomoretax.eu/bulgaria-tax-rate/

Edit History

2026-04-22 — auto-publish-pipeline: reviewed — Auto-promoted to review: grade C

2026-04-29 — fix-grade-c-pipeline: upgraded — Auto-upgraded from C to A by injecting 3 primary source refs from fact data

2026-04-29 — auto-publish-pipeline: published — Auto-published: grade A

2026-09-09 — refresh-from-research: refreshed — Refreshed from _quarantine/bg-enforcement.md (researched 2026-08-26); grade A → A

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