Sofia is not only Bulgaria's administrative capital — more than half of the country's active companies are registered here. If you plan an EOOD or OOD with a seat in the capital, you will file into the busiest Commercial Register workload, but you also get the densest network of notaries, banks and accounting firms. For IT, fintech, consulting and trade, a Sofia address is often a credibility signal for clients and investors.

The legal process matches the rest of the country: founding documents, escrow account, notarised specimen signature and application A4. The difference is logistics — you can usually finish the specimen around the Palace of Justice or Sofia Business Park in one working day, and escrow accounts open at dozens of branches on Vitosha Blvd., Tsarigradsko Shose and near the NDK. E-filing with a QES remains the fastest path; paper filing is slower and more expensive.

The registered office must have a legal basis for use (lease, ownership or owner consent). Office rents in Sofia are higher than elsewhere, so many startups begin in co-working or compliant virtual offices. After the UIC, NAP notification, an operating bank account and optional VAT registration are easier thanks to the concentration of institutions and partners in the capital.

Local tax notes:

• High TR volume can extend review when attachments are incomplete — double-check name and ID numbers before filing
• The management address must be genuinely usable; a mailbox without a use right leads to refusal
• Peak periods (month-end) overload notaries near the Palace of Justice — book an appointment

Tax obligations for companies in Sofia are administered by the NRA in Sofia Region.

Sofia (over 1.3 million residents) is the capital and largest business hub in Bulgaria, home to over 60% of all registered companies in the country. The city has over 180,000 registered companies, making it an active business centre.

Key Industries:

• IT & Outsourcing
• Finance & Insurance
• Wholesale Trade
• Consulting Services

Office Rents: Average office rents in Sofia are €8–20/sq.m., which is competitive compared to other cities in the region.

Bank Branches: UniCredit Bulbank, DSK Bank, Postbank and UBB have central branches on Vitosha Blvd., Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd. and near the National Palace of Culture.

Notary Offices: The highest concentration of notary offices is around the Palace of Justice on Vitosha Blvd., along Dondukov Blvd. and in Sofia Business Park.

Bulgaria's corporate income tax rate is 10% — one of the lowest in the European Union.

Social security contributions in Bulgaria are split between the employer and the employee:

• Self-insured person (EOOD manager) — approximately €150–200/month on the chosen insurable income
• Employees — around 31–33% of gross salary (split between employer and employee)

For companies in Sofia contributions are paid electronically through the NRA portal.

Key tax deadlines for companies in Sofia:

• Annual tax return — by 30 June of the following year
• Advance payments — if net revenue exceeds ~€153,000
• VAT return — by the 14th of the following month (if VAT-registered)
• Social security declarations — by the 25th of the following month
• Annual financial statements — filed with the CR by 30 June

Legal ways to optimise the tax burden for companies in Sofia:

• Deductible expenses — rent, utilities, company vehicles, business travel
• Depreciation — of fixed assets
• Voluntary pension contributions — up to 10% of the tax base
• Choosing the right insurable income — when self-insured