Online shop accounting in Bulgaria requires much more than recording sales and expenses. E-commerce businesses must also consider VAT, payment methods, fiscal reporting, refunds, marketplace fees and cross-border transactions. Selling through your own website, Amazon, eBay or another platform does not place the business outside the normal Bulgarian accounting and tax rules.
The correct accounting treatment depends on how the business operates. Important factors include how customers pay, where the goods are located, which sales channels are used and whether customers are based in Bulgaria or other EU countries. Professional accounting services can help organise these processes before transaction volumes become difficult to manage.
Online Shop Accounting and NRA Reporting Requirements
Online sales are subject to the attention of the Bulgarian National Revenue Agency. Businesses operating an electronic store may have specific reporting obligations to the NRA, depending mainly on the payment methods they accept.
If an online shop accepts payments for which a fiscal receipt is required, information about the electronic store generally has to be submitted to the NRA before qualifying sales begin. This can apply whether the business uses its own website, a rented e-commerce platform or another online solution.
The rule does not apply in exactly the same way to every online seller. If the store does not accept payments that require a fiscal receipt, mandatory submission of information may not apply. This is why payment methods should be reviewed carefully before the business starts trading, as later changes may also affect its reporting obligations.
Online Sales Do Not Automatically Mean “No Fiscal Receipt”
One of the most common mistakes in online shop accounting is the assumption that online sales never require a fiscal receipt. This is not correct. The requirement depends mainly on how the customer pays and which fiscal-reporting regime applies.
Under Ordinance No. N-18, sales generally require registration through a fiscal or system receipt unless the payment falls within an applicable exception. Certain bank transfers, direct debits and other specifically regulated payment methods may be treated differently.
Postal money orders handled by a licensed postal operator are also subject to a different regime. In these cases, a fiscal receipt is generally not required, but the merchant still has documentation obligations.
Card payments deserve particular attention. Debit and credit card transactions may create fiscal-reporting requirements, although Bulgarian legislation also provides an alternative reporting regime for certain electronic stores that accept remote card payments. The exact payment flow should therefore be reviewed rather than applying one general rule to all online shops.
Courier Documents Do Not Replace All Accounting Documents
Another outdated assumption is that a courier document automatically replaces an invoice or fiscal receipt. It does not. Courier records can help prove that goods were dispatched and delivered, but they do not replace every accounting, VAT or fiscal document connected with a transaction.
Depending on the business model, an online shop may need to keep customer orders, invoices, fiscal or system receipts where applicable, courier records, postal money order documents, bank statements, marketplace reports, payment processor statements, credit notes and refund documentation.
The purpose of proper accounting is to create a clear audit trail. It should be possible to connect the original order with the sale, payment, delivery and final amount received by the company.
Marketplace and Payment Platform Payouts Must Be Reconciled
Businesses selling through Amazon, eBay or similar platforms should not record only the amount transferred to their bank account. The final payout may already include deductions for commissions, payment processing fees, advertising costs, refunds, chargebacks and other expenses.
For example, customers may purchase goods worth EUR 10,000, while the marketplace transfers only EUR 8,900 after deductions. Recording only EUR 8,900 as sales revenue would not correctly reflect the underlying transactions.
Good online shop accounting should identify gross sales, refunds, platform fees and the final payout separately. The same principle applies when payment processors are used. Bank receipts should be reconciled with the underlying customer transactions instead of being treated as the only source of accounting information.
Digital platforms may also have reporting obligations under DAC7. However, information submitted by a platform does not replace the merchant’s own accounting and tax responsibilities.
VAT Registration Is Especially Important in 2026
Online businesses should monitor their VAT position regularly. From 1 January 2026, the general threshold for mandatory VAT registration in Bulgaria is EUR 51,130, with the relevant turnover monitored during the calendar year.
When the applicable threshold is exceeded, the company must submit an application for registration within the statutory period. However, exceeding this turnover threshold is not the only situation that can create a VAT registration obligation.
Article 97a of the Bulgarian VAT Act may also apply in certain cases. This can be relevant when a Bulgarian taxable person receives taxable services from a supplier established abroad. Online businesses often use foreign providers for software, advertising, marketplace services and other digital solutions.
The exact VAT treatment depends on the service and supplier. As a result, an online shop may face a registration obligation before reaching the general EUR 51,130 threshold.
Selling to Customers in Other EU Countries Requires Separate VAT Analysis
A Bulgarian online shop selling only to local customers has a different VAT profile from a business selling to consumers throughout the European Union. Intra-EU distance sales can fall under special VAT rules.
In the situations covered by these rules, an EU-wide EUR 10,000 threshold is relevant. Above the applicable threshold, VAT is generally connected to the Member State where the customer is located.
The One Stop Shop, or OSS, can simplify compliance for eligible businesses. It allows VAT due in other EU Member States for covered transactions to be declared and paid through one electronic system. However, OSS is not a universal solution for every e-commerce business.
The correct treatment depends on where the goods are located, where transport begins and ends, and who the customer is. Businesses planning to expand into other EU markets should therefore review their VAT model before sales volumes increase.
Returns and Refunds Must Be Properly Documented
Returns are a normal part of e-commerce, but they are not a tax loophole. A refund must correspond to a genuine business event, such as a returned product, complaint, price reduction or another valid reason.
Where required, the original sale must be corrected through the appropriate accounting or fiscal document. Depending on the case, this may involve a reversal document or a credit note.
The accounting records should clearly connect the original sale with the return and the refunded amount. This is particularly important for businesses with high return volumes, such as fashion, footwear and consumer electronics retailers.
Corporate Income Tax Is Based on Taxable Profit
Corporate income tax should not be confused with VAT or sales revenue. For Bulgarian companies subject to the Corporate Income Tax Act, the corporate income tax rate is 10%.
The tax is calculated on taxable profit, not on the full selling price of every parcel shipped. The accounting result includes revenue as well as relevant business expenses, such as the cost of goods, marketplace commissions, advertising, payment fees, courier charges and properly documented refunds.
VAT is a separate matter and should be analysed according to the company’s VAT status and the type of transaction.
Good Online Shop Accounting Starts with Reconciliation
Reliable online shop accounting requires more than sending invoices to the accountant at the end of the month. A proper monthly process should reconcile completed orders, sales documents, returns, courier collections, bank receipts, card transactions, marketplace payouts, platform fees and VAT records where applicable.
The objective is simple. The accounting records should explain how the company’s actual commercial activity resulted in the amounts shown in its bank and payment accounts.
Differences should be investigated promptly. Small discrepancies can otherwise accumulate over several months and become much harder to resolve later.
Choosing an Accountant for an Online Shop in Bulgaria
Online shop accounting combines traditional bookkeeping with digital payments, marketplaces, logistics and, in some cases, international VAT rules. An accountant working with e-commerce businesses should therefore understand more than invoices and bank statements.
Marketplace reports, payment processor settlements, refunds, commissions and fiscal-reporting requirements are all part of the process. The correct accounting setup depends on the business model.
A Bulgarian online shop accepting bank transfers may have relatively straightforward requirements. A company selling through Amazon, accepting card payments and shipping to several EU countries may require much more detailed reconciliation and VAT analysis.
T&G Consulting provides accounting services for companies operating in Bulgaria, including businesses involved in online trade and international transactions.
If you are starting an online shop, changing your payment methods or expanding into another EU market, you can contact T&G Consulting to discuss the specific circumstances of your business.
Important: This article provides general information based on the regulatory framework applicable in 2026. It does not constitute individual accounting, tax or legal advice. Exact obligations depend on payment methods, VAT status, sales channels, customer location and the structure of the business.