Bulgaria will end 2025 with a budget deficit of 3%, and it is planned to maintain this upper limit at least until 2028. This is provided for in the national draft budget of Temenuzhka Petkova, published late last night by the Ministry of Finance. In this way, Bulgaria will meet the deficit requirement for our admission to the eurozone, writes businessnovinite.
You will ask why by 2028? The answer is because according to the rules and requirements for the quality of the budget frameworks, incl. the requirement for the preparation of a national medium-term fiscal plan of the EU member states, we must have a forecast for at least a four-year period (2025-2028).
According to the Ministry of Finance, in the period 2025-2028, tax policy will be oriented towards achieving macroeconomic and budgetary stability in the medium and long term and ensuring the necessary financial resources to implement the government's spending policies. The main objectives of tax policy for the period are again aimed at maintaining economic growth, improving the business environment, combating tax abuse and increasing fiscal sustainability in the long term.
But what are the changes that affect the average citizen? These are the five changes in the new budget that you need to know:
1. Minimum wage
In the estimates for the period 2025-2028 The increase in the minimum wage (MW) from January 1, 2025 - from BGN 933 to BGN 1,077 - is taken into account, with the effect on costs being an increase of BGN 283.3 million;
2. Minimum social security income
The minimum social security income for self-insured persons increases from April 1, 2025 to BGN 1,077 and is maintained for the entire forecast period. The minimum social security income for farmers and tobacco producers also increases from April 1, 2025 to BGN 1,077 and is maintained for the entire forecast period.
3. Maximum social security income
The maximum social security income for all insured persons increases for the entire forecast period, respectively, from April 1, 2025. to 4,130 BGN, for 2026 to 4,430 BGN, for 2027 – 4,730 BGN and for 2028 – 5,030 BGN, with the effect on costs being an increase of 33.2 million BGN;
4. Maternity
The amount of the benefit for raising a child up to two years of age is maintained – 780 BGN for the entire period up to and including 2028;
5. Teachers' salaries
In 2025, the policy of increasing the remuneration of teaching staff in secondary education by 125% of the average gross salary for 2024 is maintained. (2,284 BGN), with the effect on expenses being an increase of 499 million BGN.