Statutory Interest Calculator for Bulgaria
Short answer
What is the statutory interest rate in Bulgaria in 2026?
From 1 January 2026, statutory interest in Bulgaria is the ECB's interest rate on its main refinancing operations as at 1 January or 1 July respectively, plus 8 percentage points (Council of Ministers Decree No. 426/2014). That gives 10.15% a year for the first half and 10.40% for the second half of 2026. For periods up to the end of 2025, the BNB base rate plus 10 points applies. Interest runs from the day after the due date (Art. 86 Obligations and Contracts Act).
| Period | Days | Annual rate | Interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total statutory interest | — | ||
| Compensation for recovery costs | — | ||
| Total due (principal + interest) | — |
The calculation is an estimate. In practice, the court usually awards statutory interest from the filing of the claim until payment in full, and the interest for the past period as a separate amount.
The calculator gives an estimate at the Bulgarian statutory interest rate. It does not take account of partial payments, contractual interest or penalties. The result is not legal advice.
How is statutory interest calculated in Bulgaria?
Statutory interest is owed on any late monetary obligation (Art. 86 of the Obligations and Contracts Act, ЗЗД). Its rate is set by Council of Ministers Decree No. 426 of 2014. The rate is annual and fixed for each half-year, and the interest for one day is 1/360 of the annual rate. That is why the calculator splits the period into half-years and applies the relevant rate to each.
- Until 31 December 2025: the BNB base interest rate (ОЛП) as at 1 January or 1 July respectively, plus 10 percentage points. For most of 2016–2022 this was 10.00%; 2023 – 11.42% and 13.12%; 2024 – 13.79% and 13.63%; 2025 – 12.95% and 11.91%.
- From 1 January 2026: the ECB's interest rate on its main refinancing operations as at 1 January or 1 July respectively, plus 8 percentage points – 10.15% for the first and 10.40% for the second half of 2026.
- The calculator charges interest on the principal from the day after the due date up to and including the end date.
When does interest start, and what else can you claim?
If the contract sets a payment deadline, the debtor is in default from the day after it expires – no demand is needed (Art. 84(1) Obligations and Contracts Act). If there is no deadline, in a commercial transaction the invoice must be paid within 14 days of receipt (Art. 303a(3) Commerce Act, ТЗ). In other cases, default usually begins after a demand for payment (Art. 84(2) Obligations and Contracts Act).
- Between traders, the creditor is also entitled to compensation for recovery costs of no less than €40 – without a demand (Art. 309a(1) Commerce Act) – and to compensation for greater proven damage.
- Interest is subject to a three-year limitation period (Art. 111 Obligations and Contracts Act), while the invoice claim itself is, as a rule, subject to five years (Art. 110). A written acknowledgement of the debt, a court claim or an application to the court interrupts the limitation period.
- When you apply for an order for payment, the claim under Art. 422 of the Civil Procedure Code is deemed brought on the date of the application. This matters for the limitation period and for interest.
Frequently asked questions
What is the statutory interest rate in Bulgaria in 2026?
10.15% a year for the first half and 10.40% for the second half. From 2026, the rate is the ECB's main refinancing rate plus 8 percentage points, because the BNB stopped setting a base rate when Bulgaria adopted the euro.
Do I need to send a demand for interest to start running?
No, if the contract or invoice sets a payment deadline – interest runs from the day after it (Art. 84(1) Obligations and Contracts Act). If there is no deadline, between traders payment is due within 14 days of receiving the invoice. In other cases, it is advisable to send a demand whose receipt you can prove.
Does statutory interest also apply between private individuals?
Yes. Statutory interest is owed on any late monetary obligation, for example a loan between private persons (Art. 86 Obligations and Contracts Act). The €40 compensation, however, applies only to transactions between traders (Art. 309a Commerce Act).
Can I claim interest for more than three years back?
Interest is subject to a three-year limitation period (Art. 111 Obligations and Contracts Act). If the debtor invokes it, the court will as a rule not award interest for the older period – unless the limitation period was interrupted, for example by a written acknowledgement of the debt.
Why does the court award interest in two parts?
The claim or application usually states the calculated interest for the past period – from the due date to the filing – as a separate amount. For the time after that, the court awards statutory interest on the principal from the filing until payment in full, without a fixed sum.
If you or the debtor are outside Bulgaria
Many claims arise between parties in different countries – a foreign company with a customer in Bulgaria, a Bulgarian business with a client elsewhere in the EU, or an individual who lent money and has since moved abroad. Here is what matters for interest and collection in these cases.
My debtor is in Bulgaria and I am abroad. Can I collect the money?
Yes. A creditor from abroad can bring the claim before a Bulgarian court – through an order for payment or a claim – and enforce it through a Bulgarian bailiff. As a rule, you do not need to travel: a lawyer can represent you on the basis of a power of attorney signed abroad.
The debtor is in another EU country. What are my options?
You can use the European order for payment (Regulation (EC) No 1896/2006) for uncontested cross-border monetary claims, filed on a standard form. The debtor has 30 days from service to object. For smaller claims of up to €5,000 there is also the European Small Claims Procedure (Regulation (EC) No 861/2007).
Will interest be calculated at the Bulgarian statutory rate?
That depends on the law governing the contract. If Bulgarian law governs, Bulgarian statutory interest is as a rule owed, as calculated here. If another country's law applies, interest is usually determined under its rules, and the rate may differ.
Does the €40 compensation exist in other EU countries too?
Yes. The minimum €40 compensation for recovery costs comes from the EU Late Payment Directive (2011/7/EU) on combating late payment in commercial transactions and exists in all EU countries. In Bulgaria it was introduced by Art. 309a of the Commerce Act.
What if the debtor is outside the EU?
Then the European procedures do not apply. The options depend on international treaties with the country concerned and on its law – for example, whether and how a Bulgarian judgment is recognised there. It is worth assessing the case before filing.
I am a UK or US business and my Bulgarian customer does not pay. Does Brexit change anything?
If the debtor is in Bulgaria, you can sue and enforce in Bulgaria regardless of where you are based. Since Brexit, however, a UK creditor can no longer count on EU instruments in the same way when a judgment has to be enforced outside Bulgaria. Which interest rate applies again depends on the law governing the contract.
Have a legal question? Get in touch.
The initial consultation is free and without obligation.