Property Purchase Costs Calculator for Bulgaria

By law, the notary fee is owed by whoever requested the notarial act, and the local tax by the buyer. In practice the buyer usually pays all costs, but the parties can agree otherwise in the preliminary contract.

The fees are calculated on the higher of the two values. If the price is higher than the tax assessment value (the most common case), they are calculated on the price. If the contract states a price below the tax assessment value, they are calculated on the tax assessment value.

Sofia Municipality applies a rate of 3%. In other municipalities the rate is between 0.1% and 3% and can be checked in the ordinance of the relevant municipal council. You can enter the rate manually in the calculator.

Yes. The proportional notary fee for transferring a property cannot exceed €3,067.75 (BGN 6,000) excluding VAT, regardless of the property price.

The local tax on acquisition is also payable when buying from a developer. If the seller is VAT-registered, the price of a new home usually already includes VAT, but this does not remove the notary fee, the local tax or the registration fee.

Yes. A representative, usually a lawyer, can sign the preliminary contract and the notary deed on your behalf. You need a specific power of attorney with notarised signature and content. If you sign it at a Bulgarian consulate, no apostille or translation is needed; if you sign it before a local notary, you need an apostille (or legalisation) and a translation into Bulgarian.

Any foreigner can buy an apartment or another building. The restrictions concern land: EU and EEA citizens can acquire land, while citizens of non-EU countries (including the UK after Brexit) as a rule cannot acquire it directly. For a house with a plot, they most often buy through a Bulgarian company.

No. The notary fee, the local tax on acquisition and the registration fee are the same for Bulgarian citizens, EU citizens and buyers from the UK, the USA or elsewhere. What differs for non-EU citizens is whether they can own land directly, and the formalities for a power of attorney signed abroad.

If you do not speak Bulgarian, the notary requires an interpreter to translate the deed at signing. The interpreter's fee and, for a power of attorney from abroad, the cost of the apostille and translation are paid separately from the amounts in the calculator.

Payments over €5,112.92 (BGN 10,000) in the transaction must be made by bank transfer only – to the notary's special account or to a bank account. A Bulgarian bank account is not required: the price can be transferred from abroad. The notary will ask for a declaration on the origin of the funds where the law requires it.

It depends on the case. A foreigner usually obtains an identification number from the National Revenue Agency (НАП) for tax returns, and after the purchase owes the annual property tax and the waste collection fee to the municipality. Check this in advance with your lawyer and the notary.