Opening an online store in Bulgaria

“Elan Consulting” is a company specializing in accounting and consulting services, providing its expert knowledge and experience to online businesses in Bulgaria. Questions such as “How to start online trading?”, “How is the accounting of an electronic store?” and “What is the difference between an online platform and an online store?” are just some of the topics that customers often face when starting an online business. Registering an online store with the NRA (National Revenue Agency) is an important stage that requires careful planning and regulatory compliance.

In the article we will examine in detail the procedure for registering an online store in NRA Bulgaria, the necessary documents and the key steps to be followed. Many customers are interested in what is the “insurance in online commerce” and what is the new regulation regarding online commerce. For those who are just getting into the field of e-commerce, questions like “How do I start online trading?” and “How do I register an online trading company?” are essential.

The difference between an online platform and an online store is another important topic that often causes questions among entrepreneurs. E-shop requires a different approach to accounting, and Elan Consulting can offer optimal accounting solutions that meet the specific needs of online business.

The new law on online trading also imposes certain requirements and regulations that are important to comply with. Registration of an online store in the NRA is only part of the process of legalizing an online business. For those who want to open an online clothing store or create an online store for free, it is essential to understand what the procedure is and what the necessary documents are.

“Elan Consulting” is here to help businesses in Sofia, Burgas, Pomorie, Karnobat, Sunny Beach, Aytos, Nessebar, Sozopol, Primorsko and the whole of Bulgaria to successfully enter the sphere of online commerce. Whether it is registering an online trading company, keeping an e-shop accounting or understanding the new law on online trading, our experts are ready to offer competent assistance and advice.

Starting an online business can be challenging, but with the right partners and professional support from Elan Consulting, the process can be greatly facilitated and successful. In the following parts of the article, we will consider in detail all aspects of registering and managing an online store, including the procedure in the NRA, the necessary documents and insurance in online trading.

What are the legal requirements for opening an online store in Bulgaria?

An electronic store, according to the NRA (National Revenue Agency), is a website or platform that allows the sale of goods and services electronically. In order to be registered and function legally, such a store must meet several key requirements and provide certain information.

First, the e-shop must be run by a registered company that is listed in the Commercial Register. If the company already exists, it can expand its activity and start selling online, but if it is new, it must first be registered (Art. 52m, para. 1 of Ordinance No H-18).

Secondly, the e-shop must be registered with the NRA. This includes submitting an application, which contains the following information: name of the store, domain, contact details of the person who manages the store and the hosting company that provides the hosting services (Art. 52m, para. 1 of Ordinance No H-18). The application must also indicate the nomenclature of the goods and services offered.

Thirdly, according to Ordinance No. H-18, the online store must use a fiscal device or an integrated automated system of trade activity management (IASUTD) to register and account for sales. Fiscal receipts or system vouchers must contain the necessary requisites, such as the name and quantity of the goods or services, price and total amount. This requirement aims to ensure transparency and accuracy in the reporting of income (Art. 118, para. 1 of the VAT Act and Art. 3, para. 1 of Ordinance N-18).

In addition, the e-shop must have clearly defined terms of use, product return procedures, warranty periods and a personal data protection policy (GDPR). These documents should be easily accessible on the website and include information on the terms of the site, data privacy and the use of cookies.

The prices of the products must be clearly announced, specifying whether they include taxes and fees. Transparency in pricing is essential for customer trust and legal compliance. The protection of customers' personal data is equally important and is ensured through the integration of an SSL certificate, which ensures encryption of the data that is exchanged between users and the site.

The e-store should also offer various payment methods such as cash on delivery, PayPal, virtual POS terminal and others to ensure the convenience and security of customers when making payments. All these requirements and measures are designed to ensure that online stores operate in accordance with legal regulations and provide reliable and secure services to consumers.

What obligations do online merchants have to the NRA when selling through an e-shop?

According to Art. 52m of Ordinance H18, the e-shop is considered as a platform for online sales of goods or services and must meet certain requirements set by the National Revenue Agency (NRA). These requirements are designed to facilitate and regulate the process of electronic commerce, as well as to protect the rights of consumers. An important aspect of the obligation of merchants to record and account for sales of goods or services made in the absence of payment by credit or debit card. This includes the issuance of a document for registering the sale, which must be readable and contain certain requisites. These requisites include the name, number and date of the document, details of the merchant, the unique number of the customer order, the reference number of the financial transaction, details of the goods or services, as well as information on the method of payment.

To ensure transparency and traceability, it is required that the document number for each sale be unique and grow consistently. This number must be 10-digit and contain only Arabic numerals. In addition, it is mandatory to include a two-dimensional barcode (QR code), which contains detailed information about the sale. In cases where an invoice is issued for the sale, which already contains this information, it is allowed not to issue a separate document for registration of the sale. Of particular importance is the provision of unambiguous identification of each sale by each e-shop, as well as the provision of the issued document electronically to the customer when making the payment.

Accountability and transparency are essential elements of these regulations, requiring traders to file a standardised audit file with information on all deliveries of goods and services made during the month. This information must be provided to the NRA by the 15th of the month following the month of sales made. These requirements ensure that all transactions carried out through e-shops are properly recorded and accounted for, which promotes transparency and facilitates tax and regulatory processes. Compliance with these regulations is essential for the effective and lawful management of online business activities.

In the context of payments made in the online store, two main options for accounting for sales are provided: the issuance of a cash voucher from an approved fiscal device (FUS) or an integrated automated business management system (IASUTS), or the issuance of an electronic document according to the mandatory requisites defined in Ordinance H18.

Specifically, the electronic document is issued under the so-called non-attendance credit or debit card payments via a virtual POS terminal. In such cases, the issuance of a cash receipt is not required, which facilitates the process for both merchants and customers.

The legal requirements set out in Ordinance H18 determine that the software of any online store must meet the following criteria:

1. Generate a unique number of each order:This ensures that each transaction can be tracked and uniquely identified.
2. Unambiguous user authentication:This protects against froth and ensures that every user is properly identified.
3. Completeness and integrity of the created data:This ensures that all data related to the transaction is complete and unchanged.
4. Sales Specialization:The software must not manage sales other than those made on the website.
5. Restriction on the acceptance of payments:Acceptance of payments should be limited to non-present card payments.
6. Storage of the database:The database of the online store must be stored on the territory of Bulgaria or on the territory of the European Union.

According to the new regulations affecting online commerce according to Ordinance H18, e-shops must meet additional requirements regarding the manner of accounting of sales and management of payments.

• Individuals who make sales through an online store must file information with the National Revenue Agency (NRA), regardless of whether they use their own, rented domain or the platform belongs to a third party.
• The main requirement for registration and provision of information in the NRA is related to the acceptance of payments for which the issuance of a fiscal voucher is required.
• If the person making sales through the e-shop does not accept payments for which he is obliged to issue a fiscal voucher, he is not obliged to provide information to the NRA. However, such persons may decide to provide the data at their own discretion.
• The software of the online store, through which sales of goods or services are made, paid by non-attendance payment by credit or debit card, for which a document is issued under Art. 52o of Ordinance N18, must generate a unique number of each order for the purchase of goods or services and meet at least the requirements in items 2, 3 and 7 of Annex No. 29 to The Ordinance
• In the event that the software interface is not in Bulgarian, the trader is obliged to provide a Bulgarian translation of the software upon request by the Revenue Authority.
• In the course of control proceedings under the GDPR and at the request of a revenue authority, the company managing the e-shop provides the authorities with full access to the administrative panel, including settings and the complete reference part provided by the software.
  

Information to be provided when registering an e-shop in the NRA:

When registering an online store with the National Revenue Agency (NRA), it is important to provide extensive and accurate information that meets the standards and requirements set by the NRA. This process is important not only for compliance with legal frameworks, but also for ensuring the transparency and reliability of online commerce.

The most key information to be provided to the NRA is the store's basic details, which include the store's name and web address. This is the primary information that identifies your online business on the Internet space. In addition, you must provide information about the entity behind the store, which includes data about the individual or company managing online sales. Separately, information about the products or services offered is provided, which provides clarity about the specifics of your business and the scope of the products or services you offer for tax purposes. Technical information related to the store software and hosting services is also essential in view of the requirements for online sales software under Ordinance H18.

Information required when registering an online store in the NRA

1. Basic details of the store:This includes the name of the store and its web address. This information is fundamental and serves to identify the store within the online space.
2. Information about the subject:Data about the person or company responsible for sales through the e-shop. This includes details of the business owner, such as name, registration details, contact address and other relevant information.
3. Details of the offered products:Information about the type of goods or services sold. This provides clarity on the scope and nature of the products offered.
4. Technical Information:Details about the software used to manage the e-shop and information about hosting services. This information is crucial for the technical functionality and security of the store.

How is the data submitted to the NRA when registering an online store?

All of the above data must be submitted through the NRA Electronic Services Portal and a qualified electronic signature is required to access this portal. Registration is a mandatory step that must be carried out before the start of the activity of selling goods or services.

In the event of changes in the circumstances surrounding your online store, such as a change of assortment, address or other important data, or upon termination of activity, you must update your information interm of 7 days.These changes are reflected in the public list of e-stores maintained by the NRA.

In addition, persons who make sales through an e-shop are required to store the information created through the store's software in accordance with the deadlines set by the Tax and Insurance Procedure Code. This includes a current database and backup copies of the data. At the request of the revenue authorities, it is required to provide access to these data with the ability to export and copy them.

For these reasons, the registration and management of an online store becomes a process that requires attention and accuracy in providing information to the NRA in order to ensure compliance with legal requirements and ensure a reliable and transparent online business.

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