Accepted: 9% VAT for Wine, Beer, Gyms and Tour Operators in Bulgaria

The Parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finance has expanded the range of goods and services taxed at a lower rate of 9%, BGNES reported. Thus, with the lower tax will be wine, beer, tour operators and occasional excursions. At the last minute, gyms and sports facilities were added to this group, including swimming pools, playgrounds and more.

The measure is at the suggestion of United Patriots, and the Coalition Council received the support of GERB at the beginning of the week. It aims to overcome the negative economic consequences of the COVID crisis, as well as to support the tourism industry, which was among the most affected during the state of emergency.

The changes were voted directly on second reading in the Local Taxes and Fees Act, which is open for discussion, and will be finally approved in the plenary session on Thursday. Thus, they will be able to enter into force on August 1 and act until the end of 2021 as a temporary measure, along with reduced VAT on restaurants, catering, books and children's goods.

During today's sitting, the deputies also adopted texts enabling the tour operators, who took advances from their clients, but were unable to make the trips, to offer a replacement voucher, and if the clients refused - the deadline for refund to be until the end of the year.

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