30.11.2018

Based on the monthly data of first-level spending units, the CFP balance on a cash basis as of October 2018 is positive, amounting to BGN 2,844.3 million (2.6 % of forecast GDP) and is formed by a surplus under the national budget of BGN 3,220.8 million and a deficit under EU funds of BGN 376.6 million. „

The CFP revenues and grants as of October 2018 stand at BGN 32,612.8 million, or 85.3 % of the annual estimates. Compared to the same period of the previous year, tax and non-tax revenues have grown by BGN 3,066.5 million, or 10.9 %, and grant proceed – by BGN 379.7 million, (63.3 %).

Tax proceeds, including revenues from social security and health insurance contributions, total BGN 26,760.9 million, which is 85.9 % of the annual plans. Compared to the data for October 2017, tax revenues have risen by 9.4 % (BGN 2,292.0 million) in nominal terms.

Revenues from direct taxes amount to BGN 4,800.4 million, or 83.4 % of the annual estimates, growing, as compared to same period of the previous year, by BGN 402.2 million (9.1 %).

Indirect tax revenues amount to BGN 13,192.1 million, or 87.0 % of the annual plans. Compared to the data for October 2017, revenues in this group have grown by BGN 895.8 million (7.3 %). The VAT proceeds amount to BGN 8,586.8 million, or 87.8 % of the plan. The amount of the non-refunded VAT as of 31.10.2018 is BGN 67.4 million. The excise duty revenues amount to BGN 4,373.9 million, (84.9 % of the annual estimates). Custom duties revenues are BGN 198.3 million or 104.3 % of the annual plan.

Proceeds from other taxes, including property taxes and other taxes under the Corporate Income Tax Law, amount to BGN 981.2 million, or 89.4 % performance of the annual estimates.

Revenues from social security and health insurance contributions are BGN 7,787.3 million, or 85.3 % of those planned for the year. Compared to the same period of the previous year these revenues have risen by 13.4 % (BGN 918.6 million) in nominal terms. 

Non-tax revenues amount to BGN 4,352.3 million, or 92.5 % of the annual estimates.

Proceeds from grants amount to BGN 1,499.6 million.

The expenditures under the CFP, including the contribution of the Republic of Bulgaria to the EU budget, amount to BGN 29,768.6 million as of October 2018, which is 75.7 % of the annual estimates. For comparison, the expenditures for the same period of the previous year were to the amount of BGN 26,673.3 million. The nominal growth is due both to the higher expenditures under the national budget and to the increase in expenditures under the EU funds accounts. The growth of expenditures under the national budget is mostly due to the higher health insurance and social payments (a baseline effect on expenditures on pensions from their increase as from July 2017 and the two-step increase of the minimum pension in 2017 – as from July and October, as well as the new increase of pensions as from July 2018), the higher staff costs mostly resulting from the increase in the remuneration of pedagogical staff within the secondary education, etc., while for EU funds accounts it is capital expenditures that mainly increase. 

Non-interest expenditures amount to BGN 28,228.6 million, which is 75.7 % of the annual plans. Non-interest current expenditures as of October 2018 amount to BGN 25,692.5 million and capital expenditures (including net increment of state reserve) amount to BGN 2,492.5 million. The current and capital transfers to other countries amount to BGN 43.5 million. Interest payments amount to BGN 630.4 million, or 87.3 % of those planned for 2018.

The part of Bulgaria's contribution to the EU budget, paid from the central budget as of 31.10.2018, amounts to BGN 909.6 million, which complies with the current legislation in the area of EU own resources – Council Decision 2014/335/EU, Euratom on the system of own resources of the European Union, Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 608/2014 of 26 May 2014 laying down implementing measures for the system of own resources of the European Union, and Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 609/2014 of 26 May 2014 on the methods and procedure for making available the traditional, VAT and GNI-based own resources and on the measures to meet cash requirements as amended by Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 2016/804 of 17 May 2016.

Fiscal reserve^[1] as of 31.10.2018 is BGN 11.1 billion, including BGN 10.8 billion fiscal reserve deposits in BNB and banks and BGN 0.3 billion receivables under the EU Funds for certified expenditure, advance payments, etc.

The Consolidated Fiscal Programme performance data as of 30 October 2018 are published on the website of the Ministry of Finance in Statistics section. The statistical data are accompanied by an Information Bulletin on the Execution of the State Budget and the main indicators of the consolidated fiscal programme, which presents a short analysis of the performance of the key budget parameters on a consolidated level and by constituent budgets.

[1] The scope of the fiscal reserve indicator is in accordance with §1, point 41 of the Additional Provisions of the Public Finance Law.