01.06.2021

Based on the monthly data on cash execution of first-level spending units’ budgets, the Consolidated Fiscal Programme (CFP) balance on a cash basis as of April 2021 is positive, amounting to BGN 171.6 million, or 0.1% of the projected GDP, and is formed by an excess of revenues over expenditures of BGN 372.6 million under the national budget and a deficit of BGN 200.9 million under EU funds.

CFP revenues, grants and donations as of April 2021 amount to BGN 16,712.2 million, or 35.1% of the annual estimates. Compared to the same period of the previous year, proceeds as of April 2021 rise by BGN 2.1 billion or by 14.3%. The growth in comparison to the previous year is due to the higher tax and non-tax revenues which have grown by BGN 2.4 million, whereas grant proceeds have dropped by BGN 0.3 million. When comparing non-tax revenues and VAT revenues one needs to take into account that in April 2021 there are one-off revenues of BGN 660 million, VAT inclusive, i.e. the initial concession fee from the Sofia Airport concession.

CFP tax proceeds, including revenues from social security contributions, total BGN 12,695.5 million, which accounts for 34.3% of the tax revenues planned for the year. Tax and social security contribution proceeds grow by BGN 1.1 billion (9.9%) compared to those reported for the first four months of the previous year, forming 76.0% of the overall CFP proceeds for the period. The considerable growth of tax revenues in April is mostly due to a baseline effect in April 2020, i.e. the period of the most stringent anti-pandemic measures and of the lockdown. The trend of a gradual recovery of the main taxes observed in the previous months continues. Non-tax revenues are mostly influenced by the proceeds from the Sofia Airport concession.

Direct tax revenues amount to BGN 2,235.8 million, or 32.0% of those planned for the year. Indirect tax proceeds amount to BGN 6,029.7 million (35.3% of the annual estimates), with VAT proceeds amounting to BGN 4,276.9 million (38.1% of those planned), excise duty revenues amounting to BGN 1,653.8 million (29.6% of the estimates), and customs duty proceeds amounting to BGN 78.6 million (33.6% as against the annual estimates). Proceeds from other taxes, including property and other taxes under the Corporate Income Tax Law, amount to BGN 575.5 million, or execution of 44.8% of the annual estimates. Revenues from social security and health insurance contributions are BGN 3,854.6 million, which accounts for 33.0% of the estimates for the year.

CFP non-tax revenues amount to BGN 3,169.6 million, which accounts for 48.0% of the annual estimates, and are mostly formed by state, municipal and legal expense revenues, rents, concession revenues, greenhouse gas emission allowance revenues, etc.

Grant and donation proceeds amount to BGN 847.1 million.

CFP expenditures, including the contribution of the Republic of Bulgaria to the EU budget for April 2021, amount to BGN 16,540.6 million, which accounts for 31.5% of the annual estimates. For comparison, the CFP expenditures as of April 2020 amount to BGN 12,991.8 million. The considerable growth of expenditures in the first four months of 2021, as compared to the same period of the previous year, is related, on the one hand, with the lower base in 2020 when considerable smaller expenditures for fighting COVID-19 were reported, while as of April 2021 those expenditures are considerable, and, on the other hand, with the income and social policies set in the approved Law on the 2021 State Budget of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Looking from the perspective of economic elements, there is a considerable growth in the social and health insurance expenditures. As to pension expenditures, around BGN 420 million have been spent for a monthly allowance of BGN 50 to the pensions of all pensioners for January through April. Along with that, pension expenditures are also influenced by the increased amount of the minimum length-of-service and old-age pension and of the maximum pension as from the start of the year, as well by the baseline effect of the pension increase in July 2020. There is an increase in the health insurance expenditures related to the higher expenses for tackling the pandemic and the arrangements for financing health establishments in the context of the emergency epidemic situation, including expenses for medicines, tests, protective equipment, expenditures supporting front-line staff in the fight against COVID-19 (supplementary monthly remuneration of BGN 1,000), payment to medical staff for vaccination of the population against COVID-19, monthly allowance of BGN 600 for doctors, BGN 360 for nurses and midwives and BGN 120 for hospital attendants, etc. The payments under the 60/40 measure, the 80/20 measure, the Keep Me measure, the Turnover Support for SMEs Affected by the Temporary Anti-Epidemic Measures measure administered by the NRA, etc. have contributed to the growing subsidy expenses for non-financial enterprises. Capital expenditures have also increased in comparison to the same period of the previous year, which is due to payments related to investment projects of the Bulgarian army, road infrastructure sites, etc.

Non-interest expenditures amount to BGN 15,638.1 million, which accounts for 31.2% of the annual estimates. Non-interest current expenditures amount to BGN 14,428.4 million. Capital expenditures (including net increment of state reserve) amount to BGN 1,199.4 million. The current and capital transfers to other countries amount to BGN 10.4 million. Interest payments amount to BGN 327.5 million, or 49.8% of those planned for 2021.

The part of Bulgaria’s contribution to the EU budget, as paid from the central budget as of 30.04.2021, amounts to BGN 574.9 million, which complies with the existing legislation in the area of EU own resources.

The fiscal reserve as of 30.04.2021 is BGN 8.8 billion, including BGN 7.7 billion of fiscal reserve deposits in the BNB and in banks and BGN 1.1 billion of receivables under the EU Funds for certified expenditures, advance payments, etc.

The Consolidated Fiscal Programme implementation data as of 30 April 2021 are published on the website of the Ministry of Finance, in Statistics section. The statistics is accompanied by an Information Bulletin on the Execution of the State Budget and the Main Indicators of the Consolidated Fiscal Programme, which represents a short analysis of the performance of the key budget parameters on a consolidated level and by constituent budgets.