I decided to do an online research on the latest news regarding the 2025 LSG, using ChatGPT with parameters "ChatGPT 03-mini-high" and "Deep research". After about 5 minutes of extensive searching of over 10 sources, I came up with the following analysis, which I decided to publish.

Delay of the 2025 Environmental Protection Act and its reasons

The State Social Security Budget Act (SSBA) for 2025 had not yet been adopted by the beginning of the year ​ tita.bg . Usually, the SSBA is voted on together with the state budget, but this year there has been a delay due to political reasons. The draft budget for 2025, prepared by the caretaker government at the end of 2024, was withdrawn at the end of January 2025 , which further postponed its adoption ​ knsb-bg.org . This delay leaves the parameters from the previous year in force until the adoption of the new law. In practice, the social security system is currently operating within the 2024 framework, according to a special temporary law ​ knsb-bg.org .

The reason for the delay is mainly political – the new government considers that it needs to make adjustments to the budget, instead of continuing with the option proposed by the interim cabinet ​ knsb-bg.org . This has led to the need for more time to revise and coordinate the state budget, and with it the budget of the Public Health Insurance Fund. As a result, all related regulatory acts (including the budget of the National Health Insurance Fund) are delayed ​ tita.bg .

The new minimum wage (MW) – 1077 BGN from 2025.

Despite the lack of an adopted budget, as of January 1, 2025, the minimum monthly wage for the country has been increased to 1,077 leva (6.49 leva per hour) dv.parliament.bg . This was done by Decree No. 359 of the Council of Ministers of 23.10.2024, published in the State Gazette. Employers are obliged under the Labor Code to provide at least this amount of gross remuneration for a full working month dv.parliament.bg .

It is important to note that the new minimum wage of 1077 leva applies regardless of the delay in budget laws. Accountants should update the remuneration of employees on the minimum wage, starting from January. All social security contributions on income (salaries) must be calculated on no less than 1077 leva where the employee is full-time and the previous salary was below this amount.

Minimum insurance thresholds for 2025 – current situation

The minimum social security income by main economic activities and qualification groups of professions (the so-called minimum social security thresholds ) for 2025 has not yet been updated with a new law. Until the adoption of the Social Security Act 2025, the minimum thresholds set out in Appendix No. 1 to the Social Security Act for 2024 will continue to apply.​ tita.bg . This means that for now the social security thresholds remain at their 2024 levels. tita.bg .

Since the minimum wage for the country was 933 BGN in 2024, the lowest thresholds were equalized to this amount tita.bg . However, now the minimum wage is higher (1077 BGN), and the thresholds temporarily remain at their old levels. In practice, in some sectors the minimum insurance threshold for positions without qualifications remained 933 BGN, which is below the new minimum wage tita.bg . In these cases, this discrepancy does not exempt the employer - he must still charge insurance contributions on at least 1077 BGN (since the real salary cannot be below the minimum wage). For positions and sectors with higher minimum thresholds (above 1077 BGN), the higher threshold is naturally applied until the new values ​​come into effect.

The minimum social security income for self-employed persons also temporarily remains at 933 leva (the amount from 2024) tita.bg . The new ZBDOO 2025 is expected to increase it (probably to the level of the minimum social security income of 1077 leva), but until this happens, the self-employed can legally insure themselves at a minimum of 933 leva per month. Keep in mind that this temporary exception will lead to the need to pay additional social security contributions retroactively if the new law increases the minimum from the beginning of the year. Accountants should monitor this change and inform self-employed persons that they may be required to pay additional social security contributions for the first months of 2025 (on the difference above 933 leva).

The maximum monthly social security income currently also remains at the level of 2024 – 3750 BGN tita.bg . This is the ceiling above which social security contributions are not due for now. It is possible that with the 2025 Social Security Act this maximum will be updated (there are proposals for an increase, e.g. to around 4130 BGN from 2025 mediapool.bg ), but until a law is passed, amounts above 3750 BGN are not taxed. If the maximum income is subsequently increased retroactively from January 1, employers with highly paid employees must be prepared to add social security contributions to the difference above 3750 BGN (up to the new ceiling).

Differentiated contributions for occupational accidents and illnesses – no change for now

The budget of the DOO also annually determines the amounts of insurance contributions for the “Occupational Accident and Occupational Disease” fund by groups of main economic activities (differentiated percentage rates according to risk). Since the ZBDOO 2025 is not in force, the rates from 2024 continue to apply for this item​ tita.bg . For each company, the percentage for this fund remains the same as it was last year - between 0.4% and 1.1% according to the economic activity, determined by Appendix No. 2 to Art. 14 of the ZBDOO 2024 tita.bg . Accountants must use the previous percentages when calculating the insurance contributions due for January and the following months until a new decree or law with an update is issued.

The good news is that there is no change in the contribution to the "Guaranteed Claims of Workers and Employees" fund - it remains 0%, as it was in 2024. ​ tita.bg . This means that employers do not pay separate insurance for this fund in 2025 either, unless a new law decides otherwise (which is unlikely at this stage).

What accountants should (not) do while waiting for the changes

Do not make sudden changes based on unofficial information. In periods of regulatory uncertainty, the best approach is to comply with the rules and laws currently in force, without guessing what may be adopted. Follow the current legislation to date , namely: apply the thresholds and percentages from 2024, together with the new minimum wage for 2025 that has already entered into force. Avoid entering estimated values ​​​​in software or tables – wait for official changes.

Do not delay current obligations and reports. In other words, do not postpone the submission of declarations and reports (for example, Declarations Form No. 1 and No. 6 for social security) in the hope that the new law will be issued soon and so you can submit them directly with the new data. The law may be delayed further, and in the meantime, missing deadlines will lead to violations. It is better to submit declarations on time according to the current rules than to risk fines for delay. If a correction is subsequently required (for example, to declared social security income), it can be made with a corrective declaration radiovelikotarnovo.com. Practice shows that tax systems and regulators are prepared to accept such corrections in the event of legislative changes​ radiovelikotarnovo.com.

Plan ahead, but be flexible. You can inform your management or clients about what parameters are expected to change (e.g. higher maximum insurance incomes or thresholds) and how this would affect them financially. Prepare for different scenarios, but do not take action until the changes are official. For example, if you expect an increase in a certain insurance threshold, you can set aside a reserve for additional insurance payments instead of paying these amounts as other expenses.

Follow the official sources – Ministry of Finance, National Social Security Institute, National Revenue Agency. Pay attention to the transitional and final provisions of the law when it comes out, because they often indicate how to proceed retroactively. There may be guidelines or instructions from the National Revenue Agency for corrections without penalties, as well as extended deadlines for certain reports. Your role is to be informed and ready to react as soon as the regulatory changes come into force.

Patience and a pragmatic approach – key qualities at the moment

In times of regulatory uncertainty , patience is especially important. For accountants, this means staying calm and continuing with your routine work under current rules, without giving in to the stress of expected changes. Panic or hasty actions can lead to mistakes – such as incorrectly calculated insurance contributions or missed deadlines. Instead, take a pragmatic approach and focus on what can be done now (based on current regulations), and prepare a plan for what will need to be done when the changes occur.

Pragmatism in your work also helps you communicate with managers and employees. Explain the situation to them: that the rules are temporarily the same as last year's, but changes are expected. Assure them that you are monitoring developments and will make the necessary adjustments in a timely manner. This way you demonstrate professionalism and build trust.

Last but not least, patience will protect you from unnecessary workload. Instead of repeatedly changing salaries, advance payments or documents, wait for the final decisions. This saves double work – entering data now and correcting it again later. Calmness and reasonable actions now will save you effort and potential penalties in the future.

Will the NRA impose fines for delays due to changes?

Many accountants are concerned about whether delayed or corrected declarations for objective reasons (due to the late adoption of the law) will lead to sanctions from the National Revenue Agency. Historically, the NRA has shown understanding in situations of regulatory changes . In similar cases in the past, when insurance thresholds or incomes were changed retroactively, the agency has given instructions for corrections, without sanctioning conscientious payers who made the necessary corrections in a timely manner​ radiovelikotarnovo.com.

It is important to make a distinction: there will be no fines if you meet the current deadlines and then correct them if necessary . However, if you decide to delay filing your returns or paying your contributions without an official extension of the deadline, then you are subject to a penalty under the current rules. In other words, the NRA will not fine you for submitting correct information under the old rules and then correcting it under the new ones – this is expected behavior. But the NRA could fine you if you do not submit information at all or submit it after the statutory deadline without reason .

When adopting the 2025 Tax and Revenue Code, there may be explicit instructions from the NRA or legal texts that address the period before adoption. Watch for such instructions. For example, it is possible to provide a grace period for additional contributions to social security contributions, without interest, if they are paid by a certain date after the promulgation of the law - similar measures have been taken in the past. If such instructions are absent, the standard rules for interest on late payments will automatically apply.

Summary : If you act according to the law now and then conscientiously bring the reports and the amounts paid in accordance with the new requirements, the risk of fines is minimal. The NRA is mainly interested in collecting the due social security contributions correctly, and not in punishing the business in an extraordinary situation for everyone. Your task is to fulfill your current obligations and be ready to react to change - as professionalism requires.

In conclusion , the waiting period for the 2025 Accounting Act requires increased attention from accountants, but it should not cause unnecessary stress. Stick to the current rules, monitor official sources for updates, and be ready to adapt your work. With the right balance between patience and proactivity, you will ensure legality of accounting reporting and peace of mind for your organization and clients.