Everything about the pension system for self-employed workers in Bulgaria: NOI, ДОО contributions, pillars 2 & 3, minimum base and optimisation.
The Bulgarian system is built on three pillars: a mandatory scheme managed by NOI, a universal pension fund (UPFC), and voluntary savings.
The NOI (Национален осигурителен институт) manages the mandatory pension scheme. Self-employed persons (самоосигуряващи се лица) must contribute on a self-declared income between 933 BGN and 3,750 BGN per month. The minimum pension is 523 BGN/month.
The total rate depends on the insured person's year of birth.
Self-employed choose their contribution base between the minimum (933 BGN/month, ~EUR477) and the maximum (3,750 BGN/month, ~EUR1,917). A low choice means lower contributions but also a lower future pension.
Mandatory for those born after 1959: 5.68% of contributions are redirected to a universal pension fund (UPFC). This pillar capitalises to supplement the public pension.
Savings in a voluntary fund (DPFC) are tax-deductible up to 10% of annual income. Not mandatory, but recommended to compensate for the low level of public pensions.
Declaring an income above the minimum (933 BGN) proportionally increases your future pension. The gap between minimum and maximum base (3,750 BGN) is substantial.
Voluntary contributions are deductible up to 10% of income. An essential supplement given the low level of Bulgarian public pensions.
A minimum of 15 years of insurance is required for an old-age pension. Regularly check your record with NOI.
With a minimum pension of 523 BGN (~EUR267), the public pension alone is insufficient. Plan for supplementary savings or passive income.
Our financial analysis tools help you optimise your contributions and plan your self-employed retirement in Bulgaria.
Discover our solutionsThe retirement age is 64 years and 6 months for men and 62 years and 2 months for women (2024), gradually rising to 65/63 by 2027. A minimum of 15 years of insurance is required.
The total rate for the Pensions fund (ДОО) is 19.8% for those born before 1960, or 14.12% + 5.68% redirected to the UPFC for those born after 1959.
The minimum base is 933 BGN/month (~EUR477). The maximum base is 3,750 BGN/month (~EUR1,917). Self-employed persons freely choose within this range.
For those born after 1959, 5.68% of contributions are mandatorily paid into a universal pension fund (UPFC). This capital is managed by a pension fund company and supplements the public pension at retirement.
Yes, payments into a voluntary fund (DPFC) are deductible from taxable income up to 10% of annual income. This is a key lever given the low level of Bulgarian pensions.
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