Tax evasion flourishes among Bulgarian officials

Some 291 Bulgarian public officials have not declared assets in their tax declarations, Bulgarian internet daily novinite.com reported.

“A large number of Bulgarian magistrates, mayors, senior officials and politicians have failed to declare family income and property in 2012,” novinite.com wrote.

Individuals listed by the media include Angel S, the Head of the State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR), who did not declare the acquisition and sale of a holiday property, plus a mortgage on the property, and Plamen T, the head of the National Health Insurance Fund (NZOK), who did not declare several properties or additional income.

The list goes on, however, with foreign and interior ministry officials also being accused of tax evasion.

“NAO [the National Audit Office] established omissions in declarations for Members of Parliament from almost all parliamentary represented parties while tax declarations of local mayors and municipal council people include the most numerous discrepancies – 160,” novinite.com wrote.

Bulgarian law states that the tax discrepancies must be followed up.