What is the corporate tax rate in Bulgaria vs Greece?

Bulgaria charges a flat 10% flat corporate tax. Greece charges 22%.

How much share capital do you need in Bulgaria vs Greece?

Bulgaria requires only BGN 2 (≈ €1) of share capital. Greece requires €1 (IKE).

How long does it take to register a company in Bulgaria compared to Greece?

Bulgarian companies are typically registered in 3-7 business days. In Greece, expect 1-3 weeks.

Why do EU founders choose Bulgaria over Greece?

10% corporate tax against 22% in Greece on identical profit 20% standard VAT instead of 24%, which matters for domestic B2C pricing No compulsory EFKA owner contribution bands regardless of whether the company earns Filing and audit thresholds are lighter for a small EOOD than for a Greek IKE with an accountant on retainer Registration in days with no in-person tax office visits

When is Greece the better jurisdiction than Bulgaria?

Businesses serving Greek consumers, tourism or real estate where local presence is the product Founders eligible for the Greek 50% non-dom employment income exemption on a salary rather than dividends

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Jurisdiction comparison · 2026

Bulgaria 🇧🇬 vs Greece 🇬🇷: Where Should EU Founders Incorporate in 2026?

Greece matched Bulgaria on the 5% dividend rate but not on corporate tax, VAT or fixed social contributions. For a location-independent business the gap is still worth several thousand euros a year.

Head-to-head

	Bulgaria 🇧🇬	Greece 🇬🇷
Corporate tax	10% flat	22%
Dividend tax	5%	5%
VAT rate	20% (0% intra-EU B2B)	24%
Min. share capital	BGN 2 (≈ €1)	€1 (IKE)
Setup time	3-7 business days	1-3 weeks
EU membership	Yes (since 2007)	Yes (since 1981)
Social contributions	~32% (capped at BGN 4,130/mo)	EFKA flat bands, roughly €1,600-€5,000+/yr for owners

Why Bulgaria wins

10% corporate tax against 22% in Greece on identical profit
20% standard VAT instead of 24%, which matters for domestic B2C pricing
No compulsory EFKA owner contribution bands regardless of whether the company earns
Filing and audit thresholds are lighter for a small EOOD than for a Greek IKE with an accountant on retainer
Registration in days with no in-person tax office visits

When Greece is the better pick

Businesses serving Greek consumers, tourism or real estate where local presence is the product
Founders eligible for the Greek 50% non-dom employment income exemption on a salary rather than dividends

What founders moving from Greece need to model

Greece is more competitive than its reputation suggests: dividends are taxed at 5%, the same as Bulgaria, and an IKE can be formed with nominal capital. The divergence is at the corporate layer, where Greece charges 22% against Bulgaria's 10%, and in mandatory EFKA contributions that owners pay in fixed bands whether or not the company is profitable. Greek VAT at 24% also sits four points above Bulgaria's 20%, which is only relevant for domestic consumer sales but real when it is. For Greek founders whose clients are abroad, a Bulgarian EOOD keeps the EU VAT number and cuts the corporate layer by more than half; those staying to serve the Greek domestic market, or claiming the 50% non-dom exemption on Greek employment income, usually should not move.

Read the Bulgaria tax residency guide

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