Jurisdiction comparison · 2026
Portugal was the founder's darling 2020-2023. With NHR gone and the corporate rate still at 21%, Bulgaria has overtaken it as the most efficient EU operating jurisdiction.
| Bulgaria 🇧🇬 | Portugal 🇵🇹 | |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate tax | 10% flat | 21% (17% on first €50K) |
| Dividend tax | 5% | 28% |
| VAT rate | 20% (0% intra-EU B2B) | 23% |
| Min. share capital | BGN 2 (≈ €1) | €1 (Lda) |
| Setup time | 3-7 business days | 1-2 weeks |
| EU membership | Yes (since 2007) | Yes (1986) |
| Social contributions | ~32% (capped at BGN 4,130/mo) | ~34.75% (23.75% employer + 11% employee) |
We've helped 750+ EU founders incorporate in Bulgaria. Setup in 5 business days, fully remote, English throughout.
