The National Assembly has finally adopted a VAT rate of 9% for restaurant and catering services, for books, baby food, diapers and sanitary materials. The measure will be temporary and will be in force from July 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021.
At the discussion, the VAT rate was set at 20% for tour operator services, medicines and spirits, wines and beers served in restaurants.
Regarding the temporary nature of the changed rate for books, Milko Nedyalkov from the BSP insisted, due to the nature of the sector, that it remain permanent. He stressed that it is not possible for publishers to publish more books now, just because of the reduced rate, and did not understand the conditions under which unsold books will be sold after December 31 next year.
The meeting finally approved the provision of holiday vouchers worth BGN 210 for employees of the security and healthcare system. The granting of one-time assistance for eighth-graders, whose families have an average monthly income for 2019 of no more than BGN 450, was also accepted. The amount of financial assistance will be determined by a decree of the Council of Ministers.
