The issue “Taxation of NGOs” has been updated, supplemented and printed in a new edition. The book is a publication of the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law (BCNL) issued with the support of the Open Society Institute - Sofia.

We are presenting to you the final version of the suggestions for amendments and supplements to the NGO law drafted the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law based on the Concept for changes to the NGO legislation in Bulgaria.

Trust for Civil Society in Central & Eastern Europe (“CEE Trust”) is an independent public charity incorporated under the laws of the United States of America and governed by a Board of Trustees.

The Council’s main objective will be to draw up common rules of interaction between civil society organizations and state institutions.

We would like to remind you that the deadline for submittal of the annual tax declaration under the Law on Corporate Income Taxation is expiring on March 31, 2006. All not-for-profit legal entities which have performed economic activity through year 2005 and/or owe taxes withheld at the source for the same year are obliged to submit an annual tax declaration.

In the state budget for 2006 year, despite direct subsidies from the central budget for certain non-profit legal entities, there is a subsidy reserve created for funding projects of NGOs designated for performing activities in public benefit, registered in the Central Registry with the Ministry of Justice. This practice started in 2005.

The issue “Legal framework of the social services in Bulgaria”, prepared by experts of the Bulgarian Center for-Not-for Profit law (BCNL), has been updated and printed in a new edition.

On February 10th, 2006 in Alexander hall of Radisson SAS hotel, Sofia was hold a discussion meeting about the forthcoming changes in the Constitution of Republic of Bulgaria, organized by the Bulgarian Center for-Non-for Profit Law and the Judicial Strengthening Initiative with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development.

On January 1st, 2006 amendments to the tax laws, some of which concerning the non-profit legal entities, entered into force.

The State Budget Act for 2006 like the one for 2005 provides for a financial reserve designated for supporting the projects of public benefit NGOs, registered in the Central registry which amount is 929 900 BGN. For the last year, the amount of the reserve was 798 800 lv.