The National Revenue Agency classes Bulgarians earning more than 7200 leva a year as “rich” and according to agency figures, there are more than 53 000 such people in the country, generally estimated to have a population of about 7.5 million.

The number of wealthy people, according to revenue agency figures, is not, of course, entirely accurate. First, because the level of tax compliance in Bulgaria is unknown. Second, because dividend income is not declared in personal income tax forms.

According to the agency, the figure for 2005 was about 5000 people more than that for 2004. This may be read as indicating a growth in individual wealth, or a higher level of tax compliance, although in the absence of more complete data, either conclusion might be shaky.

As of the end of March 2006, the agency had collected 297.5 million leva in income tax from physical persons. This is four per cent higher than in the same period of 2005.

The rate of collection of corporate tax also was higher than in the same period of 2005, adding up to 446 million leva by the end of March 2006, an increase of 61 million leva.

The agency found that 177 people owed a total of 6.5 million leva in outstanding taxes.