Measures to assist in the modernisation of the Bulgarian Financial Administration

Bulgaria's accession to the European Union in 2007 presented it with new challenges. So Crown Agents, which for the previous five years had been helping the country modernise its customs agency, worked with the Ministry of Finance on a third stage to this reform programme.

The company worked with the finance ministry and other arms of the Bulgarian state to protect the interests of legitimate taxpayers by improving controls and inter-agency co-operation which helped transform the tax culture, creating a better business climate and generating more public revenue for the country as a whole.

Over the period Crown Agents worked in Bulgaria customs revenue more than doubled, thanks to the measures taken by the Government, with our support, to reduce risks to the national budget and secure the country's financial stability. In particular we addressed value-added tax evasion and tax fraud in general, introducing new risk analysis and control systems and improving co-operation between revenue administrations.

The programme involved ten permanent advisors, with additional short-tem specialists, working in close partnership with the Ministry, its revenue agencies and other government bodies to ensure success.