The National Revenue Agency has intensified control in tourist areas along the Black Sea coast at the start of the summer season. Since June 29, inspectors have checked over 330 commercial sites – restaurants, hotels, shops, and other services in coastal resorts. According to official information, violations were found in about 100 of them, meaning that almost a third of those inspected do not comply with the requirements.
Main irregularities: lack of receipts and cash discrepancies
The revenue agency indicates that the most frequent violations are related to "failure to issue receipts" and "discrepancies in the cash register" compared to the reported amounts. These are classic signs of turnover concealment and attempts to avoid taxation, especially during a period of intensive tourist flow.
Inspectors are also checking whether seasonal workers have "real employment contracts and social security". In the tourism sector, where hiring staff for the summer months is common practice, cases of work without a contract or with fictitious social security data are not rare.
Intensive inspections due to the introduction of the euro
In parallel with traditional summer control, teams from the NRA and the Commission for Consumer Protection (CPC) are conducting intensified checks for "speculative price hikes" in connection with the upcoming introduction of the euro. Inspections will continue with high intensity until August 8, covering not only the Black Sea coast but also other tourist and urban areas.
To date, "over 20,000" inspections have been carried out in the country, often involving so-called "mystery shoppers". As a result, "1,300 acts" for violations have been drawn up – from incorrect labeling of double prices (in levs and euros) to actual unjustified increases in the cost of goods and services.
Consumer rights
The revenue agency reminds that by law, customers have the right to "withhold payment until they receive a receipt". This means that if a merchant does not issue a fiscal receipt, the consumer can refuse to pay, report it on the spot, or file a complaint with the NRA and CPC.
The purpose of the increased control is to ensure that the introduction of the euro will not be used as a pretext for unjustified price increases, as well as to limit the shadow economy in highly busy tourist areas. The NRA and CPC urge citizens to be active and report suspected irregularities – both in the case of missing receipts and sudden, unexplained price jumps.