Truffle Hunters Block Ruse-Sofia Road

Konstantin Karagyozov

The protest in Ruse (BTA Photo)

Ruse, on the Danube,

13.10.2023 14:06

(BTA)

Truffle hunters staged a protest in Ruse on Friday, blocking traffic on the key road, connecting Ruse to Sofia. The reason for the protest is the Finance Ministry’s proposal to introduce a patent tax.

Svetlozar Siderov, Chairperson of the National Truffle Hunters Federation, said the Ministry is proposing to change the method of income taxation without consulting people in the truffle hunting industry. He said that until now the tax on their produce was 10% and each truffle trader paid it on behalf of the hunter from whom he bought the truffles. "For us, [introducing] a patent tax is not appropriate because this activity is done by pensioners, minorities, people who are permanently unemployed. They have to take on all the administrative burden, which can lead them into the grey sector. From a financial point of view, this is not fair either, because some [hunters] earn little and others earn more. By introducing patent tax, everyone will have to pay the same, which is not fair," Siderov explained.

He explained that the National Truffle Hunters Federation had requested a meeting with Finance Minister Assen Vassilev, but so far no one has contacted them. "We are forced to be heard, we will go to the Ministry of Finance if necessary " Siderov added.

He said that, according to unofficial information, there are about 30,000 truffle hunters in Bulgaria.

/RY/