Issue invoices as a freelancer, with or without VAT
Working on your own? smetni issues invoices, quotes and notes for clients in Bulgaria and abroad. If you are not VAT-registered, the legal basis under Art. 113(9) of the VAT Act is printed on the invoice automatically.
Suitable plan: Starter
How it works
From the first client to the paid invoice.
Register your company
You enter your EIK (company ID) and the details are filled in from the Commercial Register. You add a VAT number only if you are VAT-registered.
Add the client
The client can be a business or an individual, in Bulgaria or abroad. The VAT number of an EU business is checked in VIES.
Issue the invoice
If you are not VAT-registered, the invoice carries no VAT and the legal basis under Art. 113(9) of the VAT Act is printed automatically. For a client abroad the document can be in English.
Send and track
The client gets an email with a link to the portal, where they see the document and your bank account. You record the payment and see what is left.
What it looks like in practice
Three situations from the work of a freelancer.
An invoice without VAT
A developer who is not VAT-registered invoices a Bulgarian company. The invoice carries no VAT, the legal basis under Art. 113(9) of the VAT Act is printed automatically, and the client gets an email with a link to the portal.
A client outside the EU
A translator works for an agency in the United States. The invoice is in English and in US dollars, with the translator's company details in English. The ECB rate on the issue date is recorded in the document, and you record the payment when it arrives.
Registering for VAT
Turnover grows and the company registers for VAT. smetni finds the new VAT number in VIES and suggests adding it. You enter the registration date, invoices from that date carry VAT, and those issued after it without VAT are flagged for correction.
The modules you will use
Each module has its own page with the details.
What you get
Everything you need to invoice on your own.
Suitable plan
Starter
Starter covers invoices, quotes, notes and the client portal for up to 25 clients. Pro adds recurring invoices, reminders, Purchases and a second user for your accountant.
Compare plansWith or without VAT
- The Art. 113(9) legal basis is printed automatically if you are not VAT-registered
- smetni checks VIES every day for a new VAT number
- After VAT registration you set the date from which invoices carry VAT
- Invoices issued after that date without VAT are flagged for correction
Clients abroad
- Reverse charge for EU businesses with a VAT number, if you are VAT-registered
- No Bulgarian VAT on services to businesses outside the EU, where the place of supply is outside Bulgaria (Art. 21(2) of the VAT Act)
- English documents, with your company details in English
- 17 currencies, at the ECB rate on the issue date
Documents and clients
- A catalogue of the services you sell often
- A percentage discount per line or for the whole document
- A client portal without sign-up, with the PDF and your bank account
- Recurring invoices and payment reminders (Pro and higher plans)
Frequently asked questions
Can I issue invoices if I am not VAT-registered?
Yes. When your company has no VAT number, your invoices carry no VAT, and the legal basis under Art. 113(9) of the VAT Act is printed on them. These documents stay out of the VAT ledgers.
What happens when I register for VAT?
smetni checks VIES every day for a VAT number for your company and suggests adding it. You enter the date you are registered from, and invoices from that date carry VAT. Documents issued after it without VAT are flagged, and recurring invoices start charging VAT.
How do I invoice a client abroad?
If you are VAT-registered, an invoice to an EU business with a VAT number uses reverse charge, and the legal wording is printed on the document. For a service to a business outside the EU, Bulgarian VAT is not charged, because the place of supply is outside Bulgaria (Art. 21(2) of the VAT Act). The document can be in English and in one of 17 currencies.
What do I need to get started?
An email address and your company's EIK (company ID) or a 9-digit BULSTAT code. With an EIK, your company details are filled in from the Commercial Register. The Starter plan is for one user and up to 25 clients.
Can I give my accountant access?
Yes, on Pro and higher plans, which include two users. Your accountant signs in with their own account and the Accountant role and sees the same documents.
Guides
Detailed instructions, step by step.
Other types of business
See how other businesses use smetni.
Get started with smetni.app
No lock-in. Cancel at any time in Settings.
Numbering, VAT scenarios and mandatory details under the VAT Act.
Invoice data is stored in data centers within the European Union.
Encryption at rest and in transit.
Backups every day, restorable when needed.