Ruse Horse

The Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (BTC) emerged to be winner in the 2005 contest of top taxpayer. The awarding is organised annually by the National Revenues Agency to recognize the country's largest natural and legal persons filling in the exchequer. Second came winner 2004 - oil giant LukOil Neftochim, followed by Maritsa East Mines. Among the individual taxpayers Valentin Zahariev emerged to have submitted the highest tax-due declaration for 2005. Previous winner, Todor Batkov, owner of FC Levski, retreated to third place, after Kiril Zahariev, in 2005. The initiative of awarding the company - and the individual - with most taxes paid during the elapsed year has been held for several years now by the taxation and social security authority and Darik Radio under the auspices of Bulgaria's Finance Minister. Awards for biggest social security contributor and self-insured person were also given out on a lavish ceremony Thursday evening in Sofia. Motorola Bulgaria, Maritsa East and Balkan News Corporation swept the first prizes in the three staff-number categories for most lavish taxes and social securities paid during the year.

Ruse Bulgarian Telco Top Taxpayer of 2005