What is the cheapest way to receive US dollars in Bulgaria?

There is no single answer, because costs depend on how the client pays and whether you convert to euro. Ask each provider for all fees on a sample amount, compare the conversion rate with the ECB reference rate, and include intermediary fees on international wires.

Do I have to convert US dollars to euro when I receive them?

Not necessarily. A USD account at a bank, a multi-currency fintech account or a USD account that converts to USDC lets you hold dollars and convert later. Your income is still valued in euro for tax on the date you receive it.

Why does it matter that the account is in my own name?

Clients' finance teams and compliance checks often expect the beneficiary name to match the invoice. Crypto platforms and banks also tend to reject or return payments to and from accounts in someone else's name, which can delay your money.

How is foreign income in USD taxed in Bulgaria?

Under Article 10, paragraph 3 of the Personal Income Tax Act, money income in another currency is converted to euro at the BNB reference rate on the date it is acquired, which for a bank transfer is the date your account is credited. Freelance income then follows its own rules.

Is converting USD to USDC a taxable event?

Buying USDC is an acquisition of a crypto-asset. Selling or exchanging USDC later is a taxable deal under Article 33, paragraph 3, with the gain or loss measured in euro. This is general information, not tax advice.

What does xChange.bg charge to receive USD?

Accounts and conversions are provided by regulated partner Bridge (a Stripe company). The account is free. Incoming money converts to USDC with an on-ramp fee of 1.5% (minimum EUR 1). Sending money back to a bank account costs 1.25% (minimum EUR 2). Transfers between xChange.bg clients are free and on-chain transfers cost the network fee.

Can a US client pay me by ACH instead of an international wire?

Only if you have US receiving details that accept ACH. A Bulgarian IBAN receives SEPA transfers and international wires, not ACH. Accounts with US details in your name, such as xChange.bg USD accounts provided by regulated partner Bridge (a Stripe company), accept both ACH and wire.

How to get paid in US dollars from abroad when you live in Bulgaria

By xChange.bg team
Published 16 September 2026

A US client wants to pay your invoice in dollars. A platform pays out in USD. A foreign company sends a monthly retainer. For freelancers, developers, designers and small companies in Bulgaria this is routine, and yet part of the money can disappear between the client's bank and yours: in fees nobody listed on the invoice and in exchange rates slightly worse than the market. This guide compares the three main ways to receive US dollars in 2026 and shows what to check before you send your payment details to a client.

What are the ways to receive US dollars in Bulgaria?

Option	What the client sends	Account in your name?	Where the money lands	Main costs to check
SWIFT wire to a Bulgarian bank	International wire to your IBAN	Yes	USD or EUR account at your bank	Sender fee, intermediary bank fees, receiving fee, conversion markup
Fintech multi-currency account	Wire or local transfer to the details the app provides	Check the account name shown on the details	Balance in the app	Receiving fee, conversion markup, plan fees, limits
USD account that converts to USDC	ACH or wire to US account details	Yes, with xChange.bg	USDC in a wallet you control	Conversion fee, fee to cash out to a bank, network fees

Each route can be the right one. The best choice depends on who pays you, how often, how much, and whether you need euro straight away.

How does a SWIFT transfer to a Bulgarian bank work?

This is the default. You give the client your IBAN, the bank's SWIFT/BIC code and your name exactly as the bank holds it. The client's bank sends an international wire, which may pass through one or more correspondent banks before it reaches yours.

What to watch:

Who pays the fees. Wires can be sent with the sender paying all fees, the recipient paying all fees, or the fees shared. With shared or recipient-paid fees, intermediary banks can deduct their charges from the amount on the way.
Which currency lands. If you have only a euro account, your bank converts the dollars at its own rate. Ask whether you can open a USD account to receive dollars without automatic conversion.
The conversion rate. Compare your bank's USD/EUR rate with the ECB reference rate for the same day. The difference is the markup you pay on top of any listed fee. The ECB publishes reference rates for information on each working day at around 16:00 CET.
Incoming transfer fees. Many banks charge for receiving international wires. Check your tariff.

Bank transfers are familiar to clients and accountants, which is their main advantage. The weak points are unclear total cost and the time it takes to trace a delayed payment.

Are fintech accounts better for receiving USD?

Fintech apps with multi-currency balances can give you account details for receiving money and let you convert at a published rate. They often suit freelancers who invoice several currencies.

Before you rely on one, check:

Whose name is on the details. Some apps give personal account details in your name; others use pooled accounts where the payment goes to the provider with a reference code. The second model can confuse clients' payment systems and compliance checks.
Whether the details accept the payment type your client uses. A European IBAN receives SEPA transfers and international wires, while US clients often prefer ACH, which needs US account details.
Plan limits and fair usage rules on conversions, which can change the cost above a monthly amount.
Where you can send the money next, and what that costs.

How does a USD account that converts to USDC work?

This newer route combines ordinary bank rails with a stablecoin. The client pays a normal US dollar transfer; the money arrives as USDC, a dollar stablecoin issued by Circle, in a wallet you control.

With xChange.bg, for example, the flow is:

You open a USD account in your own name. xChange.bg accounts and conversions are provided by regulated partner Bridge (a Stripe company).
You give the client the US account details. The client can pay by ACH or wire.
Incoming dollars convert to USDC in your self-custody wallet. The on-ramp fee is 1.5%, with a minimum of EUR 1.
You decide what to do next: hold USDC, send it on a blockchain, move it free and instantly to another xChange.bg client, or send money back to any bank account. The off-ramp fee is 1.25%, with a minimum of EUR 2.

A worked example on the published fees: a client pays USD 5,000. The 1.5% on-ramp fee is USD 75, so USD 4,925 arrives as USDC. If you later send USD 4,925 back to a bank account, the 1.25% off-ramp fee is about USD 61.56. Where a currency conversion to euro is involved, compare the rate used with the ECB reference rate as well. You can model other amounts with the stablecoin fee calculator.

The trade-off: you hold a crypto-asset between receiving and cashing out, you are responsible for your wallet, and your accountant needs the records of each conversion.

What should you compare before choosing?

Total cost on a real amount. Add every fee on a typical invoice, for example USD 2,000, and compare the euro you end up with, not just the headline fee.
Currency markup. Compare quoted rates with the ECB or BNB reference rate on the same day.
Account in your own name. It reduces returned payments and questions from clients' finance teams.
Payment types accepted. ACH, wire, SEPA: match what your clients can send.
What you can do with the money next. Hold, convert, pay suppliers abroad, withdraw to a Bulgarian bank.
Support. When a payment is stuck, support in Bulgarian and a real office help. xChange.bg, for instance, offers support in Bulgarian and English and has an office on Vitosha Blvd. in Sofia.
Records. Statements that show date, amount, currency and conversion rate for each payment make your tax return easier.

How is income from foreign clients taxed in Bulgaria?

The general rules for individuals, from the Personal Income Tax Act (ЗДДФЛ):

Conversion to euro. Money income in another currency is converted to euro at the reference rate published by the Bulgarian National Bank on the date it is acquired (Article 10, paragraph 3). For a bank transfer, income is acquired on the date your account is credited (Article 11, paragraph 1, item 2).
Freelance work. For income from a liberal profession (other than lawyers and notaries) or from non-employment contracts, the taxable income is reduced by 25% statutory expenses (Article 29, paragraph 1, item 3).
Later crypto deals. If you receive or convert payments into USDC and later sell or exchange it, that is a separate deal under Article 33, paragraph 3, taxed on the net annual result. Because USDC tracks the dollar, a move in EUR/USD between receipt and sale creates a gain or loss in euro. See the crypto tax guide for Bulgaria.

Companies follow corporate tax and accounting rules instead. This section is general information, not tax advice: confirm your situation with an accountant, especially if you are self-employed or invoice through a company.

A checklist before you send payment details to a client

Confirm the account holder name matches your invoice.
Send complete details for the payment type the client will use.
For wires, ask the client to cover their bank's fees where possible.
Test with a small first payment and note the amount that actually arrived.
Save the statement, the BNB rate for the date and the invoice together.
If you plan to pay suppliers abroad from the same balance, read sending money abroad with stablecoins.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way to receive US dollars in Bulgaria?: There is no single answer, because costs depend on how the client pays and whether you convert to euro. Ask each provider for all fees on a sample amount, compare the conversion rate with the ECB reference rate, and include intermediary fees on international wires.
Do I have to convert US dollars to euro when I receive them?: Not necessarily. A USD account at a bank, a multi-currency fintech account or a USD account that converts to USDC lets you hold dollars and convert later. Your income is still valued in euro for tax on the date you receive it.
Why does it matter that the account is in my own name?: Clients' finance teams and compliance checks often expect the beneficiary name to match the invoice. Crypto platforms and banks also tend to reject or return payments to and from accounts in someone else's name, which can delay your money.
How is foreign income in USD taxed in Bulgaria?: Under Article 10, paragraph 3 of the Personal Income Tax Act, money income in another currency is converted to euro at the BNB reference rate on the date it is acquired, which for a bank transfer is the date your account is credited. Freelance income then follows its own rules.
Is converting USD to USDC a taxable event?: Buying USDC is an acquisition of a crypto-asset. Selling or exchanging USDC later is a taxable deal under Article 33, paragraph 3, with the gain or loss measured in euro. This is general information, not tax advice.
What does xChange.bg charge to receive USD?: Accounts and conversions are provided by regulated partner Bridge (a Stripe company). The account is free. Incoming money converts to USDC with an on-ramp fee of 1.5% (minimum EUR 1). Sending money back to a bank account costs 1.25% (minimum EUR 2). Transfers between xChange.bg clients are free and on-chain transfers cost the network fee.
Can a US client pay me by ACH instead of an international wire?: Only if you have US receiving details that accept ACH. A Bulgarian IBAN receives SEPA transfers and international wires, not ACH. Accounts with US details in your name, such as xChange.bg USD accounts provided by regulated partner Bridge (a Stripe company), accept both ACH and wire.