Bill to Require Retailers to Accept Credit Cards

A A bill presented in Costa Rica aims to improve tax controls by forcing merchants to accept payments with credit and debit cards.

Friday, August 1, 2014

The bill introduced in the Legislature by the Ministry of Finance, entitled "An Act to improve the fight against fiscal fraud" includes other initiatives such as the imposition of a sales tax on property rentals of less than one month duration.

In the case of the obligation for shops to accept cards for payments, "... promoting the use of 'plastic money', the bill establishes that the Treasury could make a return to traders of up to 1% of sales tax generated from transactions using this payment method."

"...In addition, it states that in order to perform any process with a public body or municipality, such as obtaining a permit, getting a license etc, the person must be up to date with their obligations to the Treasury. "

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