By submitting to the Costa Rican Legislative Assembly a new text of the dual global income bill, the Alvarado administration intends to guarantee the tax exemptions that companies operating in the free trade zone regime already benefit from.
The dual global income bill that was sent last January 22 to the Assembly created confusion among the deputies.
While the health emergency lasts in El Salvador, online purchases made by individuals from U.S. companies, which do not exceed $200, will not pay taxes.
In response to the outbreak of covid-19 in the country, the Law on Facilitation of Online Purchases was issued, which allows for the promotion and facilitation of the import of goods or merchandise of a non-commercial nature, i.e.
In order for Guatemalan producers to compete under the same conditions as neighboring countries, the government is preparing a bill that seeks to exempt agricultural inputs from VAT.
The initiative, known as the "Fiscal Equity Law", is being prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (Maga), because, according to the institution's top official, other Central American countries do not charge value-added tax (VAT) on agricultural inputs.
With the Nicaraguan authorities confirming that they will review the Tax Agreement Law again in 2020, the business sector is calling for the correction of several measures that have decapitalized companies operating in the country.
On February 27, 2019, the reform to the Tax Harmonization Law was approved, which consisted in raising income tax from 1% to 2% for medium sized companies with higher income, and from 1% to 3% for large taxpayers.
The Guatemalan Congress approved a bill that contemplates the creation of a special tax regime for agricultural activity.
Although this bill was involved in controversy days ago, as the chambers of industry and commerce expressed their opposition, Congress decided to approve the bill. See full bill.
In Guatemala, the chambers of industry and commerce oppose the bill that proposes to create a special tax regime for agricultural activity.
The project "Law on Simplification, Updating and Tax Incorporation", which has been in Congress for more than two years, was scheduled for final discussion until September 10. See full bill.
On September 2, Costa Rica began the registration of individuals and agricultural producers who wish to opt for the benefits contemplated in the new tax regulations.
The term began on Monday, September 2 and ends on January 31, 2020, and for registration interested parties must submit their physical or legal identity card, and literal certification of the property, informed the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG).
On December 5th, will begin the period in which the taxpayers who pay their debts in the first three months after the publication of the Law will be absolved of arrears and sanctions.
The publication of the Law to Strengthen Public Finances in the official newspaper La Gaceta marks the beginning of the three-month period for taxpayers with debts to the Ministry of Finance, the Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social (Imas), the Instituto de Fomento y Asesoría Municipal (Imas) and the Instituto de Desarrollo Rural (Inder) to update their accounts without charging interest and penalties.
In Costa Rica, the government approved a decree that exonerates from the payment of the selective consumption tax to second-hand electric cars that are 5 or less years in service.
To encourage the use of electric vehicles in the country, the Alvarado administration signed the Executive Decree 41426-H-MINAE-MOPT, which grants a fiscal benefit to second-hand electric vehicles whose antiquity is equal to or less than 5 years from the year of its model.
In Panama, a bill that regulates the activities of call centers has been approved, leaving companies in the sector free of direct and indirect taxes.
The National Assembly reported that, in a third debate, approval was given to Bill 653 which regulates the activity of call centers for commercial use.
According to a statement from the Assembly during the discussion, it was learned that only 32 call centers are operating in the country, despite the existence of 134 licenses issued by the Public Services Authority(ASEP).It was said thatthis activity generates around nine thousand jobs in the country.
Agricultural machinery and equipment, retreads and tires for machinery could be exempt from 13% VAT, if the substitute text of tax reform that is being discussed in the Legislative Assembly is approved.
The same exoneration would apply to books in all their formats, which in the original bill presented by the government had a differentiated rate of 4%.
The Legislature has approved the exempt from fines, interest and surcharges to those who are behind in the payment of tax and customs obligations, for a term of three months.
From a statement issued by the Legislature:
In order to allow people who owe this tax to regularize their situation without acruing interest or surcharges, the Legislature has authorized the issuance of the Transitory Law to Facilitate Voluntary Compliance with Tax and Customs Obligations.The effects of this measurewill be effective within a period of three months from its entry into force.
As a measure to discourage smuggling, the taxable limit for withholding income tax on the export of live cattle has been reduced.
The Federation of Livestock Associations of Nicaragua (Faganic) welcomed the decision to reduce the limit for incurring income tax, believing that it will be an incentive to reduce smuggling of cattle and allowing more to be exported through the formal market.
The mandatory use of the Exonet system has been established for carrying out procedures related to tax exemptions.
Decree No. 39037-H Ministry of Finance:
"Article 9. Mandatory use of EXONET System. One month after the publication of this decree, the EXONET system will be compulsory for all beneficiaries applying for tax exemptions to the laws mentioned in this article, as well as their legal representatives and to all those classified as system users and who are involved in the management and processing of applications for exemption.
A bill creates the regime of "Social Solidarity Economy", which creates exemptions from virtually all taxes for companies registered in the scheme.
The vice president of the Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica, Victor Ruiz, said that "... the model of the ESS (Social Solidarity Economy) represents unfair competition against formal private companies and contributes nothing to the serious fiscal problems of the country because it reduces the question of tax collection. "