Businessmen Take Action Against SAT

Guatemala's private sector filed a legal action against the Superintendence of Tax Administration, arguing that the entity had indicated that it would defer tax collection if the restrictions remained in place, but did not do so.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Because of the outbreak of Covid-19 in the country, which as of April 15 counted 196 cases, for the time being the government has decided to maintain until April 19 the measures restricting freedom of movement, which includes the transit and movement of persons, crew, passengers and vehicles, in addition to the closure of most commercial establishments.

See "New Commercial Reality: How to Reach Customers"

The Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial and Financial Associations (Cacif) has issued a statement that "... despite the continuation of the curfew, as well as a severe limitation on freedom of movement, industry and commerce ... the collection entity omitted to extend the validity of resolution SAT-SDI-280-2020 and to declare as non-working days for the passing and occurrence of terms, from April 15 of the present year until the working day immediately following the lifting of the State of Calamity and restriction of the exercise of the right to free locomotion."

Also see "What does the High-Purchasing Power Consumer Want?"

The document dated April 15 adds that "... SAT, by requiring today the payment of taxes, is unreasonable and puts at economic risk the existence of small and medium sized enterprises, which, at the same time, threatens the employment and stability of its collaborators."

Covid-19: How do the outlook for businesses in Guatemala change given the new commercial reality?

We prepared for our clients the report "Information System: Covid-19 and Business Outlook" which helps companies to measure the impact that the crisis will have on their activity in the coming months.

Click here to request access to this report.

¿Busca soluciones de inteligencia comercial para su empresa?

Do you need detailed information on your sector of interest? Contact Us









this site is protected by reCAPTCHA and Google's privacy policy and terms of service.
Need assistance? Contact us
(506) 4001-6423


More on this topic

Covid-19: More Tests to Revive the Economy

April 2020

Guatemalan businessmen believe that in order to reactivate economic activity in the country, it is necessary to restrict the number of people in public spaces and increase the number of tests performed on those who have signs of carrying the virus.

Because of the outbreak of the disease in Guatemala, which as of April 14 counted 180 cases, the government has decided to maintain measures restricting freedom of movement until April 19, including the transit and movement of people, crew, passengers and vehicles, in addition to the closure of most commercial establishments.

How to Save Services and Commercial Sector?

March 2020

Implementing a rescue plan in which SAT makes tax collections more flexible and IGSS assists employees is part of the proposal of Guatemalan businessmen in the commercial and service sector, given the crisis that has been generated by the health emergency.

After the government decided on March 29 to extend for two more weeks the measures restricting freedom of movement, which includes the transit and movement of people, crew, passengers and vehicles, between 4 pm and 4 am, businessmen from the commercial and service sectors visualize a dark outlook for the following months.

Payment of Taxes: Flexible Deadlines in Panama

March 2020

Extension of deadlines for the payment of taxes and flexibility in the submission of income tax returns by natural and legal persons are some of the measures that the authorities will implement in the context of the Covid-19 crisis.

With no details on the new deadlines that will be required of taxpayers, the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) reported that the measures are contained in Executive Decree 252 of March 24.

Tax Duties Deferred in Guatemala

March 2020

The Superintendence of Tax Administration declared the days between March 24 and April 14 as non-working days for the purposes of calculating the periods established in the tax legislation.

On March 24, Resolution of the Superintendence of Tax Administration Number SAT-DSI-280-2020 was published in the Official Journal, in which the days of March 24, 25, 26, 27, 30 and 31, 2020, and April 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 13 and 14, 2020, inclusive, were declared non-working days for purposes of deferring the computation of the terms established in the tax legislation and the internal administrative procedures of this entity.

ok