At customs, the government revenue authority, known as SAT, will develop a program dubbed "Aduana Segura II" (Secure Customs II), a closed circuit of TV cameras overseeing entrance and departure of merchandise.

In an attempt to make it easier to pay taxes, SAT will start allowing credit card payments.

Source: prensalibre.com

More on this topic

Guatemalan Tax Revenue Up 7.4% in March

April 2010

The country collected $397 million (3.17 billion quetzales) in March, according to data from the Tax Authority (SAT).

In the first quarter of 2010 tax revenue summed $1.13 billion, a 7.9% increase when compared to the same period of 2009, when $1.05 billion were collected.

Guatemala: Tax Controls Increase

July 2009

The tax revenue authority (SAT) is looking to increase collection by expanding the tax base.

Facing a projected drop in tax income for this year, the SAT has increased controls, focusing on productive sectors with high nonpayment indexes.

From a Sigloxxi.com article: "As an example, the money collected in fighting smuggling and customs evasion reached $6.7 million, which was obtained as a result of a joint effort of the Governance and Defence Ministries, the Economic Theft Prosecution of the Public Ministry and SAT inspectors".

Guatemala: Tax Collection down 8.3%

July 2009

In June, the government revenue superintendency collected $1.99 billion, less than the $2.17 billion for the same period of 2008.

Rudy Villeda, who heads the government revenue superintendency (Superintendencia de Administración Tributaria, SAT, in Spanish), indicated that preliminary figures put revenue for the month of June in $286 million.

Guatemala Lowers Tax Collection Target by 9.3%

March 2009

The SAT lowered its tax collection goal for 2009 by $441.

For 2009, the Tax Administration Superintendent (SAT) in Guatemala had planned to raise $4.758 billion, but it reported yesterday that the target was adjusted to $4.32 billion, a decrease of 9.28%.

Prensalibre.com reported that the Finance Minister, Juan Alberto Fuentes Knight, addressed the impact on the fiscal deficit: "It would have to be covered by a decrease in operating expenses, plus donations and debt grants pending approval, but it is expected that the aforementioned deficit will remain at 2%."