A 3% additional to the 13% VAT that was expected to be charged in Costa Rica as a tax on accommodation services provided through the Airbnb platform and other similar platforms was finally removed from the bill being discussed in the Legislative Assembly.
Bill 20.865 for the regulation of non-traditional hosting and its intermediation through digital platforms, which is discussed in the Legislative Assembly and determines the taxes to be charged for the activity, will be modified by the Economic Affairs Commission.
In Costa Rica, the Central Bank and the Commission to Promote Competition are proposed to set a single percentage in the commissions paid by businesses for accepting credit or debit cards.
Law 21.177, which aims to empower the government to regulate the commissions charged by financial institutions to businesses, was presented to the Legislative Assembly by several deputies.
In Costa Rica, the Executive Branch urges deputies to move forward with the discussion of the project to regulate non-traditional hosting and its intermediation through digital platforms.
The project suggests that non-traditional hosting companies be required to register with the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), pay taxes and be registered with the General Directorate of Direct Taxation.
The regulation that grants tax benefits on imports of electric cars has come into force in Costa Rica, and according to agencies it will help final prices to fall between $5 thousand and $10 thousand per unit.
The regulation that will allow the entry into force of the law was published in La Gaceta, and will enable electric vehicles that have been held in Costa Rican customs offices to be released.
Starting from February 14, companies that use drones for commercial purposes in Costa Rica must pay $1,874 to obtain a certificate of operations.
The regulation set by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) was published on June 8, 2017 in the newspaper La Gaceta, and states that "...Operations with remotely piloted aircraft systems, intended for aerial services for the commercialization of products or services obtained through remuneration, may only be carried out by natural or legal persons who have a certificate of exploitation ... ".
Entrepreneurs are demanding an acceleration of discussions in the Assembly to approve a bill which introduces the concept of "fractional smuggling" and toughens penalties.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations in the Private Business Sector (UCCAEP):
The Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations in the Private Business Sector (UCCAEP) is calling on the members of the Commission on Security and Trafficking in the Legislative Assembly to approve project n° 19,407, entitled "An Act to Improve the Fight Against Smuggling".
A bill put forward by the Ministry of Education proposes overseeing the quality of subjects taught by private institutions and forcing them to revise their curricula every five years.
From a statement issued by the presidency of Costa Rica:
Government proposes amendments to law regulating private higher education
· MEP urges changes to increase the quality of education and improve administrative processes by the CONESUP
A committee will be formed with representatives from the productive sector and government to prepare a draft law regulating the activity of shrimp fishing in the country.
From a statement issued by the Government of Costa Rica:
In order to build a sustainable model to organize the shrimp fishing industry, to create jobs and fight poverty in coastal communities of the Costa Rican Pacific, the Government has issued a national policy for the sustainable utilization of shrimp.
In Costa Rica a bill intends to discourage the use of "tax havens", controlling the legitimacy of the costs incurred in those territories.
At present the bill under discussion in the Committee on Financial Affairs, is expected to publicize a final report in mid-March. The initiative "... also excludes deductions for expenses to be made or paid by resident individuals or entities in tax havens."
A bill introduced by the government intends to streamline access to the Panamanian market for foreign companies in the provision of maritime auxiliary services.
Excerpted from the bill introduced by the government of Panama:
Law 41 of June 14, 2013, through which reform is made to Law No. 8 of 1998 is amended by Decree, Act 56 of 2008 and Act 57 of 2008 which dictates other provisions on the work at sea and on waterways, significantly restricting access to the Panamanian market to foreign investors in the provision of maritime auxiliary services in the Republic of Panama.
The laws in Costa Rica have forced companies providing data on natural persons and legal entities to plan new strategies.
Elfinancierocr.com reports that "the actions have occurred in response to the fact that on March 5 the deadline was reached for the reorganization of their operations to comply with the provisions of the Law on Protection of the individual against the processing of their personal data (Act 8968) ".
As of April 5 mergers and acquisitions will have to be approved at the Antitrust Commission, part of the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Trade, before they can take place.
From that date, the Antitrust Commission, at the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC), will have the power to approve or deny deals, if it is concluded that they would result in undue concentration of business.