The Superintendency of Tax Administration of Guatemala has launched the web portal "Declaraguate" which allows the declaration and payment of taxes online.
Initially the system is enabled for the payment of Value Added Tax, and it is expected to include the declaration and payment of income tax (ISR) in the first quarter of 2012.
"Taxpayers can fill out your forms and correct them from the site www.declaraguate.gt and can make online payments through Banco Industrial and Banco de Desarrollo Rural (Banrural) or pay physically at Bancasat. You do not need a password to enter and print the SAT-2000 form in order to make the payment", explained Elperiodico.com.gt
The controller will open 145 containers abandoned after intervention by the Quetzal port authorities.
The Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT) will verify the contents, to check whether the goods are legal or illegal. If they are found to be legal they will be auctioned.
The Government will submit a proposal to reform income tax to generate more revenue.
In order to increase government revenues, government representatives have requested support from political leaders to approve a change to the income tax laws which would generate revenues of more than $512 million.
Regulators will oversee sales operations and transfer of funds from multinational companies based in the country and overseas branches.
The Superintendence of Tax Administration will create an international audit department, which will start operations in March.
Rudy Villeda, Superintendent of Tax Administration, told Prensalibre.com, "The idea is to have more information from multinationals with related companies abroad, as they sometimes affirm they declare taxes in other jurisdictions and that must be verified".
During 2010 tax collections reached $ 4.344 million, 9.3% higher than 2010.
Rudy Villeda, superintendent stated that tax burden to GDP last year was 10.5%.
"That percentage was higher only by 0.1 percentage points to 10.4% in 2009, which was the lowest rate in the last decade," reported an article in ACAN – EFE and published in Prensa.com.
New measures have been put in place to improve tax collection, among them electronic embargoes of banking accounts and properties.
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.
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 $4.32 billion, a decrease of 9.28%.
Prensalibre.com reported that the Finance Minister, Juan Alberto Fuentes Knight, addressed the impact on the fiscal deficit: "It would have to be covered by a decrease in operating expenses, plus donations and debt grants pending approval, but it is expected that the aforementioned deficit will remain at 2%."
In 2008, industrial and commercial sectors showed the greatest loss of growth.
Rosa Ma. Bolaños writes in PrensaLibre.com: "The sector with the most pronounced losses in growth was the commercial sector, which reported 0.45 percent growth in 2008, for a total collection of Q13 thousand 398.5 million ($ 1,667 million).
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