The Legislative Assembly is preparing to consider, in the first debate, a bill aimed at exempting inactive companies from the obligation to file an income tax return.
The file of this legislative proposal is number 22,307 and was presented by Deputy Pablo Heriberto Abarca. The initiative will be discussed in the Assembly, despite the opposition of the Ministry of Finance.
In this scenario of economic crisis, falling tax revenues and the need to finance recovery programs, in Guatemala and Costa Rica it is already proposed to increase current taxes and create new ones.
Guatemalan authorities are already beginning to discuss the fiscal policy they will apply in 2021, when the economy will have to face the effects of the economic crisis generated by the covid-19 outbreak.
In order to access the $1.75 billion credit requested from the IMF, the Costa Rican government proposes to tax financial transactions, increase the tax on the profits of companies and individuals, and increase the tax on real estate.
On the afternoon of September 17, and in the context of a severe economic crisis that had been going on since before the beginning of the pandemic, the Alvarado administration presented the plan with which it intends to mitigate the fiscal impact of the Covid-19 crisis, a proposal to negotiate an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to obtain a credit of $1.75 billion.
In order to tax the total amount of profits of individuals or corporations based in Costa Rica, regardless of where their profits are generated, a bill was submitted to the Assembly that seeks to amend the Income Tax Law.
Currently in Costa Rica a territorial income system is applied, which consists of taxing profits produced exclusively at the local level.
Despite a severe economic crisis, Costa Rican authorities have approved the imposition of a 1% VAT on several foodstuffs in the basic food basket, and 4% on certain tourist activities and construction services.
Before the emergence of the pandemic, the Costa Rican economy was already in a difficult state, and the impact of the covid-19 outbreak ended up hitting it in the worst way, which is evident in the performance of productive activity.
A three-month moratorium on the payment of value added taxes, business income and customs duties is the proposal of the Executive in view of the emergency caused by the spread of covid-19 in the country.
The initiative "COVID-19 Tax Relief Project", which was presented to the Legislative Assembly on March 16, proposes that taxpayers can postpone the payment of taxes for at least three months. During this period no fines or interest will be applied to those who take advantage of this moratorium.
In Costa Rica, taxpayers interested in benefiting from exemptions or reduced rates of payment of Value Added Tax must register with the Directorate General of Taxation.
The changes were detailed on October 15, 2019, when the resolution of the General Directorate of Taxation (DGT) No.
Since October 1, Costa Rican producers and suppliers in the agricultural and fishing sector have a special regime for declaring and paying VAT, which provides that coffee producers, sugarcane and beekeepers will make an annual declaration.
The new Special Agricultural Regime (REA) does not change fiscal obligations, but it allows them to be adapted to the particularities of production processes, so as to facilitate compliance, informed the authorities.
Until April 26 will be in public consultation the regulations of the Income Tax Law in Costa Rica.
From the Ministry of Finance statement:
April 12, 2019. As was done with the first proposal of the regulation to the Law of Value Added Tax (VAT), the Ministry of Finance made available on its website, the first draft of the project "Modifications and Additions to the Income Tax Law Regulation", which regulates Title II of the Law to Strengthen Finance, No. 9635, of December 3, 2018.
The tax reform law that would be approved in second debate in the coming weeks, involves the exoneration of arrears and penalties for taxpayers who pay their debts in the first three months after the publication of the law.
The proposed measure consists of exonerating 100% of the interest on arrears and up to 80% of the penalty to taxpayers who pay in the first month after the Law is published in the official newspaper La Gaceta.
The proposal to increase the tax on interest on financial investments in Costa Rica could eventually make credit more expensive for both the private sector and the government.
In the view of the National Securities Exchange (BNV) it is worrisome that initiatives such as an increase in tax on income from financial investments are being discussed without knowing in detail and clearly the impact that something like this could have on the stock market and the country's financial activities.
The good functioning of the institution in charge of collecting taxes is vital for ensuring economic development, as it means that honest companies who comply with their fiscal obligations are not at a disadvantage to those who don't.
Under study in the Legislature are 26 bills involving new taxes, increases of some existing ones and redistribution of others.
An analysis piece by Nacion.com notes that the Legislative Assembly is currently considering 26 bills introduced during the current administration which in some way involve the issue of taxes."...Of the total projects, 50% are attempts to raise them or create a new type of tax or fees. "
Two years behind schedule, an announcement has been made that in January 2017 the electronic billing system will be implemented by Empresa de Servicios Públicos de Heredia.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance in Costa Rica:
Empresa de Servicios Públicos de Heredia (ESPH), was selected by the Ministry of Finance for the development, implementation and operation of an electronic invoicing system, which will start in January 2017.ESPH together with another company which is a specialist in the subject, will be responsible for developing the software and putting into use the technology platform (networks, servers, connectivity, among other things, as well as the reception, validation and storage of electronic receipts or invoices.
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