President Laurentino Cortizo sanctioned Law 208 of April 6, 2021, which extends until December 31 of this year the validity of the tax amnesty, which initially arose in 2019.
With this initiative of the Executive, enacted in Official Gazette and which is part of the Economic Recovery Plan (phase 1), taxpayers will have until August 31, 2021 to make payments or enter into payment arrangements with respect to tax obligations not fulfilled until January 31 of this year, official sources informed.
The National Assembly approved in third debate the bill that extends until December 31 of this year the validity of the tax amnesty, which initially arose in 2019.
The extension of a fourth General Tax Amnesty, which arose in 2019, approved, in third debate, the National Assembly and represents a savings of US$29 million to taxpayers, says an official source.
In Panama, the General Revenue Directorate (DGI) announced that it will suspend corporations that for the term of three consecutive years or more, have not made the payment of the single tax.
According to the General Revenue Directorate (DGI) of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), the authorities are currently updating the list of legal entities in arrears for three consecutive years or more in the non-payment of the single tax, pursuant to the provisions of Article 318-A of the Tax Code.
In order to reactivate the Panamanian economy that has been damaged by the outbreak of covid-19, the Ministry of Economy and Finance will present to the National Assembly a bill to extend the tax amnesty and approve new tax relief measures.
The Cabinet Council, led by President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, authorized, today, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Hector Alexander to present to the National Assembly, the bill extending the tax amnesty, as well as new tax relief measures with a view to reactivate the national economy, explains an official document.
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 give individuals and corporations the opportunity to catch up with this obligation interrupted by the pandemic, authorities extended until July 17 the deadline for declaring income tax payments.
The term to cancel this commitment with the Panamanian State expired on March 31, 2020, and an extension was added until May 30, given the circumstances with the effects of covid-19, the difficulties presented by many companies and the time needed by public accountants to submit such statements, explained the representatives of the General Directorate of Revenue (DGI).
During the state of health emergency in the country, taxpayers who cannot use tax equipment and billing systems because their shops or offices are closed will be exempt from using these tools.
Following the spread of covid-19 the General Directorate of Revenue (DGI) explained that businesses may stop using fiscal equipment and invoicing systems, however, these taxpayers are required to document their operations through equivalent reports such as manual or pre-printed invoices, thus complying with the formalities established by law.
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.
As a result of the economic effects that the outbreak of covid-19 will cause in the National Assembly, a general suspension of the payment of taxes, basic services and bank credits for three months is proposed, but the businessmen think that it is not suitable to generalize the measures.
Bill No. 390, which proposes the suspension of payments and collections of taxes, social security contributions, mortgage loans, commercial and agricultural loans, is advancing in the National Assembly.
The National Assembly of Panama approved in second debate the draft law that extends the period of tax amnesty until June 30, 2020.
The initiative proposes that up to 85% of the total interest, surcharges and fines be recognized if payment is made after February 29, 2020 until June 30 of the same year, so that taxpayers may proceed to make their corresponding payments or credits.
In view of the emergency arising from the spread of covid-19, a bill was submitted to the Assembly proposing a 90-calendar-day suspension of the payment of municipal and national taxes.
The initiative also establishes the suspension for 90 days of the payment of electricity and drinking water, as well as mortgage and personal loans, among others, reported the National Assembly.
The Legislative Assembly approved in second debate a bill that aims to tax in the country the sale and self-consumption of imported or locally produced cement.
The initiative, which was approved in the first debate in the Assembly in mid-February and is still pending approval by the Executive Branch, establishes that the tax will be on imported cement produced nationally, in bags or in bulk, for sale or self-consumption, of any kind, whose destination is the consumption and marketing of the product nationally.
The Central American country was excluded from Russia's list of nations that do not exchange information for tax purposes, on which it had been on since 2016.
The confirmation announcement was made by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Riabkov during the presentation of the credentials of Panama's new ambassador to the Russian Federation, Efrain Villarreal, reported the Panamanian Foreign Ministry.
Until January 13, 2020, the Sworn Declaration of Liquidation of the Selective Consumption Tax on Soft Drinks may be presented in Panama, corresponding to November 2019.
Law 114 dated November 18, 2019, which entered into force on November 19, 2019, establishes a new rate for the Selective Excise Tax on Soft Drinks, which is why the e-Tax 2.0 system was modified.
The French government reported that it removed Guatemala from the list of countries that do not cooperate with the exchange of fiscal information, but kept Panama.
The European country's authorities reported that Guatemala was removed from the list because it ratified the convention on mutual administrative assistance in tax matters of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).