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. If the Income Tax Law is modified, the situation could change.
In Nicaragua, the government plans to increase employer, labor, and state Social Security contributions, and to approve a tax reform that would increase taxes for medium and large companies.
Although the country has been in a serious economic and political crisis since April 2018, when the government tried to implement reforms to the Nicaraguan Institute of Social Security (INSS), the Ortega administration is once again trying to make changes to the institution, this time through an administrative resolution.
In the absence of a law to renew tax incentives, some 1,223 companies in the maquila sector and the free zone will have to pay income tax in 2016.
After the lapse on December 31 of tax benefits for companies working under these special arrangements, the Superintendency of Tax Administration of Guatemala will officially begin charging ISR, a measure that will bring in revenue to the state in the order of $258.4 million (a Q2 billion).
The union of restaurants in the country argues that tipping does not count as part of their profits and are asking for them to be exempt from the 2% retained on card payments by way of advance payment of income.
At the moment the Ministry of Finance is evaluating the request by the Costa Rican Chamber of Restaurants, since according to representatives of this guild more is retained from them than from other stores.
The Ministry of Finance has announced that tour operators and travel agencies are not subject to the 2% deduction relating to advanced income tax payment on credit card transactions.
From a statement issued by the Presidency of the Republic of Costa Rica:
The Ministry of Finance today reported that at the request of the representatives of the tourism industry, the General Department of Taxation review the status of tour operators and travel agencies and exclude them from withholding money, on the grounds that these two activities in the tourism sector supported the request with their technical studies which were reviewed by the Tax Administration Office. This exclusion does not include the hotel industry.
An injunction which since November suspended retention of 2% as an advance payment for tax on card transactions, has been declaration void.
The General Department of Taxation, at the Ministry of Finance announced that the measure will be effective immediately. "... The retention will be applied on 88% of the amount of each transaction, so effectively the amount withheld is 1.78%. "
Payment schedule of obligations corresponding to August 2014 and Memorandum on Tax Regulation on Occupational Health and Safety.
Tax Memorandum August 13th to 14th, 2014.
Regulation of Occupational Health and Safety
The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare published in the official newspaper La Gaceta of August 11, 2014 Governmental Agreement No. 229-2014 through which issues the "Regulation of Occupational Health and Safety" must be observed by all employers. Its validity is from February 11, 2015, ie there are six months to implement the measures for occupational health and safety, required by this Regulation.
Limiting the deduction of interest from income tax and eliminating the exemption from payment of 15% for dividend distribution between companies are part of the changes included in the project.
The Bill to Improve Anti-Tax Fraud, presented by the Ministry of Finance amends various tax issues that must be taken into consideration by companies operating under Costa Rican law.
Calendar of payment obligations for July 2014 and Memorandum Tax on banking secrecy.
Tax Memorandum August 12nd - 14th 2014
Is bank secrecy is over?
All OECD countries as well as others such as Costa Rica have committed to the automatic exchange of tax information.
Because of the importance of this topic, the following is transcribed from a statement issued by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD):
An announcement by the SAT relating to audits on quarterly income tax payments and payment schedule of obligations corresponding to April 2014.
Tax Memorandum May 7-14 2014
Quarterly income tax payments and supervision of the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT):
The SAT has recently announced that it will oversee statements on Quarterly Payments of ISR, especially the deductibility of expenses and is also asking for integration of expenses reported as nondeductible.
A controversial clause which invalidated the right to deduct anticipated monthly minimum payments in settlement of income tax has been removed from the declaration form.
After receiving criticism from the private sector and experts claiming that the amendment violated the tax law, the Directorate General of Revenue (DGI) has removed from the tax form the check box that did not recognize the right of deduction of anticipated minimum monthly payments in settlement of income tax (IR).