Alvarado administration celebrates the approval of the tax reform in Costa Rica by announcing a series of initiatives that include, among other things, a public employment reform Project.
After a year of proceedings in Congress and after having been reviewed by a Constitutional Chamber, the country's Assembly finally approved file 20.580. By endorsing this project, the government intends to strengthen its public finances through changes made to the taxation system.
In Panama, a law initiative was presented that seeks to establish a tax on the import of new tires in the country, which would range, depending on the type, between $1.8 and $12.6.
The law presented to the Congress contemplates imposing a $1.8 tax for each motorcycle tire and small vehicle, $2.6 in light tourism vehicles and family economic vehicles, and $3.1 for luxury tourism vehicles.
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.
In Costa Rica, the government approved a decree that exonerates from the payment of the selective consumption tax to second-hand electric cars that are 5 or less years in service.
To encourage the use of electric vehicles in the country, the Alvarado administration signed the Executive Decree 41426-H-MINAE-MOPT, which grants a fiscal benefit to second-hand electric vehicles whose antiquity is equal to or less than 5 years from the year of its model.
In Panama, was approved a new law that extends the scope of the Special Free Port System for the province of Colon, through the exclusion of tax payments for the import of goods, both for domestic and non-domestic.
In Panama, a proposal is being discussed that seeks to increase from 5% to 8% the Selective Consumption Tax on soft drinks, carbonated beverages, processed juices and other sugary beverages.
Laestrella.com.pa reports that "... The vice president of Corporate Affairs of the National Brewery, and representative of the Industrial Union of Panama (SIP), Juan Antonio Fabrega, warned last Tuesday that jobs generated by the industry of sugary beverages could be reduced, if the Selective Excise Tax is increased from 5 to 8%, as established by Law 570, which will be discussed today in the first debate in the Economy and Finance Commission of the National Assembly."
In Panama, a bill that regulates the activities of call centers has been approved, leaving companies in the sector free of direct and indirect taxes.
The National Assembly reported that, in a third debate, approval was given to Bill 653 which regulates the activity of call centers for commercial use.
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 new tax reform proposal presented by the Ministry of Finance of Costa Rica includes the creation of a global income system to impose and collect a tax on the profits of companies and individuals.
Taxing all of the profits of natural and legal persons, including those currently paid separately by the identity code income method, is the principal new feature of the new tax reform plan presented by the Ministry of Finance.
Due to the controversy that has arisen, the ASEP has decided to exclude from the discussion of adjustments to the Tariff Regime the proposal to tax the use of solar panels for self-consumption purposes.
Although the imposition of a fee for the use of solar panels for self-consumption purposes has been removed from the discussion, the Public Services Authority (Asep) stated that the 60-day deadline to receive comments on the subject is still valid.
Arguing that consumers will have energy availability even if they do not use it, in Panama a proposal has been made to tax the use of solar panels for purposes of self-consumption.
Due to the disagreements caused by the proposal which proposes establishing a fee for using of solar panels for self-consumption, arguing that the consumer has the possibility of using the national energy distribution network, the Public Services Authority (Asep) has decided extend the consultation period by 60 days.
The union of tourist businesses is asking the new government to repeal the decree that increases by $1 the amount that each person must pay when entering or leaving the country.
The National Chamber of Tourism argues that in regards to the new charge of $1 "... it is opposed to this guideline, considering it a double charge that would be made by two dependencies of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, for the same service."
A bill that is being discussed in the Legislative Assembly proposes establishing a tax of 5% on the net sale price of imported or locally produced cement.
The bill establishes that "...the tax on cement produced within the national territory or imported, will be of five percent (5%) on the net sale price, both in the case of the national producer at the level of the production plantand for the importer at the level of the dispatch or storage site, excluding the corresponding sales or value-added tax, as well as any other tax".
In Panama, the General Directorate of Income has provided the option to pay taxes online using credit and debit cards.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Economy and Finance:
January 29, 2018.- With the objective of providing a better service to the taxpayer, the General Directorate of Revenue (DGI) reports that it has enabled the payment of taxes with credit cards online through its website dgi.mef.gob.pa.
Calendar of payments of obligations corresponding to December 2017 and Tax Memorandum on the minimum wages in effect as of January of this year.
From a Memorandum sent by Tezó and Associates:
On December 29, 2017, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare published Government Agreement No. 297-2017 in the Diario de Centro América, whereby the new minimum wages for agricultural, non-agricultural and export and maquila activities are established, effective as of January 1, 2018.
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