After in Costa Rica the mayor of Alajuela filed an action of unconstitutionality to revert the authentic interpretation approved by the deputies for the payment of real estate taxes applicable to free zones, the Chamber ruled negatively to the legal recourse filed.
The magistrates determined that the allegations presented on March 16, 2021 by Humberto Soto, mayor of the municipality of Alajuela, were incorrect and the appeal was rejected.
After the Mayor of Alajuela filed an action of unconstitutionality in Costa Rica to revert the exoneration of real estate taxes applicable to free trade zones, the business sector believes that legal certainty is being undermined.
On March 16, 2021 Humberto Soto, Mayor of the municipality of Alajuela, filed an action of unconstitutionality. This legal recourse has the objective of reverting the exemption that free zones enjoy for the payment of the real estate tax.
America Free Zone, located in Heredia, Costa Rica, plans to execute an investment plan in the next few years totaling close to $120 million and contemplates the implementation of electro-lane stations and the construction of new infrastructure.
Executives of the business complex informed that up to now they offer their clients 200 thousand m2 of space for business activities, but the medium-term plans are to add another 60 thousand m2.
Portafolio Inmobiliario announced that it will begin the development of the Green Valley Free Trade Zone project, which in its first stage contemplates the construction of a Free Trade Zone located in the municipality of Grecia, province of Alajuela.
The total land on which the project will be located amounts to more than one million square meters, however, its construction will be carried out in stages. In the first phase, 140,000 square meters will be developed, whose investment will be around $10 million in infrastructure and its construction period is expected to be approximately one year, reported the Costa Rican Development Initiative Coalition (Cinde).
Although in Costa Rica the level of unemployment of buildings in industrial parks is 8%, some precincts are facing threats, since companies could leave them because of the traffic congestion in the area where they are located and the travel time of employees.
For Colliers, other threats faced by industrial parks in the country to have their facilities unoccupied are that companies have several sites for the separation of their processes and competition for human resources.
The first of the five buildings that will form part of the La Lima Corporate Center was launched in Cartago, which will require a global investment of close to $98 million.
The project in charge of the real estate company Garnier & Garnier, is a complex of offices that is constructed in a plot of eight hectares in the industrial park La Lima, and contemplates the construction of up to five buildings of four floors each one, informed the Costa Rican Coalition of Initiatives of Development (Cinde).
From September 27 to 29 Costa Rica will be hosting an event which brings together representatives from companies and free zones in Latin America and other continents.
The Association of Free Zones of the Americas will be holding the XX Conference on Free Zones of the Americas, a space which will bring together representatives from the most important countries and free zones in Latin America, to discuss and exchange experiences and knowledge.
The stagnation of the refinery project could be the reason for China's loss of interest in Costa Rica, after having stopped the disbursement of a $24 million "freebie", the purchase of $1 billion worth of Costa Rican bonds, the development of an industrial pole, and the extension of a road.
The 50 companies already operating at Tocumen's airport facilities will be able to access free trade zone incentives if the request made by the administration of the terminal is approved.
The documentation was submitted to the National Commission of Free Zones at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI), and there will be a 30 day period to review and approve the application. In the documents the administration of Tocumen SA cited as justification for the application logistics companies established at the airport and in the increase in the volume of cargo passing through the terminal.
The problem with income tax exemptions is that they favor high-return projects that would probably have been made anyway.
From an IDB document entitled "The effectiveness of tax incentives: The case of export processing zones in Costa Rica, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic".
Introduction and Summary
Policies encouraging investment make use of a variety of instruments. On the one hand, there are reductions in the tax burden on companies, such as development loans, import protection and export subsidies and, on the other hand, government measures aimed at correcting information externalities or coordination problems that may prevent a company from accessing new markets or developing new technologies by itself.
On July 10th, representatives from companies the free zone regime will meet to discuss issues such as investments outside of the greater metropolitan area and production chains.
In addition to the issue of productive chains generated by companies operating under the free zone regime, discussion will take place on other topics such as opening free zones in areas which are less developed and more remote from the greater metropolitan area, where the majority of the sites offering this tax incentive scheme are located .
The new government has announced that it will focus on controlling evasion by large taxpayers, professionals and payment of sales tax.
The Citizen Action Party of President-elect Luis Guillermo Solís, is working on a proposal to stop tax evasion, focusing on what are considered the three main evaders: large companies, independent professionals and those who do not pay sales tax.
On offer in Juan Santamaria International Airport are spaces for a gift shop, an ice cream parlor and coffee shop, a fast food outlet, and spaces for ATMs.
Aeris Holding Costa Rica, the company managing the Juan Santamaria Airport, has opened a contest for 3 commercial spaces: a gift shop, with flowers, cards and other items, an ice cream parlor and coffee shop, selling juices and the like, and a fast food restaurant. It is also providing space for the installation of ATMs.
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