In order to deal with the emergency arising from the covid-19 outbreak, as of March 18 the Costa Rican government controls the export or re-export of medical implements.
The National Customs Service formulated the directive based on the National Emergency Declaration of the Presidency of the Republic, which, according to Executive Decree No. 42227-MP-S, grants the Public Administration the power to apply extraordinary emergency measures, reported the Ministry of Finance.
Costa Rican authorities announced they plan to implement a Non-Intrusive Inspection System for the inspection of containers, which will be held on September 30 with companies interested in developing it.
This system will consist of a remote inspection center (CIR), scanners, cameras reading plates and container numbers, scales, system of anticipated risk and radio frequency antennas (RFID), informed the Ministry of Finance in a statement.From the Ministry of Finance statement:
The National Customs Service began with the implementation of 23,500 radio frequency devices through electronic tags for the identification and control of national containers.
The electronic tags (TAG) will be installed on the windshield of the vehicle, so that radio waves will transmit data from the transport unit to a computer program installed on a platform of the Secretariat of Central American Economic Integration (SIECA), informed the Ministry of Finance.
From May 2019, foreign customers will have to declare to local system banks that their funds meet their country's tax requirements.
The Superintendence of Banks of Panama (SBP) approved Agreement 02-2019, which implements the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force, which consists of expanding the required due diligence measures of banks with their customers.
Arguing that the objective is to ensure that used cars into Costa Rica are in optimal condition, the new Customs authorities are tightening controls on imported units.
Importers of used vehicles in Costa Rica report that since the new General Director of Customs took office in January this year, is promoting a new guideline that generates uncertainty in the sector.
An activity that generates nearly $1 billion a year in Costa Rica in exports is being seriously threatened by the infiltration of drug traffickers, who are taking advantage of loopholes left open by the government because it does not have an adequate system for checking containers and registering exporters.
The most recent seizure of 45 kilos of drugs that arrived in the United States in the corrugated bottom of 20 cardboard boxes of pineapples from San Carlos has once again set alarm bells ringing in the export sector, which has ceaselessly demanded that authorities to go back to the "in situ" review system of cargo, which used to be carried out before and stopped during the Solís administration.
The tax burden grew from 13.4% in 2013 to 14% in 2016, both due to the delayed effect of the tax reforms in Honduras and Nicaragua, as well as better management on the part of tax entities in Guatemala and Panama.
From the Regional Economic Report (IER) 2016-2017: Opportunities and challenges for Central America, by the SIECA:
A court ruling has overturned the SAT resolutions authorizing Empresa Portuaria Quetzal y Terminal de Contenedores Quetzal to operate as temporary customs warehouses.
Although the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT) has announced that it will be appealing the ruling given by the Second Administrative Appeals Chamber, the reality is that since June 28, the activities of the customs warehouses in Empresa Portuaria Quetzal (EPQ) have been suspended as well as those at the Terminal de Contenedores Quetzal (TCQ)."...The resolution orders that the SAT no longer has the customs service under its administration, which contravenes the Central American Customs Code CAUCA, therefore the Superintendency will file an appeal against the decision made by the Court."
The latest discovery of drugs in a container of Costa Rican heart of palms which was destined for Europe, brings back to the table the problem of the lack of controls in customs offices.
The problem also centers around the fact that the different authorities contradict each other when it comes to explaining who carries out the processes for the inspecting containers entering and leaving the country and how.
Banks must report to the Institute on Drugs any financial transactions that do not correspond to a tax return.
A decree by the Solis administration amends the regulations of Act 8204 against drug trafficking, related activities, money laundering, financing of terrorism and organized crime.
Through an amendment to article 34 of Executive Decree No.
With the proposed reform to Law 8204, all electronic transfers of $1,000 or more will have to be justified by customers and registered by banks.
Article 19a of the regulation under consultation indicates that "...The subjects under obligation who provide transfer services to or from other countries in local or foreign currency, which equal or exceed US $1,000.00 (one thousand dollars in the currency of the United States of America) or its equivalent in colones or other foreign currency, must electronically record the information listed below:
The amendment to the Law 8204 which is under public consultation in Costa Rica requires banks to refuse to open accounts for companies that can not justify the origin of their funds.
The new legislation also requires banks to ask companies for tax returns on income earned in the past two years and close accounts suspected of money laundering and terrorist financing.
An announcement has been made that in 2016 an integrated system will be used to to carry out fiscal, safety and phytosanitary controls in a single revision.
The Tax Authority will be responsible for deciding the date of the launch of the new system, which will integrate phytosanitary controls, customs and security in the container terminal of Puerto Quetzal.
The Treasury will be reviewing the tax returns of a selected group of taxpayers by comparing the information provided with their external signs of wealth.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance:
Proposal to attack evasion in this group of taxpayers
The acquisition of luxury vehicles in recent years as well as possesing properties of high value, in juxterposition to statements with zero tax (in which no taxes are paid) or expenses that exceed a certain percentage of revenue during 2014 are some of the reasons why the Ministry of Finance is initiating a plan of tax control for freelance professionals.
In 4 out of 10 businesses inspected in the provinces of Puntarenas, Guanacaste, Heredia and Alajuela, the Ministry of Finance detected some degree of tax noncompliance.
According to authorities, in March of this year 51% of businesses in Guanacaste and 49% in Puntarenas had fiscal irregularities. During June in Guanacaste the proportion of errors rose to 53% and fell to 44% in Puntarenas.
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