As a result of the political crisis affecting the country since 2018 together with the pandemic that began in 2020, the chicken producer and operator of the restaurant chain Pollo Estrella, was financially destabilized and was seized by at least four banks.
Following a judicial process being handled in the courts of the municipality of Tipitapa, where the central plant of the Nicaraguan company operates, the authorities decided to intervene Avícola La Estrella.
The new draft law on tax fraud prepared by the opposition and which must be reviewed by the Ministry of Finance excludes the concept of collection and seizure by administrative authorities.
After having negotiated for the opposition bloc in Congress to amend the bill originally submitted by the Ministry of Finance, the new bill is ready and among the changes is the elimination of the incorporation of the concept of fines and embargos imposed administratively. It maintains the collection and seizure of tax debts through the courts.
In Costa Rica the majority of MPs are opposed to the bill which would give the Treasury the ability to penalize delinquent taxpayers, a measure considered unique to the judiciary.
The Government will have to amend the draft law to improve the fight against tax fraud if it wants the Legislature to approve it. The opposition is mainly relted to the fact that the project would grant the ability to make charges and put in place embargoes without a court order, and there are also "... objections to tax advisers being made to pay part of the taxpayers debts, if the Administration considers that they gave the wrong advice."
State Banks in Costa Rica have a portfolio of over 2,300 properties from the repossessions made because of mortgage defaults.
Nacion.com reports that "... the banks, Banco Nacional, Banco de Costa Rica, Banco Popular and Bancrédito had 2,336 properties in their possession, which represents a 35% increase compared to the same period in 2012." Of that total, Banco Nacional has the largest number of foreclosed properties with 60%.
At the Banco de Costa Rica the volume of assets received in lie of payment increased by 70% compared to 2011.
A survey by Elfinancierocr.com between 6 financial institutions, including the four public banks in the country, revealed that in February of this year, there were 1259 properties in their possession, in contrast to the 884 properties that were reported in the same period 2012, ie there was a 42% increase.
Failure to pay $24 million in compensation to Servipronto has led to an embargo of the brands McDonald's, Quarter Pounder, Big Mac and Ronald McDonald's.
An article in Elmundo.com.sv reports that "The executing judge is setting an embargo on the royalties paid by McDonalds Mesoamerica to McDonald's Corp. The judge has spoken to McDonald's CFO to determine how much this would amount to.
The United States Government has granted Nicaragua the so-called "property waiver".
Expressing its concern at the deterioration of the rule of law in Nicaragua, and the 337 cases of claims by American citizens that their property had been confiscated, the United States today approved a so called property waiver, which in practice means that it will support international agencies which the Nicaraguan government seeks loans from.
Nicaragua's government is trying to calm fears among businesses after the release of a report covering the pending property claims of U.S. citizens, without which bilateral and multilateral U.S aid may be jeopardized.
From June 2011 to date, the government has been attending to about 64 claims by U.S. citizens who had their property seized in the 80s, having already solved about 25 cases, according to a report from the Attorney General's Office (PGR) released to Members of the Council of Private Enterprise, COSEP.
The Legislative Assembly passed a series of measures favoring the agriculture sector.
One of the them obliges state banks to suspend property embargoes for a 9 month period, while recommending private banks to act in the same way.
"Another initiative asks the Government to continue providing 30% of Ficafé's annual quota. Ficafé is a refinancing trust for growers, whose quota expires on September 23", reported Elsalvador.com.