In Costa Rica, the Ministry of Finance decided to extend the deadline by 24 additional months so that the import of hybrid and electric vehicles can be done at reduced rates and in some cases without paying taxes.
With the publication of decree 42080-H-MINAE-MOPT in the edition of the Official Journal of Thursday, January 16, 2020, the benefits will be maintained until December 2021.
In Guatemala, the chambers of industry and commerce oppose the bill that proposes to create a special tax regime for agricultural activity.
The project "Law on Simplification, Updating and Tax Incorporation", which has been in Congress for more than two years, was scheduled for final discussion until September 10. See full bill.
A bill was presented to create fiscal and economic incentives for companies and individuals using electric vehicles.
The bill "Ley de Transporte Electrico", presented by the organization Mover El Salvador to the Legislative Assembly, seeks that each new electric vehicle or new hybrid electric vehicle be the object of benefits.
In Nicaragua, the tax exemption that benefited the import of products such as canned sardines, prepared soups, toilet soap, rubber gloves, among others, was eliminated.
With this change, the products concerned will be applied the Import Tariff Rate (DAI), which is a tax contained in the Central American Import Tariff and is applied to products from countries outside the Central American region, on the value of them, the taxes have variable rates that can range between 5% and 15%.
A decree reform to promote local tourism, and a bill that would grant tax exemptions for investments in certain tourist sites, are some of the proposals to boost tourism activity in Guatemala.
In addition to the decree that moves holidays to a Monday or Friday in order to favor destinations which are further away by creating long weekends, and the bill that would give tax benefits to investments in tourist sites, authorities at the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism also intend to modify the institution's Organic Law.
Promotion of the Colon Free Port regime will intensify next year, with tax incentives being offered to companies that settle in the commercial zone located on the Caribbean coast of Panama.
The objective of the law that already allows companies to set up in the 16 streets of the city of Colon, exonerating themselves from the payment of certain taxes, is to reactivate an area which in recent years has failed to take off, despite being one of the main doors of entry and exit of cargo and people on board ships and cruise ships.
Until 2023 renewable energy projects in Nicaragua may opt for the exemption of import duty on machinery and equipment, VAT, income tax and municipal taxes.
The National Assembly approved a reform proposed by the Ortega administration to extend the term of tax benefits for energy generation projects with renewable sources.The law established that the maximum period to opt for exemptions was January 2018, but now they will remain in place until January 2023.
In Nicaragua, the Ortega administration is proposing to extend tax benefits for energy generation projects using renewable sources for another five years.
Continuing with the strategy of promoting energy generated from renewable sources, the government is proposing extending tax incentives for these types of projects, as it did in June 2015.At that time, the benefits were extended until January 2018.
With the new law an extension has been granted until December 31st, 2017 for tax benefits granted to companies registered in the National Industry registry, which were to expire on December 31, 2016.
From a statement issued by the National Assembly:
As an instrument to promote the strengthening and growth of the industrial sector, the National Assembly approved, on a third reading, Bill 413, amending an article of Law 28 of June 20, 1995, whereby measures are taken to achieve the universalization of production incentives and other provisions.
The Varela administration will be submitting a bill so that the company that wins the concession for the construction and operation of the port in Corozal can enjoy the same tax benefits as other port companies in Panama.
An article on Panamaamerica.com.pa reports that "... According to the administrator of the Panama Canal, Jorge Quijano, the National Assembly could be presented with the proposal in July, in an effort to provide the same incentives that ports enjoy today, to the company which wins the tender to build the port of Corozal. "
While the Investment and Employment Law Project is still waiting in congress, the new Minister of Economy announced that they are preparing a "plan B" to maintain incentives for the productive sector.
At least four months before the expiration of the Law on the Promotion and Development of Exports and Maquila Activities, it has been announced that the aim of the alternative plan is to maintain the tax benefits enjoyed up until now by exporting companies, mainly textiles and maquila.
If free zones -with their tax breaks and other privileges- are good for the economy, why isn't the entire country made into a free zone?
EDITORIAL
Why not provide companies founded with Central America capital the same benefits and privileges enjoyed by foreign firms operating under free zone regimes? The job creation and contribution to the economy that can be made by companies in free zones because they enjoy these privileges should be able to come from business founded with Central American capital as well, which in contrast to foreign firms, have to deal with excessive regulations and bureaucracy in the States of Central America.
A bill put forward by Liberal MPs in Costa Rica proposes that during the first three years of operation, new companies would be exempt from paying income tax.
The proposal states that during the first year the new companies would be completely exempt from income, the second year they would be charged 25% of income tax incurred and 50% in the third year.
Complaints have been made that there is not a clear and complete record of the number of companies benefiting from special tax regimes.
It is estimated that there are approximately 3,000 taxpayers who fall under the tax exemptions regime, either totally or partially. However, this data has not been confirmed by the Superintendency of Tax Administration, even though it had to submit its first report in 2014, according to the rule which came into effect in November 2013.
Producers are complaining about a lack of agility and excessive paperwork in the process to request tax exemptions for the purchase of equipment and farm machinery.
Agricultural producers argue that they can not easily access the exemptions for the purchase of equipment which is established in the recently passed Tax Act. Although it has been stated that within three months the necessary reforms will be made for the exemptions to given on products and not producers, the current requirements are delaying procedures and access to the incentive on the part of the producers.
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