Costa Rica Expertise LLC

By Garland M. Baker
Special to A.M. Costa Rica

Here is a yearly reminder. Education and culture taxes — Timbre de Educación y Cultura — are due next Monday, March 31.

Many people, including professionals, sluff off filing form D.110 and paying these taxes. However, paying them is required by Ley 5923, and every company in Costa Rica listed at the Registro Nacional is required to pay this tax. A company’s net capital amount determines the tax to be paid.

The tax amounted to quite a bit of money in 1976, the year the general assembly enacted the law. Today, the amount is almost insignificant and is a nuisance tax to most.

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By Garland M. Baker
Special to A.M. Costa Rica

It is tax time again. Tax returns for individuals and companies are due on Friday. Yes, this Friday.

Every company is required to register with the taxman. This registration happens when one gets a set of legal books approved at the tax authority, Tributación Directa. The form to do so changed this year from one without a number to Form 406. The old form had no number and was clumsy looking. It can still be used until Friday, but starting Monday, to register a company to get legal books authorized one must use the new form.

There are several important deadlines for taxpayers in Costa Rica. The most important ones for expats are Dec. 15 when Form 101 for income taxes is due and March 31 when Form 110 for education and cultural taxes is due.

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By Garland M. Baker
Special to A.M. Costa Rica

December and Christmas in Costa Rica is the prelude to tourism season and better weather, but this also is the time of the year to file certain crucial tax forms.

Everyone knows that life has two certainties: death and taxes. There is another: The national tax authority’s Web site stinks. It stunk last year, the year before that and the year before that. This year it is fancier with new graphics, new links, and a new search engine. They have obviously spent some money on revamping the interface much like the Instituto Costarricence de Turismo with its $880,000 site. However, it still does not work properly.

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To avoid getting a surprise from the tax man this next tax year, print and pin this article to your refrigerator.

Here are the most important tax filing deadlines for those who read A.M. Costa Rica. Explanations of the taxes may be found in the adjacent news story about tax deadlines.

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