Finance Ministry submits bill to improve tax collection, reduce evasion
Finance Ministry officials on Thursday presented lawmakers a bill proposing a number of amendments to existing tax legislation to combat evasion and improve efficiency in collection.
The bill sent by Finance Minister Helio Fallas includes nine major reforms that would give officials more tools to monitor and tax financial transactions, including a requirement that all businesses accept credit or debit cards as payment. As an incentive, the Finance Ministry would then refund businesses up to 1 percent of sales taxes collected on credit and debit card transactions.
Another proposal is to charge sales tax to people who rent property for less than a month. Officials say that would prevent unfair competition by those who rent homes in tourist areas, which affects hotel and other lodging businesses.
Another amendment would require anyone requesting a document from any public agency to be current on tax payments. That would include obtaining driver’s licenses, business permits and bank loans.
Finance Vice Minister Fernando Rodríguez said the bill is the first step by the administration of Luis Guillermo Solís to improve government tax revenue, one of Solís’ campaign promises.
You may be interested

How 6 Exotic Animals in Costa Rica Got Their Names
The Tico Times - March 7, 2021When it comes to pointing out animals, some people in Costa Rican can be extremely unspecific. Sometimes it seems that…

Slothy Sunday: Restrictions are lifted, now what? See sloths, what else!
Mariana Diaz / Toucan Rescue Ranch - March 7, 2021This is officially the first week we are all allowed to drive again on both days of the weekend, how…

Sloths in Costa Rica: 11 Little Known Facts
The Tico Times - March 7, 2021Since they were first described by naturalists in the 1700s, sloths have been misunderstood. Early scientists described the slow-moving beasts…