Costa Rican legislators OK new bills to fight tax evasion

Forty-two lawmakers unanimously voted on Monday in favor of two bills they say will help the Tax Administration fight tax evasion and punish taxpayers who have committed irregularities on their tax returns.

The first bill passed Monday is the Law for the Enforcement of Standards in Fiscal Transparency, and the second is the Law for Strengthening Tax Management.

The National Liberation Party’s top lawmaker, Fabio Molina Rojas, said most of the changes, such as doubling fines and penalties for infringements, will allow the Tax Administration to improve tax collection and maintain better control over tax revenue.

The new Strengthening Tax Management Law also provides measures for fiscal transparency by allowing the exchange of tax information between countries, as requested by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The bills were passed in a second and final round of voting, and will now move to the desk of President Laura Chinchilla for signing.