Costa Rica tax authorities hit the streets

SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA – October 3^rd, 2012 – Tax authorities will be visiting stores and businesses in San Jose throughout the week, verifying that merchants are registered with the tax department and are complying with their tax duties.  They began visiting businesses yesterday afternoon, around Central and Second avenues, and some 100 tax officials will continue to do so during the coming days.

They will also be visiting newly established businesses in order to gather information on their invoices, credit card machines, Health Department permits, and operating license, in order to verify the tax situation of each location. If a business is found not to be in compliance, a 2^nd visit will be scheduled in order to allow the operator to come into compliance.

The program is part of a new strategy that tax authorities have developed in order to “improve taxpayer behavior” and “improve taxation control”, through “preventive visits” and the request of pertinent information, according to Hacienda (Treasury department).