Comments on: Presidential candidates Araya, Guillermo support creating Value Added Tax

By: Gene Warneke

Gene Warneke — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 19:09:00 +0000

Ways need to be found to collect taxes from wealthy Ticos. They easily find ways around paying any significant taxes, leaving the burden of taxation upon the lower wealth classes. If the politicians don’t act on this (and they won’t), sooner or later Ticos will rise up and shut down the country through national strikes until they think they’re getting some taxation justice. This is the way it works here.

By: Suzie

Suzie — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 17:29:00 +0000

This country is already bordering on becoming third world again. How much do they think people will pay for things down here? How about more time, energy, and money for ramping up computer systems for the country to collect already existing taxes. I pay mine every year but I know plenty of ticos who don’t because they can’t afford them after paying the high taxes on everyday items. The taxes on food were horrible.

By: terry

terry — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 18:31:00 +0000

Things like computers are already double from what they are in the US. How much will this add to that?

By: roberto

roberto — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 17:43:00 +0000

I am voing for Jose Maria Villalta, Frente Amplio.

By: Ken Morris

Ken Morris — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 17:21:00 +0000

I think Solis and the PAC are making a serious political mistake.

The PLN with Araya’s support have handed the opposition a strong centrist issue to run on, namely taxes. If the PAC was at all savvy, it would craft a clear alternative tax plan and make it the centerpiece of the campaign. By agreeing with the PLN on a VAT, the PAC is giving away the one issue on which it could conceivably win.

By agreeing, the PAC is also severing its ties to the farther left, when a PAC victory would require a broad center-left coalition.

Apparently, the PAC hopes to win on a campaign against genetically modified food alone. Sorry, that’s not a winning issue.

And BTW, I’m cynical/realistic enough to appreciate that a PAC victory could well end up with a VAT too, and that a VAT properly balanced with other taxes may not be a bad idea. But when a headline in effect says “No Difference Between the PAC and the PLN on Taxes,” the PAC loses the crucial opportunity to contrast itself with the PLN and then loses the election.

Neither do I see another party capable of giving the PLN a run for its money, so I guess we’ll see a PLN victory, a VAT, and no doubt continuing corruption that wastes most of the money anyway, no matter how it is collected.

By: Daryl Smitts

Daryl Smitts — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 16:36:00 +0000

Another nail in the coffin of the Costa Rican people… Ever notice people that these “systems” are not working? God Save Costa Rica!