On August 15, 2020, the tax authorities of Costa Rica published an 11^th hour resolution rescinding the requirement that all corporations file Shareholder Declaration Statements in 2020, provided such filings were made in 2019.  

IOW, NO NEED TO FILE SHAREHOLDER DECLARATIONS IN 2020.  The reason given is the Covid19 pandemic. 

Note also that those who did not file in 2019 must still do so, upon which they will also be deemed to have filed for 2020.  Here is the original pertinent text in Spanish:

“Mediante resolución DGT-ICD-R-19-2020 publicada 15 de Agosto 2020 en La Gaceta, la Dirección General de Tributación reforma los artículos 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 y adiciona un artículo 6 bis a la Resolución Conjunta de Alcance General DGT-ICD-R-06-2020 del 26 de marzo del presente año 2020. Como principal modificación se establece que los obligados que presentaron la Declaración 2019 en el sistema del Registro de Transparencia y Beneficiarios Finales (RTBF), no tendrán que presentar la Declaración 2020, ya que el sistema del RTBF de forma automática y por esta única vez, tendrá dicha declaración como la de ese período, sin que éstos deban realizar alguna gestión adicional. Por su parte, los sujetos obligados que no hayan presentado la declaración 2No019, deberán presentarla para que les aplique la misma regla, con lo cual se tendrá de forma automática dicha declaración como la del período 2020.”

A number of Pacific Coast law clients have already paid us to file this declaration in 2020. The system did not allow us to do so.  Now we know why.  We think the best approach would be to keep these fees on deposit and apply them to the shareholders’ filings which will be due in 2021.

Note that if you started your corporation between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2020, then the deadline to file your first declaration, normally due within 20 days,  is extended until April 2021.

Also, trusts, third-party resource managers and non-profit organizations, are still not yet required to file the Declarations directly.  However, they must maintain the information as required by the Law to Improve the Fight against Tax Fraud, and deliver same to the Tax Administration when it so requires.”

The Resolution also makes it clear that this extension is being offered on a one-time basis; in other words, people should not expect another postponement in 2021.  Thanks very much to all.