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22 February 2021

Costa Rica’s Executive Branch may extend period goods may stay in a tax warehouse

Under a new decree, the Executive Branch may extend the period imported goods may stay in a tax warehouse during a national emergency. If the Executive Branch announces an extension, importers will have more time to keep imported goods in tax warehouses.

Decree No. 9947, published, in the Official Gazette, allows Costa Rica’s Executive Branch to extend the period goods may stay in a tax warehouse. The decree went into effect on 17 February 2021.

Currently, goods may remain in a tax warehouse for up to one year. If the importation procedures for the goods are not completed within that period, the customs administration declares them to be abandoned.

The decree adds a final paragraph to Article157 of the General Customs Law, allowing the Executive Branch to grant an extension of up to one year for goods in a tax warehouse. The Executive Branch may grant the extension when there is a national emergency.

The decree will reduce the effects of the pandemic on importers by allowing them additional time to keep goods in tax warehouses.

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For additional information with respect to this Alert, please contact the following:

Ernst & Young, S.A., San José, Costa Rica

Rafael Sayagués | rafael.sayagues@ey.com

Juan Carlos Chavarría | juan-carlos.chavarria@cr.ey.com

Carolina Palma | carolina.palma@cr.ey.com

Ana G Sánchez Wellermann | gabriela.sanchez@cr.ey.com

María Sequeira | maria.sequeira@cr.ey.com

José Martínez Loría | jose.martinez.loria@cr.ey.com

Daniela Torres Gatica | daniela.torres.gatica@cr.ey.com

Ernst & Young LLP (United States), Latin American Business Center, New York

Ana Mingramm | ana.mingramm@ey.com

  • Pablo Wejcman | pablo.wejcman@ey.com

  • Enrique Perez Grovas | enrique.perezgrovas@ey.com

    Ernst & Young Abogados, Latin America Business Center, Madrid

    Jaime Vargas | jaime.vargas.c@es.ey.com

    Ernst & Young LLP (United Kingdom), Latin American Business Center, London

    Lourdes Libreros | lourdes.libreros@uk.ey.com

    Ernst & Young Tax Co., Latin American Business Center, Japan & Asia Pacific

    Raul Moreno, Tokyo | raul.moreno@jp.ey.com

  • Luis Coronado, Singapore | luis.coronado@sg.ey.com

    Document ID: 2021-5208

     
     

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