Filing a Costa Rica Inactive Company Tax Return

Starting in 2025, the Costa Rican government is introducing a new initiative that requires all registered companies, even if they are not actively operating, to file a declaration of inactivity. The deadline for filing the documentation is set for the end of April 2025. However, given the novelty of the initiative and the possible difficulties with its implementation, the authorities may extend this deadline. Failure to comply with the requirements will result in a fine of US$10,000.

Obtaining a Tax Identification Number (NITE)

The first step in filing a declaration of inactive companies is for the legal representatives of the companies to obtain a special tax identification number (NITE). This is a mandatory requirement, without which the declaration will not be accepted.

To obtain a NITE, each legal representative must sign a document called the "NITE request". The signature must be placed on both versions of the document - in English and Spanish. It is extremely important that the signature is as similar as possible to the one indicated in the passport, since the Ministry of Finance of Costa Rica strictly monitors this aspect.

Declaration filing procedure

1. Signing the "NITE request" document - the legal representative signs the document in English and Spanish, observing the correspondence of the signature in the passport.
2. Document apostille - after signing, it is necessary to undergo the apostille procedure for the document to be legalized.
3. Sending the document - after the apostille process is completed, the document is sent to the address of the registrar, who is responsible for further processing of the declaration of inactivity of the company.

Important points

• The declaration must be submitted by the end of April 2025, to avoid a fine.
• Legal representatives must take care of obtaining NITE in advance, since the process takes time.
• Changes in the filing deadlines are possible due to the fact that registrars are not yet fully prepared to comply with the new requirements.

Due to the new regulations, it is important to prepare for filing your declaration in advance to avoid fines and possible delays. Stay tuned for updates from the Costa Rican Ministry of Finance, as there may be changes in the declaration filing procedure.

IT-OFFSHORE will help you prepare your declaration on time and complete all the necessary procedures to comply with the new requirements.