Electronic invoicing for taxpayers is becoming a mandatory issue for companies throughout the world. The latest study on...
e-Invoicing in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is in the process of phased implementation of e-Invoicing in the country, starting with the large taxpayers, representing the highest revenue percentage. The GGT is currently in the process of notifying the biggest businesses regarding the requirement to use this method. Once notified, taxpayers will have 6 months to implement e-Invoicing in their processes. With this technology, the DGT will be able to improve control and reduce tax evasion, as all the business transactions will be declared in real time.
Mandatory status
Publication of DGT-R-012-2018 notifies the mandatory deadlines for all Costa Rican taxpayers to begin using e-Invoicing, starting from September 2018 until December 2018:
- Taxpayers whose ID number ends with 1, 2, or 3 must join the system and start issuing electronic invoices by September 1, 2018.
- Taxpayers whose ID number ends with 4, 5, or 6 must join the system and start issuing electronic invoices by October 1, 2018.
- Taxpayers whose ID number ends with 0, 7, 8 or 9 must join the system and start issuing electronic invoices by November 1, 2018.
Administrative transactions required
It is necessary to register beforehand with the tax authority, depending on the type of taxpayer and the use to be made of the system (electronic issuer - recipient; electronic recipient - non-issuer; manual recipient; electronic recipient - final consumer).e-Signature
The invoice must be digitally signed using a certificate issued by the Central Bank or generated on the Ministry of Finance website.Print format
Electronic documents do not relieve taxpayers from the requirement to print and deliver the invoice on paper whenever the customer demands it. As there are manual recipients, there is an obligation to print out and deliver the document for tax purposes. In the case of issuers with points of sale to the end consumer, they can keep a backup of the transaction in the e-billing system (so as not to depend on point-of-sale receipt printers).Format
There are different types of e-documents, all of them defined in XML format.Fiscal control
The XML is sent to the Public Administration, which validates the document and sends an acceptance or rejection response to the issuer. The issuer then forwards the invoice to the recipient.Storage
Mandatory for issuer and receiver for a period of 5 years. In some cases, stated in the second paragraph of article 51 of the Tax Code, the safekeeping period shall be 10 years.Links of interest
http://www.hacienda.go.cr/Queries about e-invoicing in Costa Rica?
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