I am considering a Costa Rican corporation for taxreasons
 

I am considering forming a Costa Rican corporation for taxreasons.
Does anybody here have experience with that?
Anything I should know?
:)

talk to the iwantu.com people. they know it all.

worth it for corporate taxes
you still have to pay personal income taxes if you dont move

Costa Rica, has proposed a new taxation law if I remember hearing correctly. Your best bet would be to contact a proper tax lawyer and get his/her opinion before you do anything else.

DH

I agree with DH if you are not planning on moving here you better see with a tax lawyer and see what are your options.

woow! Some great answers here!
I did not know about a proposed taxation law and that I would still have to pay personal income tax.
Thanks.

if you are a us citizen and dont live outside us for more than 300 days per year, there is no legal benefit to os other than making assets harder to find in event of lawsuit.

Costa Rica is so not ideal as purely a tax shelter. Look into Panama.

WTF A1R3K, you're in Costa Rica too? Didn't take you long to take the plunge!

Yeah, iwantu has been down here for some time and they have the experience, maybe they can provide a few pointers. From what I know, unlike some other countries, you may have to come down here to get a corporation (not that this country doesn't rock!). If you're looking for a juridisction that's really simple and easy, and you're not planning to live in Costa Rica, you may want to consider a place like Belize. Limited company formation there is very easy, and is well priced, and everything is done in English.

Jeff

Depends first on what nationality you are, where you are currently resident etc and if there are reporting requirements within your existing jurisdiction.

Costa Rica is not an offshore country. Tho there are few MAT's (Mutual Assistance Treaties) or exchange of information agreements. The only existing Costa Rica MAT's or information treaties are with the USA.

The nearest *real* offshore area is Panama and would suggest you look into this instead.

The proposed new tax regime failed in the supreme court (Sala IV). It's currently in a state of flux but prob unlikely to be raised as an issue anytime soon. The flip side it the country does need a method of revenue collection and chances are this will happen at some future time.

Currently any revenue earned off the net and pulled into CR is tax free, however it's prob worth planning up front and anticipating possible taxation and Panama may provide an avenue.

Isn't the ecompany tax already very low where you live now?

aruba would be a better option

I think that tax havens and shelters are almost a thing of the past. New worldwide regulatory agreements have been underway for a few years now among many former havens, especially after 9/11 in order for the government to find out what money is going where and from whom. Wherever your money is they want to be able to tax you just the same.

Yes. 2% on profit but costs are relatively high.
Also I dont like the idea of another person being in control of my money.

Most options there are past tense...:(

Oddly enough some people keep telling me Dubai....

Belize seems an option...Same as Panama.
Panamaq is mentioned by a lot of people.

Low tax areas have not changed so much Mike, but totally agree on the expansion of international agreements and OECD committee recomendations for lower tax areas to start charging higher taxes - they assume they know what's best for other nations - predictably. :)

The only problem with that is for every batch of nations adopting the policies of OECD, another 100 are waiting in line to take advantage of offshore commerce.

Sure, movement of funds have been a concern for a number of years and banks have implemented anti money laundering and "know your customer" policies, but "normally" that would not be of concern to webmasters - it's just covering ass all round.

The flip side is obviously that of "legal offshore" and "illegal offshore". The former being folks who just want to defraud revenue when remaining resident in their home country. It's nicer to be totally legal and have a structure which is 100% legal within whatever jurisdiction - and, at the same time being actually legal on a personal basis for the beneficial owners.


PS Not sure 9/11 had much effect on the average offshore (least the one's I know of) - they already had more than adequate monitoring in place, - in fact prob more than the average "onshore" banking institutions have even now.

*cough.. links... *cough

Hi Pornopat! :)

Note that Belize was an ex-British "colony" PP and it has a fair number of MAT's in place already - tho this may not be relevent, depending on your personal circumstances.

Better add ...

Pamana also has MAT's with the USA and several Latin American countries including Cost Rica and Nicargua, but no double-taxation treaties. Panama also does not supply information on fiscal issues of corps.