About Costa Rica
Costa Rica is Central America’s most stable democracy, offering a highly educated bilingual workforce, strong FDI incentives in free trade zones, and a growing tech and medical device sector.
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Frequently Asked Questions
France is phasing in a mandatory B2B e-invoicing/e-reporting obligation. From 1 September 2026 all French companies must connect to an accredited platform to RECEIVE invoices (initially from large companies). From 1 September 2027 they must also ISSUE their own sales invoices through such a platform. Invoices must flow through certified/approved e-invoicing software connected to the French tax authority's platform; companies should prepare in advance.
For the AML / risk report that lawyers, banks and agents in Spain (and the EU) must produce, the client has to evidence that their activity generated income. A corporate income-tax settlement/liquidation certificate (in Spanish or English) is preferred. If no tax return is available, income can instead be evidenced through commercial contracts and invoices, or — as a last resort that carries higher risk — via a KYC form used as a sworn declaration.
For legal-entity-shareholder incorporation in the Netherlands: (1) provide a shareholding ownership chart (UBO piercing) identifying every natural person who ultimately holds, directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the new company — for complex structures this chart must be certified by a lawyer or accountant in the parent's home country and then apostilled; (2) the corporate documents (articles/constitution and business licence) must be in English, so a separate translation is unnecessary if the notarization already produces a certified English translation; (3) address proof is required for the holding company's legal representative and for the ultimate beneficial owners; (4) the notary may require a video call at their discretion; and (5) if the holding company itself has a complex/legal-entity ownership, a separate legal-entity-shareholder background-check product must be purchased.
Gibraltar is not in the EU and is not within the UK customs territory; companies set up there are essentially offshore. It is generally not suitable for a business that needs an EU presence, such as a European e-commerce or independent-site operation.
No. The firm does not provide services directly tied to the client's products (such as product-specific compliance registrations); its scope is corporate/company services.
No. Irish authorities no longer accept online notarization; documents must be notarized in person. For forms where the notary must fill in information, a Hong Kong notary is preferred because mainland China notaries often will not complete such forms.
Yes. To begin operating in Spain — for example to hire employees — the company needs a local (Spain-resident) person.
Check the person's residence card/permit: it must explicitly state that work is authorized. If the card does not state work authorization, the person is not permitted to work.
No standalone office rentals are available inside the Shannon free trade zone; the model there is whole-building usage. Address registration or serviced-office hanging there is generally not feasible unless the client intends to take an entire building.
Yes. Spanish notaries (Notarios) generally do not treat foreign corporate documents as Spanish 'public documents', so they require a Hague apostille (legalisation) before the documents can be used in a Spanish corporate procedure — this applies even to documents issued in another EU/EEA country.
For a French SARL, the paid-up (released) portion of the cash share capital must be at least 50% of the share capital at incorporation. Any remaining unpaid portion treated as a contribution in kind triggers the mandatory appointment of a contributions auditor (commissaire aux apports). Where a notary handles the capital verification, 100% cash paid-up is required.
Free Trade Zones and Investment Incentives
Costa Rica offers several free trade zones that provide companies with tax breaks, duty exemptions, and investment incentives. These zones have attracted numerous multinational corporations, especially in high-tech and manufacturing industries, such as Intel and HP, which have established production facilities in the country.
Renewable Energy Supply
Nearly all of Costa Rica's electricity comes from renewable sources like hydropower, wind, and geothermal energy. This sustainable energy supply attracts green economy businesses and environmentally conscious companies to invest and set up operations in the country, while also reducing energy-related operational costs and enhancing its competitiveness in global markets.
Free Trade Agreements with Major Markets
Costa Rica has signed several free trade agreements, including the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) with the U.S., as well as bilateral agreements with the European Union, Mexico, Chile, and others. These agreements provide Costa Rican products and services with easy access to major global markets, fostering export growth and attracting international companies to establish export-oriented operations in the country.
Highly Educated Workforce
Costa Rica has a well-educated population, particularly in fields like technology, engineering, and manufacturing. This skilled labor force supports the growth of industries with high technological content, such as medical devices and tech sectors, making it an appealing destination for foreign companies to establish R&D and production facilities.
General CIT Rate
30%
CIT Return Due Date
CIT return is generally due by 15 March
CIT Payment Due Date
Final payment should also be made by 15 March
CIT Estimated Payment Due Date
Estimated CIT payments must be made quarterly, with 75% of the amount split equally among June, September, and December.
Resident Withholding Tax (Dividend/Interest/Royalty)
15/15/0
None-Resident Withholding Tax (Dividend/Interest/Royalty)
15/15/25
General VAT Rate
13
General Capital Gain Tax Rate
15% (2.25% under certain conditions)
Composite Effective Average Tax Rate
28.24%
Composite Effective Marginal Tax Rate
26.12%
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