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as of wednesday, may 2, the bcr on-line system was not working. even the bcr bank personnel couldn’t complete my payment wednesday morning. the bcr system at the bank was working wednesday afternoon and I was able to pay the tax.
The fee is calculated on a daily basis in the Registro Nacional computer system. When it’s working.
You pay the tax that appears in the computer at BCR or you don’t. There’s no negotiations or discussions.
You can check out how much is owed by any Persona Jurídica at this site: http://www.rnpdigital.com/shopping/consultaDocumentos/consultaMorosidadPJ.jspx' defer onload='The BCR online banking system has not been able to process payment of the taxes. So I went to the BCR branch in Belen and found the wait to be several hours. I got took my ficha and left to get my haircut and ran some other errands and returned to BCR two hours later and my number was called. Once I got to a customer service agent, she told me that the Registro Nacional system was down and that she could not complete the transaction. So I took another ficha, went to lunch and returned an hour an a half later, and my number was called and the Regsitro Nacional system was back on-line and I was able to pay the tax. After 20 years in the jungle, life in ticolandia never ceases to amaze me !
I have not seen any publicity about the opening of a Chinese bank in CR and I imagine it would be difficult to locate any place here that would exchange that currency. Perhaps some of the more financially savvy members know more about this subject.
I have a hard time figuring out how the mountain of documents that need to be organized and submitted to obtain building permits can be transmitted on-line. However, I’m a low tech guy in a high tech world.
I agree with chasebeagle2000. In CR there are 1000’s of Hyundai’s and 100’s of dealers selling Hyundai parts, which means that based on supply and demand, their cost is low. Almost all mechanics work on these motors because there are so many operating throughout CR.
I’ve lived and worked here for 18 years and have owned various vehicles over the years and have many friends who have had experiences, good and bad with vehicles here. I’ve seen how often the old Galloper’s, Trooper’s and Montero’s need suspension parts replaced.
The best vehicles in my opinion are the older Range Rovers. They were manufactured for rough terrain and the suspension is superior to most, with independent springs for all 4 wheels. (Prior to 1991). Additionally, the Range four wheel drive transmission works like a tank.
The trick is to remove the old Rover engine and replace it with a turbo diesel Hyundai motor that gets exceptional mileage.
I bought a Range that had been modified and for the past four years I’ve been enjoying a great ride and exceptional fuel economy. Furthermore, because there are so many Hyundai’s in CR there are hundreds of mechanics who work on them and the Hyundai parts are widely distributed throughout CR and are much less expensive than Range Rover, Toyota and Nissan. Additionally, Range Rovers have spacious interiors and are very comfortable for full grown people.
Many foreigners place their real assets in S.A.’s. If you personally do not have a lot of cash in banks or assets in your name, then there’s no reason not to put a car in your personal name. Just like in the real world, if greedy attorneys don’t find attachable assets in your name, they won’t go after you.
The Cutler Hammer and Square D electrical components that are sold here are manufactured to international standards. The switches and outlets available here are 1st world quality. I wouldn’t consider importing anything to CR based on the hassles in the aduana and lack of guarantees.
A report from the Fire Marshall of Costa Rica indicates that in 2011 there were a total of 881 fire emergencies registered and 228 were investigated. Of the fires investigated, 98 occurred as a result of faulty electric installations. Of the 98 cases, 64% were due to short circuits in plugs and light fixtures. The remaining fires were a result of the presence of flammable liquids and other materials such as matches, cigarettes or candles. http://www.nacion.com/2012-02-18/ElPais/aval-de-ingenieros-electricos-sera-obligatorio-en-nuevas-construcciones.aspx
That all depends on the budget of the owner. Installing only two electric cables costs less than to install the additional cable to ground the circuits.
Bamboo construction is totally different than other methods. If you do not have well trained bamboo craftsmen and an abundant supply of bamboo, it is not practical to consider building with bamboo. 80% of construction costs on any bamboo project go to paying the trained craftsmen who have learned the specialized trade of installing the bamboo. I’ve been building housing in CR since 1992 and have yet to meet any trained bamboo craftsmen.
Bamboo-framed structures need to be separated from the elements with a proper foundation because termites and other bugs are attracted to Bamboo. Curing the bamboo stalks is mandatory. Borax or formaldehyde liquid solutions are typically used. The chemicals that are typically used for curing bamboo are not user or environmentally friendly.
When moving to a new country, you need to consider your ability to adapt to the local culture and language before you take on any new challenging projects that will require specialized training of the local workforce. Even if you’re extremely entrepreneurial, it’s usually recommended to not attempt to re-invent the wheel during your initial adaptation process. There are thousands of local Latino construction workers in Costa Rica who are accustomed to concrete construction that you could more easily work with to complete a cost effective dwelling for you to begin your new life in paradise. Good luck![quote=”DavidCMurray”]Tom, I think it’s the taxpayer, not the bank, who must do the reporting to IRS.[/quote]
According to Scotts article:
Reporting by Foreign Financial Institutions.
FATCA will also require foreign financial institutions (“FFIs”) to report directly to the IRS certain information about financial accounts held by U.S. taxpayers, or by foreign entities in which U.S. taxpayers hold a substantial ownership interest.[quote=”DavidCMurray”]My reading of Scott’s article [ https://www.welovecostarica.com/members/3285.cfm ] on the The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act suggests that it is only applicable to U.S. taxpayers who hold assets in foreign financial institutions in an aggregate amount of $50,000 or more. Is that correct?
How do the individual banks who will need to send reports to the IRS know if you have funds in other banks? For instance if a gringo has $15K in BNCR, $15K in BCR and $15K in BAC and $15K in Banco Popular. Will each bank be required to send a document on behalf of the gringo to the IRS reporting the gringos balance in their respective banks?
Fatca – The Menace You’ll Hear About in 2012 – The Atlantic
It is the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2010, or Fatca. The problem originates in US government efforts to prevent future offshore-banking tax scams … http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/12/fatca-the-menace-youll-hear-about-in-2012/250667/
KEEP THE PRESSURE UP: Encourage people to sign the anti-FATCA petition (http://www.signon.org/sign/repeal-fatca?source=c.em.cp&r_by=188650) to write their members of Congress, to share their personal tales of how this will affect them with ACA (via the secure portal: http://www.aca..ch/persexp.php) and add comments to articles on the subject and on blogs. Encourage affected financial institutions to protest to Treasury and lobby Congress, write joint letters to American ambassadors …. Help raise the volume (both quantity and loudness) of anti-FATCA protests.
