Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
[quote=”sprite”][quote=”pharg”][quote=”sweikert925″]
So it is the same guy eh? I see he charges [url=http://www.goldenjackass.com/subscribe.html]$110 for a six month subscription to allow his disciples to receive his pearls of wisdom.Whether he is a kook or not is personal perception. To MY personal perception, he seems to believe the sky is falling and he is running around in circles with one foot nailed to the floor, with a golden gleam in his eye. Many of his frenetic pronouncements are nothing if not laughable. [Also, with little or no primary relevance to Costa Rica].[/quote]
So you do not suspect any great change is coming; no dollar collapse, no great depression, no hyper inflation or defaltion….everything is just fine…right?[/quote]
Don’t waste your time…. it’s just another case of someone with the Normalcy bias…. and yet this same person is looking to relocate to CR! Why make such a radical move from Chicago if the weather and cost of living were the only factors? There’s many places that one could relocate to within the US to achieve those goals…. perhaps there’s that little voice telling him something is wrong in the US and it’s headed for a reckoning…. he’s just choosing to ignore it as long as possible and be a contrarian in the meantime!
[quote=”sweikert925″][quote=”johnnyh”]The reset is just around the corner. [/quote]
Just how big is this corner? I’ve been hearing that for years now. I’d like to know approximately when that’s going to happen so I can stop paying for insurance and max out my credit cards. LOL[/quote]So will you be shipping a phone booth to Costa Rica or will you be hoping to purchase one when you get here?
[quote=”sweikert925″][quote=”Imxploring”]The REAL problem for those more familiar with the way things work in CR is not increasing tax collection… it’s cutting the waste and corruption. [/quote]
Which is why [url=http://insidecostarica.com/2014/08/29/solis-presents-gloomy-100-days-report-focused-corruption/]President Solis has made tackling waste and corruption a focus of his administration.[/url] There is often a gap between rhetoric and results, but at least he is on record as wanting to do something about it.Corruption is generally easy to identify once you find it. But the problem with waste is there is often disagreement as to what is wasteful spending. I think putting low level drug abusers into prisons which cost tens of thousands per inmate per year is wasteful but many others don’t.
[quote=”Imxploring”]If I’m not mistaken the budget proposed by Solis includes a sizable increase in spending! [/quote]President Solis has in fact called for [url=http://www.ticotimes.net/2014/10/06/unions-call-for-nationwide-protest-against-proposed-budget-cuts]cuts in the budget, at least in certain areas.[/url] And [url=http://www.ticotimes.net/2014/09/02/despite-a-growing-deficit-for-costa-rica-no-new-taxes-planned-for-2015]”there is no plan to propose new taxes but [the new government has] asked lawmakers to consider the government’s bill to fight tax evasion.”[/url]
[quote=”Imxploring”] Perhaps the lack of confidence in the manner in which tax revenue is spent is part of the reason for avoidance and noncompliance?[/quote]
And perhaps there is something called human nature, a part of which is something called greed. You seem awfully quick to excuse the behavior of tax cheats. Why is that, I wonder ?[/quote]It must be a reading comp thing Steve…. I’m not really sure where you got the idea that I was “excusing” tax cheats… and I’m guessing that I pay quite a bit more in taxes then you… But regardless… let’s look at the issue and the points you bring up. Perhaps you meant to say “explain” rather then “excuse”…. I’ll overlook that as an unintended auto-correct issue and not an intentional effort on your part to put words in my mouth and not take offense to it…. THIS time! LOL
First off… ALL politicians get elected making promises…. Cut Waste, Expand services people want, Root out corruption, Lower taxes, Increase efficiency, Create jobs, and so on and so on! The proverbial “chicken in every pot” angle! (Didn’t work out for Hoover by the way!) The last 4 presidents in CR promised the same thing…. so that story is getting old my friend!!
That’s how they get elected Steve… it’s the norm these days and has been for a long time and with the dumbing down of society in general, it’s even more common today. The problem is it never happens! People don’t realize that the folks running for office are either delusional or liars…. and in most cases they’re both.
My issue with the current “plan”…. as if they really have one in CR… is that UNTIL real changes are made on the way taxes are spent… there will be no change in the way they are collected or the population’s willingness to provide them. BTW…. the Solis budget calls for a sizable overall increase in spending…. no matter if there are spending cuts in some areas.
I’ll give you an example so you might understand what I’m saying.
You’re well off… have assets… and good job… work hard… have done everything right in life and are now enjoying the fruits of those labors. You’re quite comfortable knowing you’re done the right thing in life and can hold your chin high in the manner in which you got to where you are personally and financially.
A close family member comes to you… they have financial problems… not due to some sudden unexpected misfortune which you would no doubt want to help out with immediately.
But instead a mess that is the result of years of bad choices, over spending, not working, spending money they didn’t have, abusing the use of credit, borrowing instead of cutting their expenses, them giving money to others that were making similar bad choices…. over the years they have continually promised to change their ways… only to continue on the same path.
Would you be so quick to simply hand them money or would you first want to be sure that the corrective actions, which they no doubt would be promising you once again to lobby for your assistance, were put in place BEFORE you wrote the check out??
THAT’S what I’m talking about!
[quote=”discuss”]After the shock of seeing the real estate prices in Escazu, I had an epiphany: Jaco/Punta Leona. 1 hour and 1/4 from the airport, right on the beach, properties for less than 150k. I guess that, if one goes for 10 minutes walk from the beach, maybe there is something at just above 100k.
As I wrote, I am not considering CR as a cheap place to crash. I understand that, to live with the usual North American standards, one has to pay a premium in CR. At the same time, if CR becomes as expensive as everywhere else in North America, then it would just be easier to live elsewhere where there are jobs etc.
Thoughts about Jaco? Risks, opportunities, quality of life for a married couple, well under 55, no kids? It seems there it may get way hotter than in SJ, other than that everything looks cool at least from what I see online.
We’ll rent there, instead of Escazu, when we visit CR in November. Tickets already booked, I just have to choose a hotel.
THANKS![/quote]
Be sure to visit both places during different times of the year and keep in mind the traffic, people, and problems that flood them during different times of the year (and day for that matter). Holidays (for the Ticos) and tourist (during the vacation seasons) looking for “fun” can change your opinion quickly.
I find Jaco a nice place to visit during the daylight hours… nice shops and places to eat (a bit expensive)… the night time hours become another story. As to living there fulltime… that would be your call based on your experience, investigation, and tolerance. Renting for a good period through the CR holidays and the North American vacation season will give you a good idea if the town is for you!
Best of luck!
[quote=”discuss”]Does anyone have an idea of what is reasonable to expect to pay to the Caja for a couple of 2, well under 55, who would live in CR as rentista?
Is that a % of the rentista monthly withdrawal? If I understood correctly, income earned from non-CR sources are not taxed so I don’t think the Caja would be levied on that.
Thanks![/quote]
The information provided above is on target with what others have been experiencing. And what the folks at ARCR have been telling people. It seems there is no “real” steadfast method for determining what you might pay, and those rates have gone up quite a bit in the last year or so with more increases possible. The rates for pension applicants are more varied but it seems the rentista and investor rates have a narrow range, be it quite a bit higher than had been the case.
Don’t look at it as a tax…. it’s not, if it were you would know what the rate would be based on a fix amount calculated on a published and acknowledged method… it is far from that. It seems it’s what the market will bear.
Best of luck…. Pura Vida!
[quote=”sweikert925″][quote=”costaricabill”]…the trouble in Costa Rica is NOT that it doesn’t have enough taxes on the books, the problem is that it fails miserably in the COLLECTION of those taxes.[/quote]
Precisely. Which is why President Solis is proposing the new measure that was the subject of this message thread (and why FATCA was passed in the US). Good for him! Some of the countries that tend to have the biggest problems balancing their books are also the ones that by most estimates have the worst non-compliance rates for taxpaying – Greece, Italy and Spain to name 3. Apparently Costa Rica is high on that list too. One of the things that modern technology has brought about is that it easier than ever to avoid paying taxes. It’s about time that honest taxpayers get some relief by making the dirty stinkin’ cheats pay up.
Those who live in Costa Rica as ex-pats should be pleased that the new government is cracking down on tax evasion as a way of getting its fiscal house in order. One of the most significant considerations in relocating to another country is how stable and well-run it is and in my opinion this new initiative is a big plus in that regard.[/quote]
The REAL problem for those more familiar with the way things work in CR is not increasing tax collection… it’s cutting the waste and corruption. Just as when an individual has problems in a household budget… you FIRST look for waste and ways to cut spending before looking for additional income.
If I’m not mistaken the budget proposed by Solis includes a sizable increase in spending! So as far as being responsible I’m not really buying it. Not while public officials in CR are collecting retirement pensions that exceed $10,000/ month…. not while the president of ICE lives like King in castles that would make the English royal family blush…. 100s of car and other government assets go unaccounted for…. and so on and so on!
Get your house in order before you coming looking to pick the pockets of the public. Perhaps the lack of confidence in the manner in which tax revenue is spent is part of the reason for avoidance and noncompliance? Perhaps if Solis makes the needed changes (cuts) BEFORE he ask for more money we’d all feel a bit more at ease paying more… knowing it’s being put to good use!
[quote=”costaricabill”]The POINT is that you have both tried every angle to make your POINT, to the POINT where you should each realize that it is POINTless to believe that the other will ever believe (or understand) your POINT.
So here is my point – the trouble in Costa Rica is NOT that it doesn’t have enough taxes on the books, the problem is that it fails miserably in the COLLECTION of those taxes. Casa in POINT, the Solidarity Tax, aka Luxury Home Tax. By their own admission, Hacienda is collecting about 25% of the projected amount of that tax. They came out and said they would have 100’s of appraisers out in the field looking for property owners avoiding that tax. I (unfortunately) fell for the threatened penalties for not paying (10 times the tax) and was among the first to pay and have continued each year since – but I can see 4-5 homes from my patio that should be paying and are not.[/quote]
Perhaps the real issue is that they were way over in their projections? Governments like many businesses have a way of doing that…. over projecting income and underestimating expenses.
[quote=”sweikert925″][quote=”Imxploring”]what YOU missed in the definition (its a reading comprehension thing Steve) is that the numbers are based on “Taxes and other revenues records total taxes and other revenues received by the NATIONAL government during the time period indicated, expressed as a percent of GDP.”[/quote]
You appear to believe that the US is the only country in the world that collects taxes only at the national level. That would be incorrect.
If you had really meant to say that the numbers were incomplete why didn’t you say that rather than “these numbers are not explained nor are they defined.”? Sounds to me you’re just unwilling to admit you missed reading the explanation of how the numbers were arrived at. There’s no shame in admitting you made a mistake. But there is in pretending you never made one.
If you have another resource that includes taxes at all levels of government and then ranks countries using that broader measure, by all means feel free to share it.[/quote]
I made no such observation that the US was the only country that collected taxes on a national level. I’m not sure where you got that idea.
Come now Steve, just admit it. The source you sited provides information which is incorrect and VERY poorly conceived and executed.. My use of the terms “explained” and “defined” are very clear. They FAILED to explain or define what was NOT included in their calculations. Intentionally no doubt. They used information which was tainted and incomplete and not useful in apples to apples comparison of the countries on the list. And then to arrive at a conclusion providing a percentage compared to GDP was rather disingenuous. And as everyone can now see the information you sited from the CIA “Fact” book provides means nothing.
Hell they didn’t even add a proviso qualifying their results that there are different manners in which countries collect taxes and that the information maybe incorrect when TOTAL tax collection and manner of taxation comparisons are made.
As to a source of correct information. I’m sure there isn’t one. After all, no government or politician wants you having a complete picture as to how much you pay in TOTAL taxes or how your country compares to others. Just looking at the source you sited… The CIA “fact” book…. seems their “facts” were pretty manipulated in the favor of providing a favorable picture of the US compared to other counties. You don’t think that was an accident do you???
Manipulation or just plain old incompetence… either way…. I’m not playing! LOL
I’ve met some pretty smart Bartenders, perhaps there should be more in government!
[quote=”sweikert925″][quote=”Imxploring”]Like most “statistics” these numbers are not explained nor are they defined. [/quote]
Sure they are, right up at the top. Didn’t read very carefully? Or maybe time for new reading glasses?[i]”Taxes and other revenues records total taxes and other revenues received by the national government during the time period indicated, expressed as a percent of GDP. Taxes include personal and corporate income taxes, value added taxes, excise taxes, and tariffs. Other revenues include social contributions – such as payments for social security and hospital insurance – grants, and net revenues from public enterprises.”[/i]
[quote=”Imxploring”]Following your logic from the source you provided it seems Iran, Nigeria, Syria, and North Korea are all more attractive countries for expats since they rank lower in tax % as a function of GDP! [/quote]
For someone for whom taxes is an obsession and for whom that is the main (only?) reason for anything, then yes. Presumably, based on your frequent comments, that would include you. It doesn’t include me, or most reasonable people.
[quote=”Imxploring”]Perhaps we should have had some normal folks (including a bartender or two) involved in the choices made. We might all be better off for it! LOL[/quote]
As it happens, I spent 3 years working as a bartender so I assume that puts my comments in a whole new light to you, eh?
As for Mr. Chilliak, are you prepared to trust him as an authoritative source of information about Costa Rica’s future tax plans when he hasn’t apparently even visited the country, let alone lived there? If so, why is that?
I have yet to hear any trusted news source report that the new tax proposal by President Solis would apply to gringo ex-pats in Costa Rica. Why do you assume that it would?[/quote]
No need for new glasses Steve… I read it quite careful when I made my point…. what YOU missed in the definition (its a reading comprehension thing Steve) is that the numbers are based on
“Taxes and other revenues records total taxes and other revenues received by the NATIONAL government during the time period indicated, expressed as a percent of GDP.”
I added caps to national so you might pick up your error this time.
That leaves out a pretty big portion of what we in the US pay in GOVERNMENT taxes doesn’t it my friend??? It seems they leave out the STATE, CITY, And LOCAL taxes. As well as School, real estate, and other taxes (such as sales tax) collected at the state and local level. Which in my case MORE THAN DOUBLES the numbers used to calculate this number!
And by using this definition and parameters in calculate these “facts” the CIA “fact” book makes them useless when comparing countries to each other where school and other taxes are assessed at a national level (such as in CR) rather then by numerous other taxes authorities not part of the NATIONAL government. If you’re going to compare them on such a chart you need to compare them equally.
And then using a number like national GDP to compare, what we now know to be inaccurate taxing figures, makes the whole chart even more useless.
Why not use average income, median income, total population, the labor participation rate, or any number of other useless gauges to come up with their result?
When you use faulty data to provide a statistical analysis the result is useless.
[quote=”sweikert925″][quote=”bogino”]Sounds like Panama is looking better and better.[/quote]
Not so sure about that. The CIA [url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2221rank.html]publishes a ranking of how much taxes each country collects as a percentage of GDP.[/url] Here are a few countries for comparison purposes:
#1 Greenland 79.6%
#12 Sweden 51.4%
#20 Germany 45.%
#52 Canada 37.7%
#71 Switzerland 33.7%
#105 Venezuela 28.1%
#120 Nicaragua 25.6%
#121 Panama 25.4%
#127 Belize 25.1%
#148 Mexico 21.9%
#156 Chile 20.8%
#182 United States 17%
#194 Costa Rica 14.8%
[/quote]Like most “statistics” these numbers are not explained nor are they defined. Does the 17% collected in the US include the HUNDREDS of different taxes citizens are subjected to daily or simply the income tax Uncle Sam collects? Perhaps some clarification and qualification is required for the information you’ve chosen to share as “fact”? Being a CIA source in my mind does not instantly qualify it as true or accurate, further explanation is required to how these numbers were arrived at. Only then will they have meaning or value.
Following your logic from the source you provided it seems Iran, Nigeria, Syria, and North Korea are all more attractive countries for expats since they rank lower in tax % as a function of GDP! So just how silly is that statistic to use in this discussion?
As is the case in the US…. the folks in CR are now attempting to hit citizens and expats from numerous directions as far as taxation to pay for the promises made and for which they don’t have the money to make happen. That’s a FACT…. and they’ve made that very clear. So don’t simply dismiss the notion.
And as to the article which you pointed out the writers qualifications (or as you insinuate, lack of)…. remember Steve…. the $17 trillion dollar debt in the US was the result of conduct by the best and brightest…. Ivy league educated folks…. the economic melt down was all guided and “managed” by these same folks.
Perhaps we should have had some normal folks (including a bartender or two) involved in the choices made. We might all be better off for it! LOL
[quote=”lvc1028″][quote=”johnnyh”]Yes I did see the 48 premiere. Not only did I see it but recorded it to show one of my aunts.
I have tried to be objective in my view, and of course one could say that there are women who kill, specially when there’s so much money involved. Nevertheless, you are swayed by the tears, which could be an act, of course.
There’s also the cane which she used for effect.
Now, looking at the case from a cynical view that she, or an accomplice did it, is that she made a fatal mistake in the execution of the murder, and that is she made it too complicated.
Like the prosecutor said, and if I was to commit suicide with a gun, I would put it in my mouth pointing upward, or I would aim it at my temple. From that viewpoint I’m not buying what she is selling.
She was given 22 years, and if I know Costa Rica law, I’m sure she will get off in 4 to 5 years. There’s also an appeal coming, so this is far from over.
[/quote]What was the motive? The money was in a trust, yes? As mentally ill as they both were, they loved each other it seemed and only wanted to be with each other. She voluntarily let him inject spring water into her which made her worse. I just don’t get any of it. From what I read online to what was presented on 48 hours, there seemed to be contradictions.
To me, it seemed there might have been his suicide attempt and she fought him over the gun and it hit him at a different angle. Cleary he usually shot using his right hand since he kept the holster on his right side.
To me it was a fascinating case–and one that will probably never know all the facts.[/quote]
Once lawyers get involved and there’s a big pot of gold involved…. the facts be damned! Now it’s just a melodrama with the public at large as spectators! Enjoy the show!
Biggest points of the story are… Even rich folks have screwed up lives and problems… And as they say… Money can’t buy happiness! It just lets you sleep in a bigger house and drive a nicer car!
[quote=”costaricafinca”][url=http://issuu.com/el_residente/docs/residente_2014-05/1?e=3794147/7730209]ARCR is no longer accepting new members[/url], (Pg.4, bottom right side, last paragraph) so the premiums they posted regarding increases are for [url=http://www.usexpatcostarica.com/arcr-rate-hike-for-caja-plan/]their existing members only[/url]
Note: there has been [i]another[/i] increase since these rates were posted.ARCR offered ‘set rates’ while CAJA has set rates only for [i]Inversionista[/i] and [i]Rentista[/i] their Pensionado are reached by a percentage of the documented pension you used for your Residency application, from 7-18.5% and that seems to be determined which office you apply at.
To get current information it is advisable to go to a CCSS(CAJA) office, although they may not provide an answer unless you are going to join, right then and there.[/quote]
The ARCR rates might give you a good idea what you might be in for. I knew they got hit for some crazy increases. And it doesn’t seem there is much they have been able to do about it. Several friends are very disturbed by the latest increases.
Going through the time and expense of a residency application without knowing what your CAJA cost will be is rather unreasonable. I guess one could say “If you have to ask… you can’t afford it”…. is that what the government of CR is implying?
As to the rates set by CCSS during your application and rate determination. It’s pretty sad that your rates can vary by 100% depending on who you are assigned to. But then again… I guess you could put on some shabby clothing… not shave or bathe for a day or two… and take your chances at another office if you don’t like the answer you get at the first.
The subjective nature of the rate is unacceptable for a government that claims to be on the up and up. No wonder there are so many people and businesses doing their best to stay under the radar.
BTW. I hope ARCR is still accepting new members…. just not participants in it’s health insurance plan. That they ended a while ago after the first increases and changes in the group rate they had enjoyed.
[quote=”costaricafinca”]The premiums are [i]usually[/i] less…[i]at least at this time they are[/i]… but if you are still under 55. your payments will still be higher, [i]possibly double[/i], than someone who is over 55 and will continue to be so, until than you are 55 😉
[/quote]Might want to check with ARCR …. they informed their members of a rather significant CAJA increase for all residency categories. They might be your best source of correct information. There’s a lot of very unhappy fixed income expats that are stuck with large increases and limited options on returning to their country of origin. One would have to suspect the recent CAJA increases will not be the last for that service or other new taxes (or increases) the new president is counting on to keep the masses calm.
[quote=”sweikert925″][quote=”VictoriaLST”]As for your cases, Sweik, an old man with a gun…a frightened 63 yo…[/quote]
So, Vic, old men and frightened 63 year-olds shouldn’t be allowed to have guns? I suspect you may be making imxploring a bit nervous. So I strongly suggest you remain out of range of his gun.
[quote=”VictoriaLST”]As to Martin, I have my concerns and would have voted not guilty.[/quote]No one who didn’t hear every word of testimony and see all the evidence should presume to pronounce a judgment on any trial. If you think you are able to make that determination purely on the basis of what was reported in the media, then I shudder to think of you on any jury.[/quote]
And yet you protest when a group of folks that were treated to all the facts, evidence, and information that was all subject to cross examination in open court found Zimmerman not guilty. That makes me wonder? Do you know something we don’t when YOU question the outcome of the trial?
