By the A.M.
Costa Rica staff
The deputies of the Economic
Affairs Committee Tuesday approved a
replacement text for bill # 20.865
"Law for the regularization of
non-traditional rentals and its
intermediation through digital
platforms," similar to the rentals
of Airbnb.
This bill has the goal that
non-traditional rentals pay taxes on
their services and thereby increase
government revenue while regulating
that commercial activity as well.
The project would apply to all
tourist rentals in homes,
apartments, villas, chalets, and
bungalows, among others as well as
guaranteeing users security and
protection when they purchase the
service through the platform.
The text approved Tuesday, which
will be brought to the attention of
the Legislature, contains
adjustments related to the rights of
the users and the obligations of the
non-traditional rental service
providers. Owners, for example, must
be registered at the Costa Rican
Institute of Tourism, and the
General Directorate of Taxation, as
well as paying the Municipal License
tax, to obtain the right to offer
rentals.
Regarding the municipal issue, the
text was sent to the Office of the
Attorney General to verify if the
rentals on internet platforms should
pay Municipal License tax or not.
The response of the Attorney General
will be added to the main law text.
Deputy Roberto Thompson said that
the project represents a major boost
to the tourism sector. "There is a
very important segment of people who
are using this type of accommodation
in Costa Rica, through this law, we
are trying to regularize and
establish taxes and guarantee
minimum conditions."
This bill also incorporates the
obligation to have facilities for
persons with disabilities, such as
ramps for access to wheelchairs.
The next phase of the bill is the
analysis by the deputies of the
Legislative Assembly and then, they
will take the final decision of
approval or rejection.
As A.M. Costa Rica reported on
Feb. 11, the Costa Rican Chamber
of Hotels made a call to the
deputies of the Economic Affairs
Committee of the Legislative
Assembly, to expedite the approval
of the new bill.
According to the Chamber, the bill
is practically ready for the
deputies to approve it tomorrow,
Tuesday.
"The hotel business sector is
requesting a quick and transparent
procedure for the bill to regulate
non-traditional lodging and
digital platforms in the country,"
said the Chamber in its statement.
According to the Chamber, this
bill will regulate informal
lodging services, will generate
more tax revenues for the
government, will protect tourists
and will create a fairer
environment of competition.
The Chamber insists that the
deputies who evaluate the project
address the positive effect that
this will have on government
finances, on the protection of
consumer interest (tourists), on
the climate of competition and
encouragement to the private
investment in new hotel projects.
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A.M.
Costa Rica wire
services photo
The next phase of the
bill is the analysis
by the deputies of the
Legislative Assembly
and then, they will
take the final
decision of approval
or rejection.
To the Chamber, the
project is a
priority for the
country, where the
largest income in
foreign currency
comes from tourism.
"We remind the
deputies that the
formal hotel sector
of this country has
contributed for many
years with the
payment not only of
sales tax but with 3
percent of the tax
from the Costa Rican
Tourism Institute."
Regarding the issue
of fair competition,
the Chamber says
that in the case of
hotels, in addition
to paying taxes,
they must invest
large capital to
comply with specific
rules and compliance
to protects people
with different
abilities, while the
informal hosting
sites are not
compliant and don't
pay taxes.
One of the points
made about
non-traditional
housing, is the case
of the villa where a
U.S. citizen Carla
Stefaniak was
reported in A.M.
Costa Rica in Nov.,
2018.
Ms Stefaniak was
murdered on Nov. 28.
Her body was found a
short distance from
the villa-hotel
where she stayed in
the town of San
Antonio in Escazú*.
She rented the villa
through Airbnb.
The
Municipality of
Escazú*
confirmed that villa
has been closed by
the government
officials because
the owner does not
have the necessary
permits allowing the
B & B to offer
accommodations to
tourists. As Mr.
Carlos Bejarano, the
spokesman for the
municipality, said,
"The place had not
had an operating
license since 2013.
So it was closed."
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Should
the deputies speed up
the approval of the law
to regulate the
B&Bs? We would like
to know your thoughts on
this story. Send your
comments to news@amcostarica.com
*Link to
reach the place map.
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