Published on Wednesday, April 30, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Wednesday, April 30, is the deadline for companies in Costa Rica to file two mandatory shareholder-related reports, as required by the Ministry of Finance.

Under Costa Rica’s Income Tax Law (Ley del Impuesto Sobre la Renta), two types of corporations exist: the active corporation and the inactive corporation, both typically structured as Sociedad Anónima.

An active company engages in the production or trade of goods or services and generates profits. These entities must submit the Registro de Transparencia y Beneficiarios Finales (RTBF), translated as the Company Transparency and Final Beneficiaries Register, to the Central Bank of Costa Rica.

According to the ministry, all registered entities, including corporations, must comply with this requirement. The RTBF aims to identify the final beneficiaries of a business and is designed to combat fraud, money laundering, and terrorist financing. Companies must disclose details about shareholders, beneficial owners, and capital structure.

This report must be filed annually, and if no changes in ownership or capital structure occurred in 2024, companies will only need to confirm the information through the Central Bank’s online platform.

The RTBF form must be submitted by the company’s legal representative, owner, or an authorized individual with a valid power of attorney properly registered with a notary on the bank’s system.

For inactive companies, shareholders must file an informational tax declaration form D-195, "Declaración Informativa de Personas Jurídicas Inactivas,"  or the Declaration of Inactive Legal Companies. This report must also be submitted also by Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

Form D-195 summarizes the assets and liabilities of the inactive legal entity for the previous fiscal year, covering the period from January 1 to December 31, 2024.

The form is available through the Ministry’s Virtual Tax Administration (ATV) platform accessible on its official website.

Non-compliance with either requirement may lead to fines, legal consequences, restrictions on financial transactions, and even jeopardize a business’s ability to operate in Costa Rica.

For assistance, taxpayers may contact the Ministry’s support line at 2539-4777, available Monday through Friday. Please note that calls are answered in Spanish only.

The Ministry of Finance is the government agency responsible for regulating fiscal policy and managing public resources, guided by principles of economic efficiency and effectiveness.

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What have you heard about expats facing challenges complying with Costa Rica’s tax reporting requirements? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com