Costa Rica News – This idea from the Costa Rica government is not a very good idea, but we have come to expect no less from the Chinchilla regime. In essence this allows local municipalities that have beach concessions to set the property tax for buildings and businesses in these areas. Anyone else see problems coming?
The 22 municipalities that have beaches do not request the Directorate General of Taxation to make a valuation of a property when granting a concession.
Now the fee or charge for the use of land seafront is defined by City Council, according to the decree number 37278.
For this, the municipality must have a civil engineer, architect or surveyor agronomist to determine the value of the plot of the maritime zone. If you do not have one of these professionals, you can request collaboration with another municipality.
Juan Rafael Marín, president of the Institute of Municipal Promotion and Advice (IFAM), announced that it will train these local governments to use the same methodology of the Directorate General of Taxation.
The advantage, Marin said, is that now the process will more rapid, allowing more money to the city coffers.
Oceanfront. ‘s maritime zone is up to 200 meters from the point of the beach where the high tide line is located.
It is divided into two parts. The first is the 50-meter is public are cannot be under any title.
There are also 150 meters remaining, that municipalities may grant concessions for various activities, such as tourism or housing, as determined by a regulatory plan.
Yes, the dealers can not prevent access to the public area nor can they sell the area responsible for the land still belongs to the state.
It may cause things to be more rapid in regards to granting concessions, but it is going to cause a lot more bribes and corruption. But money talks in Costa Rica. Local officials will ask the property appraisers to have the values of the land overstated in order to collect more taxes. People that want these concessions will be giving money to local officials to push through the paperwork, Finally, the business and property owners will be paying kickbacks as the local authorities as they will threaten to take away the concession if they do not pay.
Congrats Costa Rica on another terrible law!
