PROPERTY TAXES & GARBAGE COLLECTION FEE
As a real property and/or CR corporation owner, you should be aware of taxes that need to be paid annually. Those who do not pay may be subject to fines and judicial collection procedures
PROPERTY TAXES & GARBAGE COLLECTION FEE (Due date: March 31st, 2019)
Real property owners must pay the Impuestos Bienes Inmuebles(Property Tax) and recolección basura(garbage collection fee) to the Municipalidad(Municipal Government) where the real property is located.
The property tax is 0.25% of the registered value of the property, which is either the purchase price paid or the value assigned by the Tax Office.
The garbage collection fee is a fixed amount, adjusted yearly, that must be collected along with the property taxes. The municipality determines the fee based on location and on whether the property is used for residential or commercial purposes.
The Municipalidad de Santa Cruz does not always charge both in the same statement and this can cause confusion and problems to owners. The municipality has attributed this to “lack of updated records and/or to administrative errors within the system”. Therefore, please review your statement carefully to avoid unpleasant surprises.
This property tax and garbage collection fee can be paid a year in advance or quarterly. However, if paid quarterly, you must pay before the end of each quarter to avoid interest charges. The first quarter of the year ends on March 31stof each year-
Owners must fill out a form to update the value of the real property every five years. Failure to do so can lead to a Municipality assessment and fines. The Municipality is presently requiring property owners to update the value of their properties prior to the last quarter of this year 2018 and first quarter of 2019.
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