Corporate Compliance in Costa Rica: Real Prices, Transparency Guaranteed
The Competitive Quote — Until It Isn’t
If you are a foreign investor with a company in Costa Rica, you have probably compared prices among law firms for annual corporate compliance. One firm quotes you an amount that seems reasonable — perhaps attractive compared with other options. You agree.
Soon additional costs start appearing. The quoted price only covered professional fees — the fee for filing forms. It did not include granting the Power of Attorney that you need, nor its registration with the National Registry. Government taxes were separate. Remote execution, because you cannot travel to Costa Rica, represented another charge. Filing the RTBF statement with the Central Bank required someone with BCCR digital signature to act on your behalf — an additional cost that was not in the original quote.
What seemed like a competitive price doubled or tripled. You were already committed to the firm, deadlines were pressing, and the only option is to pay.
Why This Happens
The annual obligations of a Costa Rican corporation are completely predictable. The Corporate Income Tax and Education and Culture Stamp Tax are due January 31st, with approximately $155 USD in taxes for inactive companies. The Informative Statement D-195, which must be filed with the Tax Administration with assets, liabilities, and equity, is due March 15. The RTBF Statement, which discloses beneficial owners to the Central Bank, is filed between April 1 and 30, although only someone with BCCR digital signature can file it.
Any firm working with foreign investors knows from day one that the client probably does not have a BCCR digital signature because they are neither a citizen nor a resident. They cannot appear before a notary in Costa Rica because they live abroad. They need a Power of Attorney for someone to manage their obligations. They must pay government taxes in addition to professional fees.
These are not unforeseen events. These are known requirements that apply to practically every foreign investor. However, many firms present quotes that only include their fees for administrative work, leaving out everything else. The result is an artificially low initial price that inevitably grows as the client discovers what they really need.
The Real Cost of Corporate Compliance
For a foreign investor to keep their Costa Rican corporation current, they need to cover all of these components. The government components include Corporate Income Tax (approximately $155 USD for inactive companies), Education and Culture Stamp Tax, and registration costs with the National Registry when applicable.
The professional components comprise preparation and filing of the Informative Statement D-195, preparation and filing of the RTBF Statement, management of tax payments on behalf of the client, and deadline monitoring with proactive management.
The representation component, necessary the first time, includes granting and registration of the Power of Attorney with a restriction against asset transfers, plus coordination of remote execution if the client cannot appear in Costa Rica.
A quote that only includes part of these components is not a competitive quote — it is an incomplete quote. The difference between an advertised price and the real cost can reach double or triple.
How We Do It at Mora, Yglesias & Asociados
At Mora, Yglesias & Asociados, transparency and loyalty to our clients are not marketing words — they are the basis of how we operate. When you receive a quote for corporate compliance, the price includes everything you are going to need.
We cover payment and management of Corporate Income Tax and Education and Culture Stamp Tax. We prepare and file the Informative Statement D-195 with the Tax Administration. We prepare and file the RTBF Statement with the Central Bank. We use the Power of Attorney to conduct all procedures on your behalf. We pay government taxes at cost, with no additional markup. We monitor deadlines with proactive management of each obligation. We keep your file updated with proof of each payment and filing.
Granting of the Power of Attorney, including remote coordination for international clients, is charged once at the beginning of the relationship, because it is a permanent instrument. It does not appear as an additional charge or as a surprise after you accept the quote. After that, we charge a maintenance fee for the power, because its exercise implies a responsibility for our staff.
At the beginning of each year, we send our clients a free Compliance Report with the current status of their corporation and all obligations for the year, accompanied by a single charge that covers everything. There are no separate emails in January, March, and April, each with a different procedure and additional charge. Everything is communicated and resolved from the beginning.
What You Should Verify Before Accepting Any Quote
Before committing to a firm, make sure the quote clearly answers these questions: Does it include all annual procedures (Corporate Income Tax, D-195, RTBF)? Does it include government taxes or are they separate? Does it include granting the Power of Attorney if you do not have one in effect? Does it include remote coordination if you cannot come to Costa Rica? Are there additional charges for any concept that is not explicit in the quote?
If the answer to any of these questions is “that is separate,” the real cost of your compliance is greater than the quoted price. This is especially important when working with foreign investors, where these costs are structural and predictable.
Professional Quality and Responsibility
Our compliance service goes beyond filling out forms. When you work with Mora, Yglesias & Asociados, we verify that the information declared is consistent with tax and corporate records. We ensure that the Power of Attorney contains the restriction against asset transfers to protect your assets. We position your company correctly before all relevant authorities.
What differentiates professional service from simple administrative procedures is the ability to anticipate problems before they occur and the honesty of telling the client exactly how much it will cost from the beginning.
Many firms do not respond when questions arise after the quote. Others hide costs until you are committed. At Mora, Yglesias & Asociados, you receive transparent prices, personalized advice tailored to your specific situation, and volume pricing options if you manage multiple corporate entities. Our integrated team approaches each case from tax, immigration, corporate, and estate planning perspectives, ensuring that your compliance is complete and protected.
Access the Costa Rica Bar Association to verify our registration and professional background.
Frequently Asked Questions About Corporate Compliance in Costa Rica
Why did my initial quote not include all costs?
Many firms quote only their fees for filing forms, leaving out the Power of Attorney, its registration, government taxes, and remote coordination. This creates a significant difference between the advertised price and what you will actually pay. A complete quote must include all components from the beginning.
What is the difference between professional fees and government taxes?
Professional fees are what you pay your lawyer for preparing, reviewing, and filing documents. Government taxes (Corporate Income Tax, Education and Culture Stamp Tax, registration costs) are state obligations that you must pay regardless of fees. A transparent quote includes both in a single price.
Do I need a Power of Attorney if I am a foreign investor?
Yes. Since you do not have a BCCR digital signature and live outside Costa Rica, you need a legally constituted representative to act on your behalf before all authorities. The Power of Attorney with a restriction against asset transfers protects your assets while authorizing management of corporate obligations.
What is remote coordination and why does it cost extra?
If you cannot travel to Costa Rica, the power must be granted before a notary through remote coordination. We take care of the procedures, you only have to sign a document with your digital signature. Although it represents additional work, a transparent firm includes it in the initial quote, not as a later surprise.
Article written by Lic. Manuel Yglesias Mora, Bar No. 27673, Costa Rica Bar Association, with AI assistance. All content was personally reviewed, edited, and supervised by the author.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For the execution of any action related to the topics discussed, please contact us.
