Demystifying Costa Rica’s Luxury Property Tax (ISO): A Complete Guide for Homeowners

Demystifying Costa Rica’s Luxury Property Tax (ISO): A Complete Guide for Homeowners

Navigating real estate obligations in a foreign country can feel overwhelming, but clarity is your best asset. For those investing in premium real estate, understanding the Impuesto Solidario para el Fortalecimiento de Programas de Vivienda (Solidarity Tax for the Strengthening of Housing...

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Buying Property in Costa Rica: Should You Use a Corporation?

Buying Property in Costa Rica: Should You Use a Corporation?

When investing in the “Pura Vida” lifestyle, one of the most critical decisions you will make—well before the keys are in your hand—is how to hold the title to your property. In Costa Rica, you generally have two paths: purchasing in your personal name or through a Costa Rican...

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Special Power of Attorney in Costa Rica: What You Need to Know

Special Power of Attorney in Costa Rica: What You Need to Know

Special Power of Attorney in Costa Rica: What You Need to Know A Special Power of Attorney in Costa Rica (commonly referred to in Spanish as Poder Especial) is one of the most frequently used legal instruments —particularly in real estate transactions, corporate affairs, banking,...

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Understanding Transferred Easements vs. Restrictions: What Property Buyers in Costa Rica Need to Know About Right-of-Way Access

Understanding Transferred Easements vs. Restrictions: What Property Buyers in Costa Rica Need to Know About Right-of-Way Access

Understanding Transferred Easements vs. Restrictions: What Property Buyers in Costa Rica Need to Know About Right-of-Way Access When buying property in Costa Rica—especially in rural or coastal areas like Guanacaste or Puntarenas—one of the elements in the due diligence process is...

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Why You Should Always Request a Topographical Inspection Before Closing on a Property in Costa Rica

Why You Should Always Request a Topographical Inspection Before Closing on a Property in Costa Rica

Why You Should Always Request a Topographical Inspection Before Closing on a Property in Costa Rica At LandCo, we often say that a closing is not perfect unless the property has been seen, measured, and understood. This is why we include a Topographical Inspection before closing on a...

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Capital Gain Tax. When the Buyer -not the Seller- is responsible

Capital Gain Tax. When the Buyer -not the Seller- is responsible

CAPITAL GAIN TAX. WHEN THE BUYER -NOT THE SELLER- IS RESPONSIBLE. While the obligation to declare and pay the Capital Gain Tax is for the seller -always-, there is one exception for this provision: when a non-resident individual (natural person holding only a passport) disposes of...

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Accessing Residency With a Corporation in Costa Rica? Is it possible?

Accessing Residency With a Corporation in Costa Rica? Is it possible?

Accessing Residency With a Corporation in Costa Rica? Is it possible? The assumption that Law No. 9996 and its implementing Bylaw under Decree 43926 extinguished the investor‐residency route via corporate investment in Costa Rica is widespread but incorrect. In fact, the Investor...

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After the Closing: The Crucial (and Often Forgotten) Legal Steps Foreign Buyers Must Take in Costa Rica

After the Closing: The Crucial (and Often Forgotten) Legal Steps Foreign Buyers Must Take in Costa Rica

Closing Legal Steps in Costa Rica   Closing Legal Steps for Foreign Buyers The Crucial (and Often Forgotten) Legal Steps Foreign Buyers Must Take in Costa Rica The excitement of a real estate closing in Costa Rica can be intoxicating. Ownership is transferred, the deed is signed,...

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The Impossibility of Automatic Transfer of Corporate Shares

The Impossibility of Automatic Transfer of Corporate Shares

The Impossibility of Automatic Transfer of Corporate Shares Upon Death in Costa Rica, without a Will or Living Trust. Published: May 1, 2025 By: Frank Molinero, Esq., LandCo Law In Costa Rican corporate practice, shares in a sociedad anónima (SA) or sociedad de responsabilidad limitada...

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Registration of Final Beneficiaries (RTBF)

Registration of Final Beneficiaries (RTBF)

REGISTRATION OF FINAL BENEFICIARIES (RTBF) ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW In the wake of global initiatives to enhance corporate transparency and combat financial wrongdoing and money laundering, Costa Rica enacted Law No. 9416—Ley para Mejorar la Lucha Contra el Fraude Fiscal—which imposes...

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