Hi Love, Good morning from Miam! Two of my favorite people...

Anyone thinking about moving HHG my recommendation is to make aure you hire an EXPERIENCED moving company, from your home country, because right from the get go, they need to be experienced in overseas shipping otherwise, your items will be damaged during transport. Also, don't bring anything that you're not willing to lose either through damage or later, by theft. So many come here with heritage and/or expensive jewelry/items and get it stollen. My recommendation is either have it put into a bank lockbox, again back in your home country, or give it to whomever you were going to leave it to .... There are too many stories out there about people getting ripped off.

@JayRedden28

Жыл бұрын

Many many experiences like this. A couple of hours away from home, one of your "trusted" neighbors who is watching your every move breaks in and beaks in or takes your safe and grabs everything of value and they are gone without a trace in 20 minutes. None of your neighbors will turn them in because they dont want trouble with they're l neighbors and you'll be gone in no time. Every one I know who has had a burglary like that moves within a few months.

Pablo's the man! Currently drinking my morning coffee from the Costa Rica coffee mug he provided the participants at the March Relocation Retreat. Great update on the tax benefits for those of us wanting to become a resident of Costa Rica and wanting to ship a car or household items. Thanks again Michael for the video and for being there for us :)

This helps to reinforce my move...bring just the basics, get what I need once I'm a resident and living in CR.

Mentioning donations is definitely not too much. Other channels do it way more often than you. Your long Costa Rica Travel Tips video from earlier this year was a huge help for the week we spent in Costa Rica back in March. Even one mistake on a short visit could easily add up to multiple times the cost of one donation. (I don't want to puff myself up here, but as someone who studied in Costa Rica for a semester and lived with a Tico family, I can say these videos provide tremendous value for travelers.)

Thank you guys

Thanks Pablo and Michael for a very informative video. And thanks for everyone who posted comments; they were helpful.

Great video Michael

Used to be that way, retirees and USA residents were making big money importing cars every other year and selling their old ones to ticos without paying taxes. Then the government decided to cut the privilegies etc. Long time ago!

Didn’t they also write into the law that you must own the vehicles and household goods for at least 6 months prior to importing them to Costa Rica? If so, that’s where this will not work for many… Most of us who are ready to become residents have already lived in CR for some time. We’ve sold most of our personal items back in the States.

Bro! Thank you for all your ongoing support in navigating CR red tape. And thank you for bringing on quality professionals that spit straight truth! Much appreciated.

Let's walk through this ... BEFORE you think about the vehicles and household items Tax Free importing benefits ---- You must have applied for, waited for the process to complete, and have obtained your residency card (a.k.a. Documento De Identidad Migratorio Para Extranjeros "DIMEX" - See NOTE#1 below) ... once you have your DIMEX residency card on hand, you will be taken to the "Caja" Office [a.k.a. "Caja Costaricense de Seguro Social (CCSS)] where you will be told what your monthly "Caja" contribution" will be. The Caja contribution amount is typically calculated as a pro-rated percentage amount of what you reported as your certified monthly income justification to qualify for residency (the "Caja" contribution combines two components: (1) a (retirement) pension allowance (See NOTE#2 below) and (2) a Health Care payment allowance) ... WARNING!!! ... This monthly Caja contribution can be as much as hundreds of US dollars per month to be paid by you on a monthly basis for as long as you hold your residency ... this - in essence - is a recurring monthly cost you pay for the privilege of holding Costa Rica Residency (whether you draw a pension in the future and/or use the Caja services or not - welcome to socialized medicine). The residency application process itself may cost as much as upwards of US$3,000.00+ (for covering lawyer fees + other doc fees + transaction fees at different Government application processing offices) and may take from 12-to-18 months beginning from when you first started the process to obtain the necessary documents in your home country to when you finally have the DIMEX card on hand and your Caja contributions have been established ... AT THIS POINT (roughly 1 to 1 1/2 years after you kicked off the required actions for the residency application process and when you finally have your residency card on hand), you may then START considering THE SHIPPING & IMPORTATION PROCESS ... ... beware that storage fees can easily surpass two months due to unexpected bureaucratic nightmares suddenly brought up by overachieving customs processing personnel. If you import a vehicle(s) and then decide to sell it (BEFORE owning it for 10 Years) - at time of title transfer, you (or the buyer) - will have to pay the import taxes that were exempted at time of importation when you took in-country possession of the vehicle. (SOURCE: Law No.9996, Chap III, Article 22 - CREDIT: see posting below by @jtr2895831). All tax adjustments/ revisions/ certifications are done in the EXONET online system ... After taking the vehicle out of Customs , you then have to have it inspected at a "DEKRA" (German Concessionaire) inspection station (on a yearly basis) and pay the "MARCHAMO" (yearly recurring TAX based on the Government assessed value of the vehicle) - these are just additional yearly fees required by residing (and owning a vehicle) in Costa Rica ...NOTE#1: As of 01.02.2023, the Immigration Department (DGME) is supposed to be issuing the DIMEX "Card" in digital form [as a .PDF & as a QR Code] and its # is the number used by the immigration and banking system in Costa Rica to keep track of the "Card Holder" flow of money (domestic & international). NOTE#2: For Pensionado Residents (65+?) - there's an official letter (# GP-1620-2022/ 10.10.2022 - Ref. CREDIT: @geebs66) from the Caja Pensions Management Office communicating a ruling for the Caja to stop requiring (pensionados?) residents to pay into the "pension/retirement" portion of the overall Caja payment. It is unknown if and/or when this ruling will be codified for implementation. ... NOTE#3: What happens if I fail to fulfill my newly acquired residency tax/ fee obligations? You may find yourself "detained" at the airport (outgoing OR incoming) and not released until you have paid in full (+penalties) for your overdue treasury payments AND you may lose your residency status ...NOTE#4: For those of you wandering ... the literal, generic, nominal, and intrinsic translation of the word "caja" is "box" ... but in the context of the CR Social Security discussed here it means "Cash Register" ... all that said, enjoy "Pura Vida" full of recurring monthly and yearly payments to the CR treasury and ... welcome to Costa Rica where "Bureaucracy is a sacred cow, an art form, a national sport, and admired and respected as a profession" -- If undecided please follow the sign that reads "I wish to continue as a Perpetual Tourist" and line up to the right 🤑🤨😊

@bobm3477

3 ай бұрын

Thank you very much for taking the time to explain all of this. I for one found it immensely helpful

Did I understand correctly that since this was signed into law in February ‘21, it will only last until February ‘26?

@JayRedden28

Жыл бұрын

I was signed into implementation implemented in February 2023, so I would think it would expire Feb 2028.

A lot of great info. Thanks.

Thanks Michael, your videos are always great!!

Great information thanks guys.

Good morning from Cibolo, Texas. Learn lots from you and Allen!

im bringing lots of cars from Canada here with help of my brother & it's good business

@melnyaate

4 ай бұрын

Thats what i was thinking of doing as well, im a dealer here in toronto

The test will be after others go through the process to report how long, expensive, painful the process was.

Great stuff! Thanks for the video

Great information!!

@TravelCostaRicaNOW

6 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Great show as always. Thanks for all the good info. Cheers.

Bet hes got some stories of people smuggling things in with their 40 ft containers😂

Michael, what happened to honey we are going to Belize? 🙂 By the way, I am in the process of getting my residency in CR and if I ship my 2019 F150 there without the residency my import fee is $20,000 not including the shipping or storage....wow, per Pablo's representatives...

@VirtualJohnDoe

Жыл бұрын

I'm sure you have checked the Costa Rica Gas prices and know how expensive driving a F-150 will be ... something to consider.

@mariodarg3560

Жыл бұрын

F150 in Costa Rican streets/ roads is like a tractor trailer here in the U.S.

@capecoder73

Жыл бұрын

Oh I have, we own property there already, but I have a twin turbo 3.5L engine that gets very good gas mileage and I know my vehicle. To buy something down there is very very expensive and a friend of mine recently bought a new Isuzu pickup there for $70k and had a warranty issue after 300 miles and it took 3 months to resolve, without him having a vehicle. I feel good with the vehicle that I know. Thanks for the comment though! @@VirtualJohnDoe

@bobbyatman273

6 ай бұрын

Good luck finding parts for something that is not “popular” in Costa Rica, plus you will kill your automatic tranny and… ford with their reputation … don’t make a mistake, ones in CR, buy a Mahindra pick up, 2.4l turbo diesel with 4x4 and manual clutch, Your f 150 will die there! Ohh yeah somebody already mentioned gas prices, from La Fortuna to San Jose for example it’s 3 hours of straining your transmission up and down mountains and almost flooring the gas pedal to the floor getting up, there is a reason there are no f150s there, maybe in San Jose area where it’s relatively flat.

I bought all the appliances and car in the USA. I did paid taxes for my car about $10k, a lot!

Thank you for the information.

Hello Michael! I have not heard back from Pablo. Am planning my move to CR for my retirement . Thanks for your help.

@TravelCostaRicaNOW

Жыл бұрын

I asked him. He can't find anything based on your name. I can't either. Email me again and I will send it to him.

Hi Michael , can you clarify the date ? When in 2021 ? Thanks great info

Great video! Thank you! 🙌

awesome, as usual.

Hello gringos entonces ya pasaron.ese ley? ...1 container..2 coches max etcétera? Porfa respóndeme yes or no. Pablo admiro su paciencia con esta gente.exitos papa, pura vida. Espero que los extranjeros aprenden español. Es una falta de respeto si no sepan la idioma de cualquier país. Listo saludos cordiales hermano.

great news !!!

thanks mike !!!! alot of great info!!!!

Hi Michael! I need info from Pablo.

How to contact about the Tampa container connection?

Did he just misspeak and suggest we only have 3 more years left when in reality the law starts this year when it was approved ?

Is there a minimum time the vehicle or boat must have been in my possession? Or can I also import a new vehicle, of course for my own use? Is there a limit or can I import e.g. also a large motorboat or yacht duty-free?

Michael, I do faithfully follow you but it’s my first time reaching out to you. Very interested in getting info from Pablo.

@TravelCostaRicaNOW

Жыл бұрын

email me info@travelcostaricanow.com

Too bad there's only 3 years left on this incentive. We are planning to move within the next 2 years and by the time we apply for residency and get approved it will be too late to get our goods to CR.

So, according to the way it was before, in 2021, you applied and hauled your stuff down here. This is what we did. So, our stuff is here but the residency is still dragging on more than 2 years!! So, I guess we are screwed out of $6k. Is that what Pablo is saying? So a person invests, but can't bring any of their stuff while waiting? Pay for storage for 2 years? Like that?

@raquelcm-karl9703

Жыл бұрын

Your residency must be approved before you do the import or take your things out from customs. Let me tell you, 2 years waiting for an approval is not normal. Something is very wrong on that application or follow up.

🙏❤

Most shipping companies are too lazy to read the law and give good advises to the new Costa Rican residents.

There is always the ugly.Please talk about that😮What if I chose to leave Costa Rica and went through the process? Can I sell my stuff.

@JayRedden28

Жыл бұрын

Nope. My understanding of the law which I've red in Spanish and English is Not in Costa Rica. Not for 10 years. In March of this year, Pablo nationalized my car that I drove down to CR last year. I kept my California plates and did a no op permit in California, so technically, if I got a permit from the Registro Nacional to take the car out of the country, I could just pay my registration, slap my California plates back on and use my California property title after I leave Costa Rica until I get back to California. Good buy Costa Rica. Now, I wonder if the Registro Nacional will issue the exit permit on these exempted vehicles or if a hold will be put on them? I wonder if Hacienda and INS will go after me for life unless I file that I "exported" the car back to California? I wonerder if theyvwill arrest me at the airport years down the road upon returning to Costa Rica with a huge tax bill?

Thanks for the video. Question: you said if you sell the car, the new buyer pays the tax. Is there a "sunset" date on that? I thought if you owned the car for 5 years and sold it after that, there were no tax implications. This tax "penalty" would only apply if you sold the car before 5 years after importation.

@VirtualJohnDoe

Жыл бұрын

Source?

@JayRedden28

Жыл бұрын

Law No.9996, Chap III, Article 22: Any vehicles, boats, or aircraft brought into Costa Rica with the tax exemptions must be held by the beneficiary for a minimum of TEN YEARS (10) before it can be sold to third parties. In the case of vehicles, transfere to third parties will proceed 10 years after the grant of benefit, following the procedure for tax clearance in the EXONET System. The respective transfer is subject to the payment of the tax established in Article 10 of Law No. 7088, Tax Adjustment and 18th Resolution of the Tariff and Customs Council CA, dated November 30, 1987, and its reforms.

@mariomarques9951

Жыл бұрын

@@VirtualJohnDoe My source was an earlier you tube video.... but I was not presenting a fact. I was asking a question. Do I have to present sources to ask a question?

@mariomarques9951

Жыл бұрын

@@JayRedden28 Thanks for the info. Wow ... 10 years, that's a stiff requirement.

@raquelcm-karl9703

Жыл бұрын

No, taxes are to be paid at the moment the vehicle is sold..Nevertheless, you could also sell it to a diplomat, they don't have to pay the taxes either. Changing the plates is slow and complicated but feasible!

I would think there’s a set amount of years that you can’t sell your car no? Because who would want to have to keep it for the life of the car. Did I miss that part?

@VirtualJohnDoe

Жыл бұрын

CORRECTION: 10 years - see @jtr2895831posting above. pasted below ... Law No.9996, Chap III, Article 22: Any vehicles, boats, or aircraft brought into Costa Rica with the tax exemptions must be held by the beneficiary for a minimum of TEN YEARS (10) before it can be sold to third parties. In the case of vehicles, transfer to third parties will proceed 10 years after the grant of benefit, following the procedure for tax clearance in the EXONET System. The respective transfer is subject to the payment of the tax established in Article 10 of Law No. 7088, Tax Adjustment and 18th Resolution of the Tariff and Customs Council CA, dated November 30, 1987, and its reforms.

@lukew5255

Жыл бұрын

Right but would that not make it impossible to sell if in year 15 the car is worth 5000 but the buyer has to pay 15000 of taxes?

So if someone married a Costarican this don't apply?

Hi Great info thanks guys! Csn you get me in touch with Pablo? I have my residency and want to bring in a car Thanks joe

@TravelCostaRicaNOW

8 ай бұрын

email me

How much do thse relocation tours cost?

@VirtualJohnDoe

Жыл бұрын

Prices from the last tour ... $997.00 just for the 7 day seminar ... @ Sunset Del Mar Beach Resort in Esterillos Este, Costa Rica ... You can expect to pay for the rooms at least $241.00 per night. (6 nights = $1,446.00) .. plus the cost of the meals and the (optional) tours. You are looking at 7 days for about $2,500.00 just for seminar + hotel. Add your own travel expenses. ... an easy way to book a hotel in slow times.

Off subject here but when will Costa Rica finally stop requiring residents pay into the Caja pension in order to qualify for Caja health insurance. Seems its been over a year since it was announced foreign ers having received their residency would no longer have to participate in the pension program that we won't live long enough to collect.

@geebs76

Жыл бұрын

Yes! This was only for Pensionado Residents. There's an official letter (number GP-1620-2022 dated 10 October 2022) from the Caja Pensions Management on the decision but I was told they haven't implemented this ruling. My pension portion (IVM) is 49.4% of my payment. Taking the letter down to the Caja office did not work for me. I'd love to hear any updates.

@JayRedden28

Жыл бұрын

@@geebs76 It took two years from the time Ley 9996 was actually signed and published for it to be activated, so that should give you a pretty good idea.

right now with all the repossesions in the usa i could get like 38 vehicles down there cheap. can i store them with you & then we resell them?

Question: If you want to move to Costa Rica and qualify for the import tax exemptions - is there any way to purchase a brand new vehicle in Costa Rica import tax free from a CR dealer?

@TravelCostaRicaNOW

5 ай бұрын

no..but that would be sweet if there was..

@seanboers9953

5 ай бұрын

@@TravelCostaRicaNOW - I know right?!? I can't buy the vehicle in Canada that I'd want in Costa Rica... A little diesel pickup truck like a Hilux or a D-Max. But the import duty free on bringing a vehicle is pretty appealing... $65k USD for a brand new top line Hilux in CR. Many thanks for your videos. I've been researching a move for a few years, and still a few years away at best. You are one of my go-to channels.

Thank you for so much info. But I have a question, what if I was born in CR, and loved for 40 years abroad, and now I return as a USA retiree? Do I get any of these goodies exemptions?

One Question guys, Instead of shipping my car there .Can I buy a car in Costa Rica and not have to pay the import taxes on it ? Would that not be better for local business?

@VirtualJohnDoe

Жыл бұрын

The local "Sales Taxes" are incredibly high ...

@barco581

Жыл бұрын

And generally speaking car values are higher in Costa Rica than here. You might find an old Toyota 4Runner in the US that sells for $8k and in Costa Rica it probably goes for like $13k ish.

@raquelcm-karl9703

Жыл бұрын

Very good idea. Maybe a car dealer/ importer may be able to import the car that you choose and apply the tax exemption for you before getting the vehicle out from customs. That's yet to be tried.

Hi Michael - can you provide Pablo's contact info? We have a home in Guanacaste and need to import a refrigerator. Thanks.

Pablo, I was born in CR, my wife was born in USA, and we currently live is USA...will my American wife qualify for this moving incentive once she becomes a Costa Rican resident? You mentioned investor, retiree, and pesionado...but how about a resident by marriage?

@JayRedden28

Жыл бұрын

Im married to a Costa Rican and my lawyer had advised me the answer is no. But I could apply for residency under the pensionado category, obtain the exemption one approved, then become a Costa Rican citizen after two years of any form of "residency" including accumulated tourist visa stays. There's no provision in the law about switching becoming a citizen once you've received the exemption, you just can't cancel your residency.

@mariodarg3560

Жыл бұрын

@@JayRedden28 LOL, I'm married to a Tica so am in the middle of tramitando the residency.... should I change to pensionado cat????? and can it be done?

@JayRedden28

Жыл бұрын

@@mariodarg3560 Is it worth it is the real question. Whether you can change your residency category would be a question for your lawyer. Once you get locked in as a pensionado you will be paying Caja based on your retirement amount. If you obtain residency based on marriage, you could just say you are unemployed and pay the base Caja price of about $60 a month vs probably hundreds of dollars a month as a pensionado based on your actually certified retirement income. How much are you really going to be saving with tax exemption? You are not going to be able to sale or transfer that vehicle for 10 years and even then the taxes will have to be paid if ever transfered is my understanding. If you are paying even $200 a month extra in Caja, how long will you have to pay that before you become a citizen? Will the Caja even allow you to change to a lower amount once they know you have a certain amount of retirement income? And maybe Hacienda has a different interpretation of the law than I do and they say that becoming a citizen under the marriage category is actually "canceling" your Pensionado residency and they will come after you for the unpaid import taxes under provision of Article 25: ARTICLE 25.- Tax settlement in cases of cancellation or revocation of beneficiaries’ migratory status. In cases where the beneficiary renounces their status as an “investor,” “retiree resident,” or “rentier resident,” or if the migratory status is canceled by the DOME, they must pay the taxes on the goods for which they received exemptions, as well as any other benefits, and must also pay the respective taxes in order to nationalize the goods that were imported without paying taxes. They must also pay the corresponding interests and penalties, as established in Title III of the Tax Code.

The whole process of a pain, but you need help for sure.