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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Photo via Ministry of Public Transports.
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Published on
Monday, December 30, 2024
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Approximately 1.9 million vehicle owners in Costa Rica must pay the marchamo tax before January 1, 2025, to avoid fines, according to the National Insurance Institute (INS).
As
of Friday, approximately 500,000 vehicle
owners have yet to pay their marchamo,
INS reported.
The
marchamo is
a mandatory tax required to operate a
vehicle in Costa Rica. Similar to the Road
Use Tax in the United States, it helps
fund accident insurance, road maintenance,
infrastructure, and other related
expenses.
This
tax applies to the
year
2025 and must be paid annually in advance.
The
marchamo
revenue is
allocated as
follows: 60% goes to the Ministry of
Finance for collecting the annual property
tax, 20% is
directed to
the National Insurance Institute (INS) for
the Obligatory Insurance for Motor
Vehicles (SOA), and the remainder supports
other government institutions.
Vehicle
owners can access information and
calculate their tax costs through the "Consulta Marchamo"
section
on the INS website,
which allows them to determine the final
payment amount.
Once on the site, vehicle owners must enter the plate number. The system will then display the vehicle’s value and the corresponding tax amount.
The Ministry of
Finance is responsible for determining
vehicle values. If the ministry sets a vehicle's price higher than
its market value, owners can request a
review by selecting the "Solicitud
de Revisión" option to claim
the assessed value.
The online
complaint form allows vehicle owners to
contest the assessed value. To file a
claim, owners must provide supporting
documents, such as the original invoice,
sales agreement or at least three
advertisements for similar cars (same
model, year, and style) listed at prices
lower than the ministry's assessment.
However, the ministry's response may take several weeks. Those looking to
pay the tax can do so at the institute’s offices across
the country or through any local bank,
whether public or private.
The institute also
provides a toll-free 11-digit phone
line, 800-6272-4266, where a customer
service representative can assist with
the payment process.
After January 1, 2025, late marchamo tax payments will
incur an additional fee, and traffic
police may issue a $120 fine for
nonpayment, authorities warn.
However, anyone who has to file a claim or process related to the vehicle's license, plates, or fines should wait due to the Traffic Police offices would be closed for in-person service until January 2025 owing to the holiday season.
The National
Insurance Institute (INS) is a
state-owned agency that provides a range of insurance
services, including health, life,
vehicle, and natural disaster coverage.
The Ministry of
Finance is the government agency
responsible for regulating fiscal policy
and managing public resources, guided by
principles of economic efficiency and
effectiveness.
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