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What is an SME?
[/vc_column_text][us_separator][vc_column_text]According to the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (hereinafter the “MEIC”), and in connection with the provisions of Article 3 of the Law to Strengthen Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (Law No. 8262), small and medium-sized enterprises (hereinafter “SMEs”) is the term used to refer to “any permanent productive unit that has human resources, manages and operates them, under the figures of a natural person or legal entity, in industrial, commercial, service or agricultural activities that develop organic agriculture activities.”[/vc_column_text][us_separator size="small"][vc_column_text]
Registration and status of an SME
[/vc_column_text][us_separator size="small"][vc_column_text]In accordance with the provisions of article 12 of the Regulations to the Law to Strengthen Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Law No. 8262 (Decree No. 39295-MEIC), and its amendments, the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce will grant the SME category to those productive units that meet the conditions and requirements established in Law No. 8262 and in articles 13, 14 and 15 of this regulation, namely: a) The productive activity they carry out is within the following: business activities such as industrial, commercial, service and agricultural, or others included by administrative resolution published in the Official Gazette La Gaceta. b) It is a natural or legal person. c) That the size of the company is within the defined range of the parameter "P" stated in article 17 of this Regulation, whether this is:[/vc_column_text][us_separator size="small"][us_image image="9174" size="full" align="center"][us_separator size="small"][vc_column_text]d) Compliance with social security contributions, tax obligations or labor obligations.[/vc_column_text][us_separator size="small"][vc_column_text]
Process of creating an SME
[/vc_column_text][us_separator size="small"][vc_column_text]The process of forming an SME entails a series of requirements, which are detailed below: a) Incorporation of a Legal Entity (optional). b) Land Use. c) Registration as a Taxpayer with the Ministry of Public Finance. d) Registration with the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS). e) Operating Permit issued by the Ministry of Health or, in this case, by the National Animal Health Service (SENASA). f) Sanitary Registration of the Ministry of Health for the products. g) Insurance Policy from the National Insurance Institute. h) Municipal Patent. i) Trademark Registration. j) SME Registration.[/vc_column_text][us_separator size="small"][vc_column_text]
Requirements for registration
[/vc_column_text][us_separator size="small"][vc_column_text]To carry out the SME Registration, the interested party must meet two of the following requirements, which must be recorded in a sworn statement that is up to date or in payment arrangement in said requirements, which are detailed: 1. Work risk policy up to date. 2. Tax burdens up to date. For these purposes, you must be registered with Direct Taxation of the Ministry of Finance, in either of the two tax regimes: Traditional Regime or Simplified Regime. 3. Social charges up to date or in payment arrangement. DIGEPYME, the governing body for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEIC), whose function is to coordinate, promote, and evaluate programs to encourage and support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, as well as entrepreneurship, will be responsible for the subsequent verification of the data entered in the sworn declaration. It will then take internal control measures to ensure effective compliance with the provisions of the sworn declaration. Once reviewed, SME status will be rejected or granted, and is valid for one year from the date of notification. Interested parties may complete their application free of charge through the following two means: 1. In person at the DIGEPYME and CREAPYME offices. 2. Online through the platform at www.siec.go.cr, in accordance with the site's user manual.
Benefits of registering an SME in Costa Rica
[/vc_column_text][us_separator size="small"][vc_column_text]As part of the benefits stipulated under Title III of the Regulations to the Law to Strengthen Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Law No. 8262 (Decree No. 39295-MEIC), and its amendments, the following are mentioned: a) Access to the benefits as a State supplier established in the current Administrative Contracting Regulations. b) Participation in Business Roundtables. c) Participate in talks, workshops and training. d) Advice, mentoring, technical and business assistance. e) Preferential rate in the annual revalidation of companies before the Federated College of Engineers and Architects. f) Differentiated rate of $5 for waste managers, micro and small. Art 1-49 Decree No. 41526-S-MINAE-H g) Preferential rates: PYMExpress and Exportafácil. h) Exemption from tax for legal entities: micro and small businesses. i) VAT exemption on rent for micro and small businesses, amounts less than Ȼ669,000 j) Staggered payment for employers before the CCSS for new micro-enterprises with up to 5 employees. k) Health permit for micro-enterprises to operate: flat rate of $20. l) Preferential rate for health registrations for micro-enterprises (20% of the current rate). m) Grace period in the first three years for the certification of drones before the General Directorate of Civil Aviation. n) Graduated exemption for micro and small businesses from paying income tax for the first three years of operations (Law 9635, Ministry of Finance) o) Access to Funds: PROPYME, FODEMIPYME, Funds from the Development Banking System and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Telecommunications (MICITT) p) Access to the services of the institutions of the SME Support Network. If you have any questions, please contact us at the email address comunicacioncr@lexincorp.com.[/vc_column_text][us_separator size="small"][vc_column_text]
Written by: Lucía Hueckmann.
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