Costa Rica Import Tax
 

I rode my bike from North Carolina to Costa Rica and now have a situation. I flew back to the US from Costa Rica for various reasons originally planning on returning to Costa Rica in a few weeks. I ended up staying a lot longer. So now my bike has been in Costa Rica for more than 90 days which means that I should have to pay import taxes and i'm told thats its %60 the value of the bike. If anybody has an advice I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

-Mike

Quote:

Originally Posted by motomikeh I rode my bike from North Carolina to Costa Rica and now have a situation. I flew back to the US from Costa Rica for various reasons originally planning on returning to Costa Rica in a few weeks. I ended up staying a lot longer. So now my bike has been in Costa Rica for more than 90 days which means that I should have to pay import taxes and i'm told thats its %60 the value of the bike. If anybody has an advice I would really appreciate it. Thanks! -Mike

Dear Mike,
you might be able to get another extension for 90 days without having to pay taxes in Costa Rica, this will be the last one. After that you definitely have to pay taxes.
Taxes are very high and depend on the year of the bike or car.
Car or Bike Import Costa Rica: impuestos (import tax) to pay based on the actual value from the black book US:

Vehicles from 0 to 3 years old 59.33%
Vehicles from 4 to 5 years old 70.63%
Vehicles more than 6 years old 85.32%

More info see here: costarica.com

Another solution might be to store the vehicle in a aduana warehouse while you are away, you kind of stop the time that way.
You might have to do some running around to get it done or you hire a guy who can do the "tramites" for you. I might be able to recommend you one to get a legal and easy solution.
I live in Costa Rica since 11 years and visit NC since about 15 years...every year for 1-2 weeks!!!

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately its too late to put the bike in a warehouse because the permit expired a couple days ago and I am still in the US. Will I still be able to renew it when I come back even though its expired? Where in NC do you visit? I've heard that if you cross into Panama at San Vito there is no aduana on the CR side. So i'm wondering if I could go to panama and come back into CR and start over.

Hi Mike


I go to Charlotte when I'm in NC. Where do you have your bike ? I have no experiences with this particular border in Panama, but in your passport or paperwork is the date when you arrived and if you do it like described you might have trouble coming back as there is no exit date out of CR, but an entry date from Panama. Well on the other side it could work as well, in general you can never exactly say what is the best way. Even if one had the same situation before you might have to do it different now. I recommend you to come down and do it.
Tell the authorities what happend, show your passport so they see you have being out of the country and they will tell you where to go and what to do. It might take 1-2 days to get it done.
If your bike is close to Nicaragua there is also a border at Peñas Blancas where you can do these kind of "tramites"
I can try to find a person who is able to help you and maybe do it for a fair fee. In any case you have to come as only the owner can do such "tramites".

Hope I could help

regards jogi

Send me a private message if you like to have phone numbers or contacts from of people who might be able to help, (private because I don't know if these people want to be on a public bord with their phone number)

regards jogi

My bike is in San Jose at a friends house. I used to live in Charlotte, Matthews to be exact. Penas Blancas is where I came in so thats where i'll probably go to straighten it out. There is also a customs place in San Jose that I am going to call tomorrow. I tried to send you a PM but it said I couldn't because I don't have enough posts. You can send me one and give me your email address if you don't mind. I would be happy to pay somebody to help me straighten this out. Especially if they spoke english or had some kind of experience in this matter. I really appreciate your help. What do you ride?

-Mike

Hi Mike,

It's a small world definately, I'm 100% sure... I stay in Charlotte Matthews as well when I'm in NC. I bought a car at the Independence Boulevard just recently and shiped it to CR.
I have a KTM LC4 - 640 Supermoto 2005, they don't import them into the US yet.
I'm as well to new to the forum in order to sent PM so:
Here is more info with my email
jogi(at)abccostarica.com
Now to your bike: You might be able to do all that in San Jose. I will reply with some contacts when you email me.

Saludos jogi

bike in Costa rica
 

Have you got the problem solved? if not iam interested in buying a bike for use in costa rica, let me know if you are selling.

Costa Rica Custom Warehouse
 

Hello Guys and JogiCR
This is my first post, i spent the last 8 years becoming a nomad with my motoguzzi thought Canada Usa and especially Mexico.
Now i am in Guatemala on my way south to Argentina,
i want to leave the motorbike in Costa Rica to get back home, italy, for 4-5 months.
I am interest in having more informations about the aduana warehouse, is that the way to leave legally the bike more than 3 months??
Is it expensive?
Thanks!

Cheers

No one have left his own bike in Costa Rica for more than 3 months??