By Wendy Anders

The Ministry of Finance (Hacienda) announced yesterday they would grant an exceptional one-time extension this year for tax filers in light of the complications many faced due to Hurricane Otto’s flooding in numerous parts of Costa Rica last week.

Instead of November 30, the last day to file returns this year is Monday, December 5, giving filers an extra weekend to put together their paperwork, said tax administrators in a press statement.

Electronic declarations using the D-151, D-158 and D-150 forms can all be submitted December 5th this year using the Declara 7 program which can be downloaded from www.hacienda.go.cr, clarified the tax administration.

Anyone who fails to file tax statements within the established period may be fined a minimum penalty of ¢4,242,000 (about US$7,800) and a maximum penalty of ¢42,420,000 (about US$78,000), said tax officials.