Aug 13, 2026
By Gabriela Páez
Panamanian companies and economic substance: what Costa Rican groups should review — Gabriela PáezWhatsApp, Teams and personal cell phones: what can companies really require after the Constitutional Chamber’s ruling? — Kimberly EsquivelFoundations declared of public interest: a different world from for-profit companies — Ivette Campos SalazarFIFA, the World Cup and the tax bill almost no one talks about — Gabriela Páez
Can a company deduct the payment of a loan that is in its owner’s name? The Tax Administration says no
Many companies begin as personal businesses and, over time, become corporations. In that process, it is common for some assets or debts to remain in the owner’s name, even though in practice the company uses them and assumes the payments. But is that enough for those payments to be deductible for income tax purposes? The General Directorate of Taxation recently answered this question through official letter MH-DGT-DNTI-DCN-CONS-00000037-2026, establishing a criterion that may affect many companies.
Panamanian companies and economic substance: what Costa Rican groups should review
In Costa Rica, it is quite common for business groups and families to have holding companies, corporations or private interest foundations in Panama. There is not necessarily anything wrong with that. The point is that, under Law 526, as of 2027 some of these entities will have to demonstrate that they have real activity in Panama, especially when they receive passive income from abroad.
WhatsApp, Teams and personal cell phones: what can companies really require after the Constitutional Chamber’s ruling?
Digital transformation has turned tools such as WhatsApp, Teams, Outlook and authentication applications into essential elements for many organizations’ operations. However, in many cases technology has advanced faster than the internal policies needed to regulate its use. The recent ruling No. 32917-2025 of the Constitutional Chamber provides important criteria for organizations seeking to strengthen their cybersecurity measures, especially in remote work arrangements. At the same time, it raises a question many companies have not yet resolved: how far can a company go in requiring the installation of corporate applications on employees’ personal devices? The answer has labor, technological, operational and personal data protection implications.
Foundations declared of public interest: a different world from for-profit companies
In recent years, many foundations declared of public interest in Costa Rica have taken on an important role in delivering social programs. Some administer resources from the Social Protection Board, donations or public transfers, making it necessary to present their financial information clearly and understandably. From a purchase as common as a vehicle, equipment, furniture or an improvement for operations, accounting questions arise that are worth reviewing carefully: how it was financed, what the Board approved, what conditions the agreement included and how the acquired asset should be presented. This article seeks to contribute to that conversation from a practical perspective.
FIFA, the World Cup and the tax bill almost no one talks about
Every World Cup puts soccer at the center of family, workplace and media conversations. For several weeks, matches slow offices down, fill WhatsApp groups and generate debates that go far beyond what happens on the field. But beyond the spectacle, there is a question that is rarely asked: what tax sacrifice do countries make to organize a tournament of this scale? The answer leads us to the tax exemptions FIFA usually requests as part of its bidding processes.