Costa Rica is considering the introduction of an alternate calendar tax year (1 Jan to 31 Dec) for certain taxpayers. Costa Rica's standard tax year is 1 October to 30 September.

Taxpayers that would be eligible for the alternate tax year include:

• Public institutions that are obliged to set their budget period between 1 January and 31 December;
• National airlines and related companies;
• Institutions obliged to prepare financial statements following the calendar year, including political parties, religious institutions, cooperatives, and others;
• Certain financial and securities trading entities;
• Enterprises engaged in the cultivation of bananas or rice and related activities; and
• Subsidiaries, branches or agencies in Costa Rica of a foreign company when the foreign company does not follow Costa Rica's standard tax year.

In order to change the tax year, a taxpayer would be required to submit an application to the tax administration including evidence that it meets the criteria of one of the taxpayer types listed above. If approved, the taxpayer would be required to file a return for the period 1 October to 31 December, and the new calendar tax year would begin from the following 1 January.