Taxes and Fees

[Philipc4u59]

Why am I so SKEPTICAL about such contests; have only been in Peru since May 2012?
Are the winner's infomation revealed on a web site - to assist in TRANSPARENCY (quite lacking in Peru)?

Good luck to all,
Philip

[rama0929]

My feelings are that if the TAXES are due on a sale/service; they should be documented for & paid.
I also feel that the high taxes in Peru, discourage accountability with the law & limit investment opportunities.
When will Peru realize that lowering these taxes, will actually enhance the "coffers"/revenue - in the future?

What are similar taxes in other countries; I would appreciate your expertise & how the economy was affected.

Philip
PS - I doubt I will ever embrace NUISANCE FEES/TAXES - such as the exit fee & others...

Someone has to pay for the Obras Municipales going on around Lima.

[Kelly]

PS - I doubt I will ever embrace NUISANCE FEES/TAXES - such as the exit fee & others...

There is no longer an airport exit fee, as far as I know. I believe the cost is included in the price of all tickets now, though I may be mistaken.

[Philipc4u59]

Kelly, you are correct in essence...

There is an EXIT FEE, but most air carriers build the price into the ticket - but there still is a FEE.
I remember seeing long lines in my departure in Nov. of 2011; but I had an itemized list of my airfare & the FEE was included.

I proposed to my boss when we were visiting Costa Rica every winter, that he should itemize all the money he spent & ask the government for forgiveness of this NUISANCE FEE/TAX - some $31 at the time. The last trip we took, he had spent over $27,000 - as he purchased a car there; I am not sure if he made the effort to bring this matter to the attention of the proper authorities.

When will countries stop CHOKING THE GOLDEN GOOSE???

Philip

[panman]

When will countries stop CHOKING THE GOLDEN GOOSE???

Philip

Not untill it's layed its last golden egg. That's life.

[sbaustin]

There is an EXIT FEE, but most air carriers build the price into the ticket -

I proposed to my boss when we were visiting Costa Rica every winter, that he should itemize all the money he spent & ask the government for forgiveness of this NUISANCE FEE/TAX - some $31 at the time. The last trip we took, he had spent over $27,000

Why would your boss waste hours of his time for $31 USD?

Here is the itemized fee's related to Peru that are included on a ticket or at least the ones I paid last year:

Peru Tourism Tax : 15.00
Peru Airport Departure Tax: 30.74
Peru Sales Tax: 183.60

[Philipc4u59]

Thanks for the figures...
My former boss & I - subscribe to the same "mentality"; when someone spends thousands of dollars every winter, he sould not be "nickel & dimed" to death for another $31.00!

As it turned out, he is now vacationing in another country - w/o an EXIT TAX & the other NUISANCE FEES!

I still feel the government should allow a person to present ALL THEIR EXPENSES in the country & be EXEMPT from such NONSENSE (after a defined amount); people ARE starting to be offended & vacation elsewhere - on PRINCIPAL ALONE!

That's why we got along so well - plus I was his BODY-GUARD (carried lots of cash with him). We both had firearms & we trained to use them in self defense. Once we rescued a woman (San Jose, CR) whose arm was almost completely severed with a machetti when she refused to give up her purse - NOT RECOMMENDED. The criminals may have killed her, as she was a stubborn foreigner...

Philip

[Philipc4u59]

CORRECTION!

The exit tax for Costa Rica is $26 - not $31; I remember handling the official a $20 & a $1 plus another bill.
It was a $5, not a $10 - so thus the $5 difference.

Still $26 too much; the GOLDEN GOOSE (my boss) has flown further south...

Philip

[Kelly]

Kelly, you are correct in essence...

There is an EXIT FEE, but most air carriers build the price into the ticket - but there still is a FEE.
I remember seeing long lines in my departure in Nov. of 2011; but I had an itemized list of my airfare & the FEE was included.

You're right Philip, my bad - just because the fee is included in the price of the airfare doesn't mean that the fee no longer exists.

My former boss & I - subscribe to the same "mentality"; when someone spends thousands of dollars every winter, he sould not be "nickel & dimed" to death for another $31.00!

From what I understand, the departure fee is an airport usage fee, sort of like paying the fare on a toll road. If you never fly, you don't have to pay any taxes for maintenance of the airport, if you're a frequent flyer, then you'll pay a lot. I think that's a very libertarian way to do it, and seems quite fair to me - shouldn't have anything to do with how much you've spent while you're in the country.

[sbaustin]

Philip

Still $26 too much; the GOLDEN GOOSE (my boss) has flown further south...

Philip

Please let us know where your boss now goes that doesn't have an airport tax.

[Philipc4u59]

Sbaustin,

My former boss was the typical "SELF MADE MILLIONAIRE"; he only finished the 10th grade in school.
He went to work in the construction industry & eventually he & I started our own business in 1994.

He was not the CHEAPEST in any estimate; but the quality of work was OUTSTANDING; he even was developing a business to CONSULT & present evidence in court - concerning the shoddy work of major companies.

He and a few of his friends in the business - WORKED HARD & PLAYED HARD in Costa Rica; they all bought substantial homes there & expected to be treated as ROYALTY - especially with all the money they infused!

The last time I talked to him (Dec. 2009); he & his fellow construction owners were planning on buying a used jet to fly them on their vacations - as any airport/country "BS" would not be tolerated.

Unfortunately, we disagreed on his LIFESTYLE, while in Costa Rica - private brothels, etc.
I was taken along as his BODY GUARD, but I was uncomfortable in these surroundings - especially as all these men had wives & families at home (I don't feel as I am a prude).

In summary, we haven't talked since Dec. 2009; I wish him well. I am told many of his acquaintances are now DIVORCED (wonder why?) & they their businesses have suffered in the real estate bubble after-effects.

Philip