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Atualização regulatória de junho de 2020: América do Sul e Central

Biz Latin Hub legal team providing regulatory updates in June 2020
Our professionals report notable regulatory updates for June 2020.

Biz Latin Hub’s team of legal and accounting professionals based across Latin America report the following notable regulatory updates for June 2020 in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay.

In our regulatory update series, we report on legal and other reforms that could significantly impact businesses in Latin America. Note that this not an exhaustive list of all regulatory changes occurring in countries listed below.

For more information on how we can support your regulatory compliance needs, get in touch with our team.

Argentina

RegulationDetails
New SAS requirementsThe Argentine government introduced additional requirements for the registration and operation of the Sociedad de Acciones Simplificadas (SAS) legal entity, also known as the Simplified Shares Company.

What this means: Other legal entities may become comparatively more attractive for businesses expanding into Argentina.

Brazil

RegulationDetails
MP 931/20This regulation extends the deadline for companies to hold Annual General Meetings from 30 April 2020 to 31 July 2020.

Chile

The Chilean government and institutions introduced several regulatory updates in June.

RegulationDetails
Law 21.232Allows employees to access their unemployment insurance fund under exceptional circumstances.
Law 21.234Introduction of new rules regarding liabilities in cases of theft and robbery.
NCG 30Issued by the Comisión para el Mercado Financiero. Simplifies the registration of securities, stocks, and bonds.

Costa Rica

The Costa Rican government introduced several regulatory updates in June.

RegulationDetails
Sanitary directivesAirports and borders remained closed until 30 June

Mobility, vehicle, and commercial restrictions enforced between 10pm-5am across the country, with some areas restricted between 5pm-5am Public transportation reduced to 50%

Public institutions will continue to work with limited capacity and teleworking measures. 
Migration and Foreign Affairs directivesEntry to the country suspended until 18 July

Tourist Visa extended until 18 August 2020 for all tourists that entered the country after 17 December 2019

Offices must work at minimum capacity

No new applications will be received before 18 July; deadlines extended to 18 September.
Presidential GuidelineMeasure urges commercial banks to lower interest rates, extend credit terms and extend payments, among other provisions.
Tax Relief LawMoratorium on the payment of VAT, partial payments of income tax, selective consumption tax and taxes to nationalize merchandise during the months of April-June 2020. The reported aim is to extend the moratorium on VAT for an additional 3 months.
Social security directiveCollection base of social security reduced for 3 months (April-June); possibility of extending for a further 3 months is pending confirmation.

Ecuador

RegulationDetails
Humanitarian Support (Ley de Apoyo Humanitario), 22 June 2020  Private agreements between employer and employee to negotiate amounts owed

Enables the payment of 20% of family rental fees and 30% in commercial rental fees in case of showing serious economic damages

Prohibition of increase in rates for basic services, including telecommunications

Prohibition of outages for non-payment during the current state of emergency and up to 2 months after

Immediate reduction of up to 25% in educational pensions, including those from universities. To do this, student representatives have to demonstrate a decrease in income.

El Salvador

The Salvadoran government introduced several regulatory updates in June.

RegulationDetails
Tax exemptionEstablished an exemption of account tax payments for June and July 2020.
Reopening of economic business activitiesEconomic business activities will reopen in the following phases:

Phase 1 (16 Jun-6 July): Restart of specific economic and social activities (construction, health, food, textiles, borders for import and export, diplomatic and consular organization, education centers) 

Phase 2 (7-21 July): Opening of call centers, real estate, plastic, public transport, restaurants, cosmetics, professional services

Phase 3 (22 July-5 August): Opening of major and minor commerce, sports, mall centers, barber shops

Phase 4 (6-20 August): approaching ‘new normal’ – opening of sports events, cinema theater, museums, tourism

Phase 5 (21-31 August): ‘New normal’, full reopening

Mexico

The Mexican government introduced several regulatory updates in June.

RegulationDetails
Rule 2.4.19, Fiscal Miscellaneous Resolution 2020; Rule 295/CFF, Exhibit 1-A, Fiscal Miscellaneous Resolution 2020; Article 27, Section B-VI, Mexican Fiscal Code.All companies that have changes in their capital structure must give notice to the SAT.   This notice must be submitted to the SAT website within 30 days of when said changes were made.   Companies that have not updated this information previously must give notice to  the SAT no later than 30 June 2020.
Rule 12.1.1, Fiscal Miscellaneous Resolution 2020; Rule 3/PLT, Exhibit 1-A, Fiscal Miscellaneous Resolution 2020;   Article 27, Section D-VII, Mexican Fiscal Code; Transitory Article 4, Section III and Article 18-D, VAT Law; Article 113-C, first paragraph, Section I, Income Tax LawForeign companies that provide digital services in Mexico but are not incorporated in Mexico must register their company and obtain tax identification before the SAT no later than 30 June 2020.

Panama

RegulationDetails
Executive decree 298Issued on 27 May by the National Tax Authority (DGI). The decree extends the deadline to present annual income tax declarations until 17 July 2020.

 Peru

RegulationDetails
Resolution 099-2020Issued by the SUNAT (National Tax Authority), this resolution enforces:

Extension of deadline for filing 2019 annual taxes from July 24 to August 6

Extension of the monthly tax filings until July

Extension of the subdivision of tax debt until 31 July.

Uruguay

The Uruguayan government introduced several regulatory updates in June.

RegulationDetails
DGI Resolution (Tax Authority)Delay of tax payments: June’s tax payments must be paid in July.
Decree 163/2020Introduces new eligibility criteria for investors to get tax residency in Uruguay through real estate or commercial activity.
Someone filing for tax residency in Uruguay
Decree 162/2020 introduces new eligibility criteria for investors to get tax residency in Uruguay through real estate or commercial activity.

Countries with no reported updates

Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala and Paraguay report no pertinent changes to regulation during June 2020 that could significantly impact business.

Work with trusted legal and accounting experts to adapt to regulatory changes

At Biz Latin Hub, we support companies to continue doing business in Latin America during challenging and turbulent regulatory periods.

Contact our team to understand how we can help you comply with new or changing regulations with our full suite of multilingual market entry and back office services, including:

  • Accounting and taxation
  • Company formation
  • Hiring and Professional Employer Organization (PEO) services
  • Visa processing
  • Due diligence
  • Legal services, including legal representation, trademarks and liquidation
  • Commercial representation.

Learn more about our team of specialists based across Latin America.

Infographic: Perceptions of Doing Business Survey by Biz Latin Hub

As informações fornecidas aqui não devem ser interpretadas como orientação ou aconselhamento formal. Consulte um profissional para sua situação específica. As informações fornecidas são apenas para fins informativos e podem não abranger todas as leis, padrões e práticas recomendadas pertinentes. O cenário regulatório está em constante evolução; as informações mencionadas podem estar desatualizadas e/ou podem sofrer alterações. As interpretações apresentadas não são oficiais. Algumas seções baseiam-se nas interpretações ou pontos de vista de autoridades relevantes, mas não podemos garantir que essas perspectivas serão apoiadas em todos os ambientes profissionais.
La información que aquí se ofrece no debe interpretarse como orientación o asesoramiento formal. Por favor, consulte a un profesional para su situación específica. La información proporcionada tiene únicamente fines informativos y es posible que no recoja todas las leyes, normas y mejores prácticas pertinentes. El panorama normativo está en continua evolución; la información mencionada puede estar obsoleta y/o sufrir cambios. Las interpretaciones presentadas no son oficiales. Algunas secciones se basan en las interpretaciones o puntos de vista de las autoridades pertinentes, pero no podemos garantizar que estas perspectivas se respalden en todos los entornos profesionales.
The information provided here within should not be construed as formal guidance or advice. Please consult a professional for your specific situation. Information provided is for informative purposes only and may not capture all pertinent laws, standards, and best practices. The regulatory landscape is continually evolving; information mentioned may be outdated and/or could undergo changes. The interpretations presented are not official. Some sections are based on the interpretations or views of relevant authorities, but we cannot ensure that these perspectives will be supported in all professional settings.
Craig Dempsey
Craig Dempsey

Craig is a seasoned business professional in Latin America. He is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of the Biz Latin Hub Group that specializes in the provision market entry and back office services. Craig holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, with honors and a Master's Degree in Project Management from the University of New South Wales. Craig is also an active board member on the Australian Colombian Business Council, and likewise also active with the Australian Latin American Business Council.

Craig is also a military veteran, having served in the Australian military on numerous overseas missions and also a former mining executive with experience in various overseas jurisdictions, including, Canada, Australia, Peru and Colombia.

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