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Overview
Costa Rican Colón (CRC)
CURRENCY
San José
CAPITAL
monthly
PAYROLL FRECUENCY
11
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
to 26.5
EMPLOYER TAXES
13TH / 14TH SALARY
The 13th Salary in this region is usual and typically given at the end of the year.
Employee and employeer taxation in Costa Rica
Employer
Company Payroll Contributions
** Solidarity Association (optional, not in the final cost): 5%
0% - 9.25%
Health and Maternity
0% - 5.25%
Basic Pension Scheme
0% - 0.25%
Banco Popular Employer Fee
0% - 5%
Family Assignations
0% - 0.50%
Social Aid (IMAS)
0% - 1.50%
INA
0% - 0.25%
Contribution From Banco Popular Employer
0% - 1.50%
Labor Capitalization Fund
0% - 2%
Complementary Pension Fund
0% - 1%
National Insurance Institute (INC)
0% - 26.5%
Total Employment Cost
Employee
Worker Payroll Contributions
0%- 5.50%
Worker Payroll Contributions
0%- 4%
Disability, Old Age, and Death Benefits
0%- 1%
Workmens Savings Banks
0% - 10.5%
Total Employee Cost
Employee Income Tax in Costa Rica
Worker Income Tax
0%
0-863,000 CRC
10%
863,001 – 1,267,000 CRC
15%
1,267,001– 2,223,000 CRC
20%
2,223,001 – 4,445,000 CRC
25%
4,445,001 and above
Minimum Wage in Costa Rica
General
There is no required basic wage percentage for employees in Costa Rica because there is no legal minimum wage. Pay scales must be negotiated directly with the company through an employment contract or collective bargaining agreement. Hiring professional employer organization PEO services allows companies to draft contracts that are liable.
With a general growth percentage of 2.09% for 2022, the minimum wage will climb from CRC 10,875.11 for unskilled labour to CRC 14,205.12 for specialist workers per day. payroll outsourcing companies ensure that employees are well-paid according to the Costa Rica employment law.
$556 Minimum Wage per month
Payroll Contributions in Costa Rica
Payroll Cycle
Payroll in Costa Rica typically runs on a monthly cycle, with payments due once each month. Likewise, international payroll outsourcing companies can help companies fulfill their employees’ payroll on time with no issues. Businesses can expand when they outsource payroll service.
13th Salary
A 13th-month wage payment is necessary in Costa Rica; the employer must pay this amount by December 20 of each year. Nevertheless, a professional employment organization will ensure that employers provide this payment when necessary. Thanks to HR payroll outsourcing and payroll outsourcing services, managers can occupy their minds with their core functions.
Employee Benefit in Costa Rica
Visa and work permit in Costa Rica
VAT in Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, the normal VAT rate is 13%. Likewise, hiring Employer of Record Costa Rica services lets companies keep their compliance with the law.
Working Hours in Costa Rica
General
An employee may work up to 48 hours a week at the most. Workers who work nights (7pm–5am) can only work a total of 36 hours per week.
Overtime
Overtime is characterized by working more than 48 hours per week and is compensated at 150% of regular pay. Holiday employment is compensated at a 200% rate. The daily maximum amount of overtime that may be worked is four hours.
Working Week
From Monday to Friday or from Monday to Saturday.
Employee Termination in Costa Rica
Termination Process
Depending on the type of contract and the reason for termination, the termination procedure varies depending on the contract of employment or collective agreement in effect.
It is legal to end a person's employment contract with:
- The equal parties' consent.
- The accord of either side of the contract of employment within the conditions and terms stipulated by the law.
Notice Period
In Costa Rica, a worker's notice period, whether temporary or permanent, depends on how long they've worked there. Therefore, let us see:
- 0 to 3 months: No necessary notice
- 3 to 6 months: 1 week
- 6 months to a year: 15 days
- More than one year. One month
Severance Pay
In Costa Rica, the amount of severance pay goes according to the length of the employee's service. Consequently, let us see:
- 3 to 6 months: 7 days
- 6 months to a year: 14 days
- 1 year: 19.5 days
- 2 years: 20 days
- 3 years: 20.5 days
- 4 years: 21 years
- 5 years: 21.24 days
- 6 years: 21.5 years
- 7 to 9 years: 22 days
- 10 years: 21.5 days
- 11 years: 21 days
- 12 years: 20.5 years
- 13 years or more: 20 days
Probation Period
Depending on the type of position, the probationary term in Costa Rica is set in the employment contract. However, probationary periods are typically three months long. Hiring employees is way easier with an Employer of Record Costa Rica firm.
Employee Leaves in Costa Rica
Paid Time Offs
The amount of paid yearly leave an employee is entitled to in Costa Rica depends on how many years of service they have completed. For workers with 50 weeks of regular employment, the basic paid leave obligation is 14 days annually. The worker is eligible to one day of leave each month if they have given 50 weeks of employment or less.
Employees are not permitted to carryover or accrue any leave unless a written agreement between the company and the employee allows for it.
Public Holidays
There are 11 national holidays throughout the year.
Vacation Holidays
There are 14 vacation holidays throughout the year.
Sick Days
In Costa Rica, workers are elegible to three days of fully compensated sick leave. Therefore, Social Security covers the remaining 50.00% of an employee's normal wage after the company contributes 50.00%. Social Security begins to pay 60.00% of the average daily wage on the 4th day of illness; consequently, the company does not need to make any payments to the employee.
Within 48 hours of the start of the sick leave, the worker must file a health certificate to the Social Security Department in order to receive remuneration.
Paternity Leave
Fathers working in the public sector are eligible to 8 days of paternity leave payments; employees in the private sector are not eligible to this benefit.
Paternal Leave
Employees in the private sector are not eligible for parental leave.
Other Leave
Employees in Costa Rica are entitled to three days of paid absence for bereavement in the case of the loss of an immediate family member.
Maternity Leave in Costa Rica
Employees who are pregnant are entitled to 4 months of maternity leave pay, including one month before and 3 months after the delivery date.
For the entire four months, the company and the CCSS (Costa Rican Social Security Fund) split the cost of the maternity payment equally. Hence, hiring an Employer of Record Costa Rica, will help businesses to keep up with these practices.
There are 120 leave throughout the year.