In September 2021, the IRS announced a campaign targeting taxpayers who claimed Puerto Rican tax benefits without meeting the requirements of the bona fide residency rules. The Resident Tax Incentive Code, known as "Act 60" provides tax exemptions to businesses and investors that relocate to, or are established in, Puerto Rico. Under certain conditions, you can also satisfy the presence test if you were located in Puerto Rico for at least 549 days during the current year and the preceding two years. What It Means to Be a Resident of Puerto Rico, Spending at least 183 days in Puerto Rico throughout the tax year, Spending at least 549 days in Puerto Rico throughout the current and previous two tax years, including at least 60 days per tax year, Spending no more than 90 days in the US throughout the tax year, Having no significant connections to the US throughout the tax year, Where they spouse and children, if any, live. Selling or renting out your home in the US is also a good idea, as not having a home readily available in the US will certainly boost your standing in the assessment of a closer connection. Thousands of Americans have already made the move to Puerto Rico, enjoying a 0% income tax rate on capital gains or a 4% corporate tax rate for their business while indulging in the excitement of Puerto Rican culture and cuisine. The core motivation of the IRS in administering the bona fide residency tests is to make sure that you intend to stay in Puerto Rico for an extended period of time and that you spend limited time in the US during your period of bona fide residency. All of these benefits and so much more can be yours if you relocate to Puerto Rico. Citizenship: The most straightforward qualification is the requirement to be a citizen of the United States, living in Puerto Rico. Special rule for nonresident aliens. Therefore, there are multiple ways to satisfy the requirements of the presence test. It should be presumed that an individual is a resident of Puerto Rico if they have been present in Puerto Rico for a period of 183 days during the calendar year. A Puerto Rican driver's license is required. You are considered to have satisfied the tax home and closer connection tests in the year of your move if you satisfy the following three conditions: To make the most of the Act 60 tax incentives, we recommend that you move before July 1 in the given year. In addition, the income derived by a Resident Individual Investor after becoming a resident of Puerto Rico, but before January 1, 2036, consisting of interest, financing charges, dividends or partnership interest received from International Banking Entities authorized under the Banking Center Act, shall be fully exempt from income taxes in Puerto Rico, including the alternate basic tax provided in the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code. It means that under Puerto Rico Incentives Code 60, if an individual is granted Puerto Rico tax exemption under the act, long term gains as a result of investments made after becoming a resident will be exempt from tax in Puerto Rico. PRelocate does not assume any responsibility for the contents of, or the consequences of using, any version of any real estate or other document templates or any spreadsheets found on our website (together, the Materials). The IRS' report to Congress calculated that more than 1,924 applicantscorporations, LLCs, partnerships, and other typeshad been granted tax benefits under the Exports Services Act (formerly known as Act 20) as of March 2020 based on partial information provided by Puerto Rico. To avoid penalties, this would require a transfer pricing analysis and intercompany agreements to determine the share of profits realized in Puerto Rico vs. on the mainland, as laid out in this guide. As provided by Puerto Rico Incentives Code 60: What does this mean? Article 7 of Act 22 protects those trusts created by Act 22 grantees from the forced inheritance provisions of the Puerto Rico Civil Code. Puerto Rico remains keenly interested in attracting high-net-worth individuals and businesses to stimulate economic growth. The purpose of Puerto Rico Incentives Code 60 is to promote investment in Puerto Rico by providing investment residents with tax breaks. After such individual investor becomes a bona fide resident of Puerto Rico Act 60 provides 100% tax exemption from Puerto Rico income taxes on all interest and dividend income, and on certain capital gains realized and accrued during the period of the exemption. /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. Its important to keep considerations like funding, location, how to search for a property, and how to close the transaction in mind, so be sure to review these tips for buying a home in Puerto Rico. Best Places to Buy Property in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico Service Exporters Must Document Well to Avoid IRS Ire. Puerto Rico enjoys fiscal autonomy, which means that it can offer very attractive tax incentives not available on the mainland U.S., with the advantages of being in a U.S. environment. *Paragraph C refers to the Presence Test. Lets get some clarity on how the tax situation plays out: To begin with, becoming a resident of Puerto Rico is not as simple as purchasing a property and visiting the PR Coast a few times a year. In 2012, Puerto Rico had passed two laws intended to make the island a "global investment destination.". Lets traverse some of the key points of act 22 for Individuals (Act 20 is for Businesses) (now combined into act 60) as it relates to individuals and investments to US residents who relocate to Puerto Rico and become a bona fide resident (citations refer directly to the act). Puerto Rican and foreign companies created investments that transform and accelerate economic development in Puerto Rico thanks to Act 60. Owners of existing businesses can qualify for the Act 60 business tax incentives in one of two ways: Youll have to pay a one-time fee of $750 when you file your initial application. Your tax home is the jurisdiction in which your primary place of employment is located. Even if youre only in Puerto Rico for an hour on a certain day, that counts as being present in Puerto Rico. Third, to pass the closer connection test, you must convince the IRS that you have stronger ties to Puerto Rico than to the rest of the United States. Disclaimer: Neither PRelocate, LLC, nor any of its affiliates (together PRelocate) are law firms, and this is not legal advice. You were present in the relevant territory for at least 183 days during the tax year. Act 60 investors must also submit their donation before December 31 and present proof in their annual report in May. Commit to Puerto Rico, and passing the residency tests will be fairly easy. When a US person obtains a Golden Visa, they have a second passport (CBI) or travel privileges (RBI). Likewise, the incentives offered shall be continuously reviewed in order to identify those that are not cost-effective and to strengthen those that have proven to have an impact and which generate a return on investment for the Treasury. The purpose of Puerto Rico Incentives Code 60 is to promote investment in Puerto Rico by providing investment residents with tax breaks. If a US person relocates to Puerto Rico and has realized but unrecognized capital gain and waits to recognize the gain until being a resident for 10 years will only be subject to a 5% Puerto Rico tax rate. Before using any Materials, you should consult with legal counsel licensed to practice in the relevant jurisdiction. As you might suspect, its easier to satisfy this requirement if you move to Puerto Rico during the first part of the year. It is important to note that bona fide residency is not the same thing as residency, and you are not considered a bona fide resident of Puerto Rico simply by living in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico tax haven Eligibility under Act 60 an individual must have physical presence in the Island for at least 183 days of the year and must not have been a resident of Puerto Rico from 2009 to 2019 (the 10-year period preceding the effective date of the Incentives Code). When filling out the form, you will need to refer to the detailed instructions, which are based on the bona fide residency rules outlined in Publication 570. You had earned income in the United States of no more than a total of $3,000 and were present for more days in the relevant territory than in the United States during the tax year. Act 60 ensures that this grant will remain a binding contract between you and the Puerto Rican government for at least 15 years. Neither you nor your relatives can control these nonprofit entities. The amount of the net long- term capital gain shall be limited to the portion of the gain related to the appreciation of the Securities or other Assets while the Resident Individual Investor resided outside of Puerto Rico. Under Act 60, an eligible business includes export services and commerce. Puerto Rico voter registration is required. Theyve been delighted to experience the rich culture, delicious food, and wonderful tropical sightseeing opportunities found in Puerto Rico. With proper tax planning and sourcing allocations, a person can feasibly reduce their tax liability to nearly zero on income and assets generated and acquired once becoming a Puerto Rican resident but its not quite that simple. It is important to understand what is excluded for tax purposes and what is not excluded under, It is crucial to understand that in order to exclude the income from capital gains and dividends, it should be accrued. The Incentives Code consolidates various tax decrees, incentives, subsidies, and benefits, including . Where they keep important personal belongings, What jurisdiction their primary bank is in, Where the organizations they affiliate with are located, Maintaining a tax home in Puerto Rico for the last 183 days of the year, Not having been a bona fide resident of Puerto Rico in the three tax years before the year of the move, Achieving bona fide residency in the year of the move and the two years following it. Puerto Rico offers a myriad of tax incentives, but they all entail the same goal for the government: boosting Puerto Ricos economy by attracting to the island high-net-worth individuals who will invest in the infrastructure. Note, however, that if youre going for the 549 days in a three-year period condition, you must still physically spend at least 60 days in Puerto Rico each year. The Governor of Puerto Rico has enacted Act 52 of 30 June 2022 (Act 52-2022), which allows companies to elect a 10.5% tax on industrial development income from sales of goods and services instead of the 4% excise tax on foreign corporations, which the latest United States (US) foreign tax credit rules do not consider creditable. Planning Tip: Puerto Rico income is not taxable in the US but the US still taxes the individual on their worldwide income (other than Puerto Rico Income under IRC 933). Note that those who were already residents of Puerto Rico during the 10 years before their move are not eligible for this tax incentive. The contributions of the companies under the Act 20/22 have a positive impact on the local economy. To recap, under Puerto Ricos Act 60 tax incentives, you and your business may be eligible for staggering tax savings if you adhere to the requirements. If youd like to know more about the qualifying tests, consult IRS Publication 570. However, you cant qualify unless you establish residency on the island. Physical Presence: the investor has to be physically present in Puerto Rico 168-183 days per year, and in the United States for less than 90 days in the year. The total net capital gain generated by a Resident Individual Investor related to any appreciation of Securities or other Assets after said Resident Individual Investor becomes a Resident Individual of Puerto Rico, that is recognized before January 1, 2036, shall be fully exempt from income taxes in Puerto Rico, including the alternate basic tax provided in the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code. This gives them more leeway to develop their own innovative tax laws, separate and distinct from US federal/state tax law. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (PRWEB) January 17, 2020. This property must be the individuals primary residence and not rented out. It is crucial to understand that in order to exclude the income from capital gains and dividends, it should be accrued after arriving in Puerto Rico and acquiring dividends and capital gains as a Resident of Puerto Rico. With the Act 60 Export Services Tax Incentive (formerly Act 20), it may only have to pay 4% corporate income tax. The non-profit charitable contribution requirement which was previously at $5,000 has been increased to $10,000. With the right structuring, one could essentially lower their effective tax rate from as high as 50% or more to 0% under the right circumstances, by moving to the island. Puerto Rico seeks to move away from its historical focus on manufacturing and become a major services exporter. What does this mean? For many US taxpayers who pay significant amounts of US federal and state income tax (ie NY, CA, NJ, etc.) Miramar Plaza, 954 Avenida Ponce de LeonSuite 205San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907, #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } Generally, you are a bona fide resident of one of these territories (the relevant territory) if, during the tax year, you: Do not have a tax home outside the relevant territory, and, Do not have a closer connection to the United States or to a foreign country than to the relevant territory. Only one of the following conditions must be true: To be counted as present in Puerto Rico, you must be physically present on the island during any part of the day. Lets take the example of a C Corporation, which the IRS recognizes as an independent legal entity. If you are aiming to satisfy the presence test by spending at least 549 days within a three-year period in Puerto Rico, you still must be physically present in Puerto Rico for 60 days per year. Local government has legislated a series of incentives to attract investment, of which EB-5 Visa program participants can also take advantage. As a side note, this will help solidify US residents in making Puerto Rico their main home because owning property or real estate in a location and claiming it as primary residence goes a long way in showing Puerto Rico is actually the tax home. Sometimes, effective tax planning can help avoid these taxes. Individual Investor must not have been a resident of Puerto Rico during any of the 10 years prior to the effective date of Act 60 (July 1st, 2019). During each year of the 3-year period, you must be present in the relevant territory for at least 60 days. Fortunately, upon becoming a bona fide resident of Puerto Rico, you pay no tax on your Puerto Rico-sourced income, but instead just Puerto Rican income tax. Puerto Ricos bona fide residency tests may seem intimidating, but if youre dedicated to starting fresh in the USs sunny Caribbean island territory, the tests are simple. Puerto Rico now requires the individual to purchase residential property within the first two years of becoming a resident. A nonresident alien individual (as defined in section 7701(b)(1)(B)) satisfies the requirements of this paragraph (c) for a taxable year if during that taxable year that individual satisfies the substantial presence test of 301.7701(b)-1(c) of this chapter (except for the substitution of the name of the relevant possession for the term United States where appropriate). Many companies opt to become C Corporations because of the special tax advantages associated with this status. A C Corporation is separate from its owners. The report's findings concluded with what was already known; Act 20 and Act 22 led to hundreds of millions of dollars of lost U.S. income tax revenue. Act 20 and 22 tax incentives have been replaced by Act 60 as of January 1, 2020. Act 60 provides tremendous tax benefits to qualified businesses and individual investors. You should use common sense and rely on your own legal counsel for a formal legal opinion on Puerto Ricos tax incentives, maintaining bona fide residence in Puerto Rico, and any other issues related to taxes or residency in Puerto Rico. Currently, such an eligible business with a tax exemption decree in Puerto Rico under Act 60 will enjoy a: 4% income tax rate (2% for 5 years for small businesses, or 1% for pioneer activity) 100% income tax exemption on dividends or profits generated It means that the Act 60 was designed to promote the development into Puerto Rico through private investment from outside sources. Miramar Plaza, 954 Avenida Ponce de LeonSuite 205San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907, #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } Demand for Non-CRS Banking as CRS Goes Global Opening bank accounts in countries that do not participate in the Common Reporting Standards (CRS) is sometimes seen as a way to increase privacy. See District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act, S.160, 111th Congress (passed by the Senate, February 26, 2009) (2009).52 However, the United States has not taken similar "steps" with regard to the five million United States citizens who reside in the other U.S. territories, of which close to four million are residents of Puerto Rico. doing business in Puerto Rico. 3. Act 60 Updates from Act 22 (Individuals) The individual cannot have been a resident of Puerto Rico for at least 10 years prior this is increased from previously in which it was six years. The income derived from all sources by a Resident Individual Investor after becoming a resident of Puerto Rico but before January 1, 2036, consisting of interest and dividends including but not limited to interest and dividends from a registered investment company described in Section 1112.01 of the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code, shall be fully exempt from income taxes in Puerto Rico, including the alternate basic tax provided in the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code. If your export-service company is conducting its activities inside Puerto Rico, it may be eligible for substantial benefits that apply to income received from customers outside of Puerto Rico. So, even though Puerto Rico will only charge you 4% corporate tax, the US will take at least another 6.5% from your CFC if you . You did not maintain a tax home outside of Puerto Rico for the last 183 days of the year. However, individuals deriving income for services performed within Puerto . Not be present in the USA for more than 90 days during the tax year. Before using any Materials, you should consult with legal counsel licensed to practice in the relevant jurisdiction. To be defined as a bona fide resident of Puerto Rico, an individual must be able to demonstrate that he/she satisfies 3 key residency requirements relating to the individuals presence in Puerto Rico, having a tax home in Puerto Rico and having closer connections to the territory than anywhere else. The tax incentives enjoyed by Individual Resident Investors in Puerto Rico are perhaps the most impressive of all Puerto Rican tax incentives: Just keep in mind that to qualify for these generous incentives, you must become a bona fide resident of Puerto Rico, which involves spending the majority of your time in Puerto Rico, making Puerto Rico your tax home, and establishing closer connections in Puerto Rico than in the US. Lets clarify what we mean when we say these tax breaks apply only to exported services. Each year, the island welcomes new, ambitious Americans and others who wish to keep more of their money while enjoying the island lifestyle Puerto Rico offers. The IRS's new campaign addresses taxpayers who have claimed benefits through Puerto Rico Act 60, without meeting the requirements of section 937, Residence and Source Rules Involving Possessions. While it is meant to test your residency in Puerto Rico, the key concern of the IRS is that you are not spending a lot of time in the US. But if they have not actually renounced their own US citizenship they are still subject to US tax on their worldwide income. Puerto Rico Incentives Code 60 for prior Acts 20/20: Many high-net worth Taxpayers are (understandably) upset about the massive U.S. taxes levied on their employment, investment, and corporate income. Legal counsel licensed to practice in the relevant territory for at least days... 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