Costa Rica's Ministry of Finance has published Resolution DGT-R-016-2021, providing new guidelines on the procedures for requesting a special tax year (period), considering Costa Rica's change in the standard tax year from the 12-month period 1 October to 30 September, to the 12-month period 1 January to 31 December. The Resolution provides that taxpayers may request a special income tax year that, subject to certain conditions, may include any 12-month period beginning the first day of any month. Where a special tax period is approved, the taxpayer must submit a closing declaration on the last day of the month immediately preceding the first month of the authorized special period. It is also provided that when approval is given, a transition period is set, which may not be less than 6 months or greater than 18 months.

The Resolution also sets out the tax installment payment schedule for special tax periods. For taxpayers following the standard calendar year starting 1 January, installments are by the last business day of the months of June, September, and December of each year. Where a special tax year is followed, the deadlines are shifted depending on the start date so that they also fall in the 6th, 9th, and 12th months of the special year. For example, if the special year starts 1 February, installments are due in July, October, and January (following year), if starting 1 March, installments are due in August, November, and February (following year), etc. Installment payment requirements are also provided for the transition period, including that a single payment is due in the 6th month if the transition is less than 9 months, payments are due in the 6th and 9th months if the transition is less than 12 months, and payments are due in the 6th, 9th, and 12th months if the transition is 12 months or more.