The general custom is for the buyer and seller to share equally in the closing costs. This can be modified by agreement and usually depends upon the particular transaction. Closing costs involve three things: government taxes and fees, notary fee, and mortgage costs, if any.

[A] Government Transfer Tax and Registration Fees

(1) Real Estate Transfer Tax - The government collects a property transfer tax (Impuesto de Traspaso ) which is equal to 1.5% of the registered value of the property. The Public Registry will not record a transfer deed unless the transfer taxes and documentary stamps have been paid. (The transfer tax was reduced from 3% to 1.5% by Law No. 7764 effective May 22, 1998)

(2) Documentary Stamps - The government also requires that documentary stamps be affixed to the deed. These stamps include the following: Municipal Stamp: (Timbre Municipal) ;Legal Bar Association Stamp (Timbre del Colegio de Abogados); Agricultural Stamp (Timbre Agrario); National Archives Stamp (Timbre del Archivo Nacional); Fiscal Stamp:(Especie Fiscal). The Public Registry also imposes its own tax of .05% on documents presented for recordation to the Public Registry. (Derechos de Registro)

[B] Notary Fees - The Notary that drafted the contract for sale and carried out the closing is entitled by law (Decree 2307-J) to a fee equal to 1.5% of the first one million Colones of the actual sales price and 1.25% on the balance. The Attorney and Notary fee schedule which was established by Executive Decree No. 2307-J on April 4, 1991 was repealed on February 9, 1999 (Decree No. 27624-J). However, in October of 1999, the Supreme Court of Costa Rica ruled that the Decree which repealed the Fee schedule was unconstitutional and reinstated the original fee schedule.

[C] Mortgage costs - It is customary for the person who is receiving financing to pay the costs of drafting and registering the mortgage instrument. A mortgage can be created simultaneously at the time of sale by adding a mortgage clause in the transfer deed. Or, a separate mortgage instrument can be drafted. A mortgage document pays registration fees of 1.00 Colon for every 1,000 Colones. The mortgage document also pays documentary stamps. The Notary Public will also charge for drafting the mortgage instrument and that fee can range from approximately 0.625 percent to 1.25 percent of the amount of the mortgage, depending on the circumstances involved.

The buyer should be aware that Costa Rican real estate transactions commonly operate on a two-tiered system. Since Costa Rican properties have a low property tax appraisal base in relation to market value, it is a customary practice to run property sales through at the registered value, which may be substantially less than the actual sales price of the property. In such a case, all transfer taxes and fees discussed above would apply to the registered value as opposed to its sales price, with the exception of the notary fee. Buyers should consult their attorney about the potential risks of this practice.