Tax Configuration

Argonautas supports flexible tax configuration to handle different jurisdictions and tax structures. This guide covers setting up taxes, configuring per-property overrides, and ensuring compliance.

Tax System Overview

The tax system uses two layers:

1. Company Templates -- Default tax rates that apply to all properties.
2. Property Overrides -- Per-property adjustments when a property has different tax requirements.

Costa Rica IVA

The standard Costa Rica value-added tax (IVA) for vacation rental accommodations is 13%. This applies to the accommodation subtotal (nightly rate plus applicable fees).

Setting Up IVA

1. Navigate to Settings > Fees & Taxes.
2. Click Add Tax.
3. Configure:
   • Name: IVA
   • Rate: 13%
   • Calculation: Percentage of subtotal
   • Tax-inclusive or exclusive: Choose based on your pricing strategy
4. Save.

Tax-Inclusive vs. Tax-Exclusive

Mode	How It Works	Best For
Tax-exclusive	Tax is added on top of the displayed rate	Transparency -- guests see the rate and tax separately
Tax-inclusive	The displayed rate already includes tax	Simplicity -- the advertised price is the total price

Most Costa Rica property managers use tax-exclusive pricing so the IVA appears as a separate line item on invoices.

Multiple Tax Rates

Some jurisdictions require multiple taxes. Argonautas supports stacking:

• IVA (13%) on accommodation
• Municipal tax (varies by canton)
• Tourism tax (if applicable)

Each tax is a separate template, and all applicable taxes are calculated independently on the subtotal.

Property Overrides

If a specific property has different tax requirements:

1. Navigate to the property's Fees & Taxes tab.
2. Click Override next to the tax template.
3. Modify the rate or disable the tax for that property.
4. Save.

Overrides only affect the selected property. Other properties continue using the company default.

How Taxes Appear

On Invoices

Taxes are displayed as separate line items below the accommodation and fee subtotals:

Accommodation (5 nights × $300)    $1,500.00
Cleaning Fee                         $250.00
Subtotal                           $1,750.00
IVA (13%)                           $227.50
Total                              $1,977.50

On OTA Channels

Tax information syncs to connected channels. The channel displays taxes according to its own format, but the amounts match what Argonautas calculates.

Common Questions

Can I change the tax rate mid-season? Yes. The new rate applies to future bookings. Existing bookings retain the rate that was active when they were created.

Are taxes applied to fees as well as nightly rates? It depends on the tax configuration. Some taxes apply to the full subtotal (accommodation + fees), while others apply only to accommodation. Configure this in the tax template.

Related

• Fee Configuration -- Setting up cleaning fees, service fees, and other charges.
• Tax Setup Walkthrough -- Step-by-step first-time setup.