An English-speaking CPA who actually explains the numbers
I am Fabián Vargas, a Costa Rican Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with over 10 years of experience. I handle bookkeeping, TRIBU-CR tax filings and CPA-signed income certifications for expats, investors, freelancers and companies in Heredia and across the Greater San José metro area — in English or Spanish.
Fabián Vargas Vado
CPA · Licensed in Costa Rica
Everything accounting and financial, signed by a CPA
From monthly bookkeeping to valuing the company you are about to buy — delivered with technical backing and within the deadlines your process demands.
Monthly bookkeeping
Recording of income and expenses, bank reconciliations and up-to-date financial statements for individuals, freelancers and companies operating in Costa Rica.
- Monthly financial statements
- Bank reconciliations
- Online accounting platform included
Income certification
A document signed and sealed by a Costa Rican CPA, required by banks, credit unions, landlords, Immigration and the tax authority to prove your income.
- Accepted by Costa Rican banks
- Delivered in 24–48 hours
- Issued under the Institute’s standards
Tax filings (TRIBU-CR)
VAT and income tax returns filed on TRIBU-CR, with a prior review of your electronic invoicing so your filings match what the tax authority already sees.
- Monthly VAT and annual income tax
- Simplified and ordinary regimes
- Catch-up on missed filings
Audit & review
Financial statement audits and special reviews for companies that need to give confidence to banks, partners, headquarters or investors.
- Financial statement audits
- Reviews and agreed-upon procedures
- Reports under current standards
Business valuation
Buying a business in Costa Rica? I determine what it is really worth and what risks are hidden in the books — before you sign and wire the money.
- Financial due diligence
- Discounted cash flow (DCF) and WACC
- EBITDA multiples and adjusted book value
- Support through negotiation and closing
Projected cash flows
CPA-signed financial projections and projected financial statements, in the format Costa Rican banks require to approve a loan or an investment plan.
- 12–60 month projected cash flow
- Documented scenarios and assumptions
- Accepted by local banks
Four steps, no runaround
The first conversation is free and tells you exactly what you need and what it costs to solve it.
We talk
Message me on WhatsApp or fill in the form. I reply the same business day.
Free assessment
I review your current accounting and tax situation and tell you plainly what needs to happen.
Written quote
You get scope, timeline and fee in writing. No surprises later.
Delivery & follow-up
The work is done, delivered signed, and I stay available for what comes next.
Big-firm standards, direct access to your accountant
I am Fabián Vargas Vado, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensed in Costa Rica, with more than 10 years of experience in accounting, auditing, certifications and business valuation.
My background comes from working at KPMG, Pfizer and Accenture, where English was the working language and the technical standard was that of a global firm. Today I apply that same standard to individuals, expats and small businesses in Costa Rica — with the difference that you message me directly and I answer.
What my clients say
“Thanks to his work, we were able to present the information successfully and move forward with our bank process without any issues.”
Like many small businesses, for years we focused on operating and growing. When an important bank process came up, we realised we needed properly structured financial information. Fabián organised our accounting, prepared the financial statements and built the projected cash flow the bank required, explaining every financial aspect in plain language.
“Income certifications, books kept current, and clear answers when you have questions.”
If we have worked together, a Google review helps other people in the area find an accountant they can trust. It takes less than a minute.
Accounting and taxes in Costa Rica, explained in English
The questions expats, investors and foreign-owned companies ask me most often, answered under the rules in force in 2026.
Do I need a Costa Rican accountant if I am a foreigner with a business or an Airbnb here?
Yes. If you earn Costa Rican-source income — a business, professional services or rentals, including platforms such as Airbnb — you must be registered with the tax authority, issue electronic invoices and file VAT and income tax as applicable. I handle the full process in English, including the income certification Costa Rican banks require to open an account or finance a property, and the catch-up filings if the activity has been running without declaring.
What is an income certification and why does the bank ask for one?
It is a document signed and sealed by a Costa Rican Certified Public Accountant stating how much a person or company earns over a given period, based on information the accountant verifies first. Banks, credit unions, landlords and Immigration request it from anyone without a local payslip — self-employed people, business owners, landlords and Airbnb hosts. Only a licensed CPA in good standing can issue it.
What documents do you need to issue my income certification?
Typically: full name, ID or passport number and marital status; home address (and the property address if the income is rental income); income reports for the last 12 months; bank statements for the same period; and evidence of the activity, such as invoices, contracts or the listing link for platform rentals.
With complete information, delivery normally takes 24 to 48 hours.
What is TRIBU-CR?
TRIBU-CR is the Costa Rican Ministry of Finance’s integrated tax platform, which replaced the old ATV system on 6 October 2025. It automatically cross-checks your electronic invoices against what you file and keeps a consolidated taxpayer account. In practice, discrepancies that used to go unnoticed are now immediately visible to the tax authority.
When are taxes due in Costa Rica?
VAT is filed and paid within the first 15 calendar days of the following month. Income tax for the ordinary fiscal year (1 January to 31 December) is due by 15 March, or the next business day if that date falls on a weekend or holiday.
Late filing triggers penalties, late-payment surcharges and daily interest, and leaves you flagged as non-compliant on TRIBU-CR, which can block other procedures.
What are the 2026 income tax rates in Costa Rica?
Under Decree 45333-H, for fiscal year 2026: self-employed individuals are exempt up to ₡6,244,000 of annual net income and reach 25% above ₡20,872,000. Companies with gross revenue up to ₡119,174,000 apply a reduced scale from 5% to 20%; above that threshold, a flat 30% applies to net profit. Employment income is exempt up to ₡918,000 per month.
Is electronic invoicing mandatory for me?
Yes. Electronic invoicing version 4.4 has been mandatory since 1 September 2025 for all taxpayers. It introduced the Electronic Payment Receipt (REP) for credit sales, SINPE Móvil as a payment method, the recipient’s economic activity code and new identification categories for foreign clients. If you provide professional services, every fee you charge must be invoiced electronically.
How do you value a Costa Rican business I want to buy?
Never with a single method. A serious valuation cross-checks at least three approaches:
- Discounted cash flow (DCF): projected future cash flows brought to present value using a WACC adjusted for sector and country risk, plus a terminal value.
- Comparable multiples: benchmarked against EBITDA or revenue multiples from similar transactions.
- Adjusted book value: equity restated to market values, useful as a negotiation floor.
The result is a defensible range, which is what you actually need at the negotiating table.
What does financial due diligence cover?
Quality of earnings (normalised EBITDA, non-recurring income, owner’s personal expenses run through the company), the ageing and collectability of receivables, inventory existence and valuation, recorded and unrecorded debt, and labour and tax contingencies — unreported payroll with the social security system (CCSS), accrued severance, and missed or incorrect tax filings. Every finding turns into a price adjustment, a holdback or a contract clause.
Can you work with me remotely if I do not live in Costa Rica?
Yes. Documents are shared digitally, meetings are held by video call and signed deliverables are provided in digital or physical form depending on what your process requires. I currently work with clients based outside Costa Rica and can invoice in US dollars.
How do we get started?
Message me on WhatsApp at +506 8960-9090 or fill in the form on this page with a short description of what you need. I reply the same business day, run a free initial assessment and send a written proposal with scope, timeline and fee before any work begins.
Certified Public Accountant in Heredia and across the Greater Metropolitan Area
In-person service throughout the GAM, and fully online service for the rest of Costa Rica and for clients living abroad.
Tell me what you need
I reply personally the same business day. The first conversation and the initial assessment are free.
Request a quote
Fill in your details and I will come back with scope and fee for your case.
Office hours
Get your Costa Rican finances in order
Whether it is a certification your bank is asking for, bookkeeping that fell behind, or the business you are about to buy — let’s talk and I will tell you plainly what needs to happen.