Tax lawyers in Panama

If you need the backing of lawyers who specialise in tax law, book a legal consultation with EYSH Financial by writing to info@eyshfinancial.com or calling +507 313-7758.

What is tax law?

Tax law (or fiscal law) is the branch of public law that studies and regulates the legal rules through which the State exercises its taxing power to require taxpayers (individuals and legal entities) to pay taxes, duties, fees and special contributions.

In the Republic of Panama, this discipline is governed by the Fiscal Code, the resolutions issued by the Dirección General de Ingresos (DGI), the municipal agreements of each district and special tax laws. Its primary purpose is to regulate the legal relationship between the tax authority and the taxpayer, defining the tax obligation, guaranteeing fair taxation and establishing the formal procedures for auditing, collecting or challenging Panamanian-source taxes.

What do tax law services include?

Our tax lawyers provide full technical and legal coverage before national and municipal tax authorities. The portfolio we offer includes the following specific services:

• Tax residency certification - Formal processing of the tax residency certificate before the DGI for individuals or legal entities applying under the double taxation treaties signed by Panama.
• Protection of family property and primary residence - Registration of real estate under the Family Real Estate Property regime (Patrimonio Familiar Inmobiliario, PFI) or as a Primary Residence (Vivienda Principal) to obtain the exemption from, or the reduced rate of, Property Tax.
• Lifting of tax liens (marginal) - Legal processing before the DGI and the Public Registry of Panama to release properties or other assets seized or encumbered with marginal annotations for tax arrears.
• Tax rulings from the Dirección General de Ingresos - Filing of legally grounded binding and non-binding consultations with the DGI to obtain the tax authority's official position on complex transactions.
• ITBMS exemptions under special laws - Handling of formal requests for exemption from the Tax on the Transfer of Movable Goods and the Provision of Services (ITBMS) under incentive regimes or special laws.
• Defence in proceedings before the DGI's enforcement court - Representation in coercive collection proceedings, filing of procedural objections, payment arrangements and lifting of precautionary seizure measures.
• Resolution of duplicate RUC records - Correction and unification of accounting and tax records when a taxpayer has duplicate registrations in the DGI database.
• Cancellation of tax obligations - Processing of requests for the statute of limitations on taxes, offsetting of tax credits or waiver of surcharges and fines.
• RUC registration for individuals and legal entities - Formal registration, update of economic activity and enrolment in the Registro Único de Contribuyente (RUC) with the DGI and its online platform (e-Tax 2.0).
• Registration with the Municipality of Panama - Initial municipal tax registration of the business and local tax return according to the Municipality of Panama's tax schedule.
• Closure with the Municipality of Panama - Formal tax deregistration and closure of the municipal account to stop taxes from accumulating on inactive companies.
• Defence in municipal audits - Support and legal challenge in the face of inspections, ex officio assessments or audits carried out by municipal treasuries.
• Creation and cancellation of the Aviso de Operaciones - Registration, amendment or definitive cancellation of the business licence (Aviso de Operaciones) through the PanamáEmprende system, kept consistent with the tax authorities.

What issues do tax lawyers resolve?

Tax law resolves fiscal distortions that compromise corporate cash flow and the taxpayer's financial security.

Below are 5 of the most frequent operational problems our tax law specialists resolve:

• We stop the DGI's coercive collections and bank account seizures by filing legal objections or formalising viable payment arrangements before the enforcement court (Juzgado Ejecutor).
• We halt the taxes and fines accumulating on inactive companies by processing the statute of limitations on overdue debts and completing the formal closure with the DGI and the Municipality of Panama.
• We handle the tax clean-up and the lifting of the tax lien on your property so that it can be freely sold, donated or mortgaged.
• We unify the taxpayer's tax accounts in e-Tax 2.0 and correct duplicate RUC errors to cancel inconsistent tax charges.
• We challenge improper tax charges by drafting and substantiating motions for reconsideration before the DGI and appeals before the Administrative Tax Tribunal (Tribunal Administrativo Tributario, TAT).

What are the benefits of hiring EYSH Financial's tax lawyers?

Hiring our firm's tax lawyers in Panama secures strategic advantages for tax compliance:

• Timely prevention of tax fines through the proactive regularisation of obligations.
• Use of current incentives, exemptions and legal instruments to avoid overpaying tax.
• Shielding or release of assets through tools such as Family Property status or the defence against coercive enforcement.
• Opinions and binding consultations with the DGI before carrying out major investments.
• National and municipal tax clearance certificates (paz y salvo) kept up to date to bid on government contracts, apply for financing or import goods.

Who are EYSH's tax law services for?

Our tax law department serves the needs of a range of taxpayer profiles that carry out economic activities or hold assets in Panama.

We provide technical support to:

• Local companies (SMEs and large corporations) - Businesses that need to audit their tax contingencies, handle municipal procedures or defend themselves against DGI assessments.
• Multinationals and foreign investors - Investors who need to structure operations under Panama's territorial tax principle or obtain tax residency certificates.
• Property owners - People who need to register their property as a Primary Residence or Family Real Estate Property, or to lift tax liens in order to sell their assets.
• Individuals and independent professionals - Taxpayers looking to clear tax debts, resolve duplicate RUC records or formally close unused business licences.
• Companies in liquidation or closing down - Companies that need to complete the formal cancellation of their registrations with the DGI and the Municipal Treasury to avoid accumulating debts for arrears.

Why hire EYSH Financial's lawyers for tax law matters?

Choosing EYSH Financial's legal team for your tax law matters rests on specific technical differentiators:

• Command of the national and municipal tax framework - We have direct experience with the Fiscal Code, DGI resolutions, proceedings before the TAT and the tax agreements of the Municipality of Panama.
• Direct synergy between accounting and tax law - We combine numerical and accounting analysis with tax law reasoning, ensuring that every appeal filed has financial and legal support.
• Procedural experience in coercive collection and administrative appeals - We represent taxpayers in real tax disputes, filing objections before enforcement courts and tax appeals.
• Service for residents, foreigners and transnational companies - We know how double taxation treaties apply and the legislation applicable to local and international taxpayers.
• Concrete answers and procedures carried out without delay - We prioritise obtaining certificates, tax clearances, and the opening and closing of tax registrations within the regulatory deadlines.