Your Global Partner in Business Expansion

Welcome to our international accounting, tax, audit, and legal network, where we are dedicated to being your strategic ally as you navigate the ever-evolving landscape of business in the Latin American region. Whether you are a company exploring opportunities in LatAm for the first time or an established entity seeking to expand within this vibrant market, we are here to guide you every step of the way.

Why LatAm?

The LatAm region, with its rich tapestry of cultures, languages, and economies, offers an abundance of opportunities for businesses. From the bustling markets of Mexico to the tech hubs of Brazil, the pristine landscapes of Chile to the financial districts of Panama, LatAm is a diverse tapestry of potential waiting to be woven into your success story.

Your Global Partner

Navigating LatAm complex regulatory environments, tax structures, and legal frameworks can be daunting. That’s where we come in. With our extensive network of experts and professionals across the region, we provide you with the knowledge and insights necessary to thrive. Our multidisciplinary team is equipped to address your accounting, tax, audit, and legal needs, ensuring compliance and optimizing your financial strategies.

Seamless Expansion

Expanding your business into LatAm requires more than just paperwork; it requires a deep understanding of local customs, market dynamics, and cultural nuances. Our international team of specialists possesses the cultural awareness and market expertise to help you seamlessly integrate your business into the heart of LatAm. We assist you in building relationships with local partners, understanding consumer behavior, and crafting strategies that resonate with the region’s unique demographics.

Global Reach, Local Expertise

With our international presence and local expertise, we bridge the gap between global reach and localized insight. Our network allows you to tap into a vast pool of resources, connect with industry leaders, and access a wealth of knowledge to make informed decisions and seize opportunities in LatAm.

News about “Doing business in LatAm”

Vaz de Almeida Advogados among the “Most Admired Law Firms in Brazil” for the 9th time

11. December 2024 | Vaz de Almeida Advogados has been recognised for the 9th time as one of the "Most Admired Law Firms in Brazil by Major Companies". This award is part of the "Análise Advocacia" 2025, which was presented on Thursday 28 November in São Paulo.

Uruguay free trade zone: A unique opportunity to invest

25. November 2024 | Free trade zones are particularly well-known and popular because of their tax advantages. In Uruguay, a company that operates in a free trade zone is exempt from paying all current or future national taxes. The Ecovis experts know what other advantages there are for multinational companies that want to settle in a free zone.

Special instalment regime for tax debts in Peru: Terms, benefits, and exclusions

19. November 2024 | The recently published legislative decree no. 1634 introduces a special instalment programme for tax debts in Peru. It is managed by the Peruvian financial authority SUNAT and covers debts payable up to 31 December 2023. The Ecovis experts explain the details.

VAT on digital services in Peru: Implementation postponed to 1 December 2024

7. October 2024 | Providers and sellers of digital services who are not based in Peru will not have to register and pay 18% VAT to the Peruvian tax authorities until 1 December 2024 – a delay of two months. The Ecovis consultants know the details.

List of high-risk tax schemes Peru: The tax authorities expands the list under GAAR

9. August 2024 | On 9 July 2024, the Peruvian tax authority published an updated version (third version) of the list of high-risk tax planning models, which now includes 24 arrangements that can be challenged under the Peruvian general anti-avoidance rule. Taxpayers involved in such transactions must expect these structures to be challenged. The Ecovis experts explain the details.

Prohibition of Non-Compete Agreements: FTC’s new rule

23. May 2024 | On 23 April 2024, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) adopted a final rule, by a majority of one vote, that will prohibit companies nationwide from entering into or attempting to enforce non-compete agreements with employees or officers. The final rule will become effective 120 days after its publication in the Federal Register.

Digital Peru: The challenges of the digital economy and Pillar One

20. May 2024 | The OECD has issued new tax regulations for Pillar One and the Pillar One – Amount B. They aim to adapt to the ever-evolving digital economy and to avoid undesirable base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS).

Forging the Future of Work: How Exxeta Pioneers Global Remote Work Solutions, supported by ECOVIS Heidelberg

28. February 2024 | Under the guidance of Richard Hoffmann, Lawyer and  Senior Partner, Ecovis Heidelberg has fostered a deep and enduring business relationship with Marcus Bingenheimer-Zimmermann, Director of People & Culture at Exxeta, previously the Head of Human Resources at the esteemed football club, Eintracht Frankfurt. , a leading consultancy specializing in business and IT consulting, is at […]

VAT Brazil: Overview of the main points of the tax reform and next step

16. February 2024 | On 20 December 2023, Brazil approved brand-new legislation on consumption and transactional taxation. The main objective of the legal modifications is to simplify a host of levies on goods and services. After a transition period of 7 years (from 2026 to 2032), taxation will be based on a dual VAT system. The Ecovis experts explain the details of the VAT tax reform.

Law firms in Brazil: Vaz de Almeida recognised by the 4 major national seals of law

22. December 2023 | In 2023, the law firm and the experts at Vaz de Almeida Advogados were again awarded some of the most important national seals of Brazilian law. This significantly strengthens the position of the company, a member of ECOVIS International, on the South American market.

Real Estate Peru: Preoperative expenses and income tax

7. December 2023 | In cases where a company has carried out a specific real estate project and then chooses to continue with its economic purpose and carry out new projects, the question arises as to whether the expenses related to the latter can qualify as preoperative expenses under income tax law.

ICAP: A New Paradigm in Transfer Pricing Certainty

5. December 2023 | Transfer pricing is increasingly viewed as a top concern for tax audits. Disputes in this area can be expensive, time-consuming, and disruptive, and they can significantly affect the performance of multinational enterprises (MNEs). Previously, Advanced Price Agreements (APAs) were the primary tool for MNEs seeking to ensure certainty in transfer pricing. The Organisation for Economic […]

Expectations for the Mexican Fiscal Year 2024

4. December 2023 | For the fiscal year 2024, no changes are expected to the Mexican tax framework. This means that there will be no new taxes created or existing tax rates increased. There will also be no changes to the Income Tax Law (ITL), Value Added Tax Law (VATL), Special Tax on Production and Services Law (STPSL), or […]

New Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirements for Small Businesses

1. December 2023 | Starting on January 1, 2024, certain small businesses will be required to disclose information about their beneficial owners to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The new requirements, implemented by the Corporate Transparency Act and related Treasury regulations, are meant to combat money laundering and other illicit activity by making […]

Internal Control in Family Businesses

29. November 2023 | In the development of family businesses, it is important to review the complexities involved, beyond family desires, which can cover the business's own concerns, needs, and interests, which must be based on three important pillars in society, such as family, ownership, and business.

Employer of record in Brazil: Operate in the country without setting up there

28. November 2023 | Companies can become active on the Brazilian market without setting up a business there. This is possible with the concept of the “employer of record” (EOR). Brazilian companies take over the activities of the company wanting to settle there. The Ecovis experts explain exactly how this works and how to create legal certainty.

Transfer pricing brazil: The tectonic shift in Brazil’s tax landscape

18. July 2023 | Brazil’s recent adoption of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) standard transfer pricing rules heralds a transformative shift in the Latin American tax paradigm. Marcum LLP* provides an overview of the new rules, which apply from 1 January 2024. As the ink dries on Law No 14,596, signed on 15 June 2023, Brazil […]

Relevant Criteria Regarding VAT in Mexico

17. July 2023 | Civil compensation is not a form of VAT payment. A few months ago, in March 2023, when resolving the contradiction of criteria 413/2022, the Second Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (List of Communications ((scjn.gob.mx)) ruled that based on the interpretation of articles 1, 1-B, 5, 17, and 18 of the […]

The role of taxes in reducing informality and tax evasion in Peru

17. July 2023 | As we know, constitutionally, taxes are a fundamental tool for the economic and social development of any country, as their main function is to collect public revenues. In the case of Peru, taxes represent an important source of resources for the state; therefore, their conception and management are fundamental pillars to achieve formalization of the […]

Tax return in Honduras: Everything you need to know

23. March 2023 | In Honduras, tax filing is a mandatory process for all individuals and legal entities that generate income. In this article, we will explain everything you need to know to comply with this tax obligation. Who is required to declare taxes in Honduras? All individuals and legal entities that generate income in Honduras are required to […]

SPACs and key considerations for audit and financial reporting

17. March 2023 | Although special purpose acquisition companies or SPACS have been around for decades, the last 3 years have become more popular as they have proven to be a good opportunity for private companies to enter the public market, mainly in the United States.  But what is a SPAC and what kind of audit could help you […]

Canary Islands: The best Tax System in Europe

16. March 2023 | Various motives make the Canaries a destination not to be overlooked. Their constant mild temperatures all year round, astonishing nature, rich history and mixed culture, excellent infrastructures and frequent connections by air and sea to all the main international ports and a large number of international airports within Europe and Africa are only a few […]

The due date is approaching for the “BE-12 Benchmark Survey”: Foreign Direct Investment in the United States

15. March 2023 | All entities subject to the reporting requirements established by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) must file the annual BE-12 survey for benchmarking, which covers all fiscal years ended in 2022, no later than May 31, 2023 if paper filing, and by June 30, 2023 if e-filing. An extension may be available upon request to […]

Modern U.S. Treaties: Taxpayers Must Meet the Limitation on Benefits Articles

16. December 2022 | Generally, tax treaties between two countries provide lower withholding tax rates on income generated by persons of one country in another country. The withholding tax rates provided by a tax treaty may differ on case-by-case basis depending on the parties involved, organization structure, or countries involved. In some cases, analysis of the articles of Limitation […]

An Exception to the Mirror Image

25. October 2022 | Income on One Side of a Debt Transaction Does Not Always Produce Loss on the Other A mirror image is usually reflected in the tax impacts for the two parties to a debt instrument transaction. When the holder recognizes interest income, the issuer can take the interest expense deduction. When the debt is discharged, the […]

Entities holding foreign securities (ETVE) in Spain

22. October 2022 | An opportunity to fiscally optimize the multinationals investments. ETVEs (“entities holding foreign securities”) were created in Spain in 1995 as another way to attract foreign investment, specifically to promote the establishment in Spain of holding entities which, based on the treaties for the avoidance of double international taxation signed by Spain with other countries, made […]

Transformation of payroll management services in Mexico

21. October 2022 | Recent changes in Mexican Labor and Tax Laws, related to the restrictions in engagement of personnel services (outsourcing banning) entitles an important business opportunity for consultancy Firms, since there are a lot of companies currently looking for support in implementation and management of payroll services, under the new labor and tax scenario. Payroll Management must […]

The “Great Resignation” – What do the workers want?

20. October 2022 | I wonder if you might have heard about “The Great Resignation”. This phenomenon apparently has happened because of the pandemic by covid-19 and it is about the massive quitting by workers around the world.  I hope this newsletter might show you what The Great Resignation is, what the experts are saying and what expectations employers […]

M&A transaction with Belgian parent company to an company in Hungary with US subsidiary

19. October 2022 | We were contacted by an in-house attorney of a multi-national company based in Belgium regarding corporate/M&A legal services in the United States. The client provides technology solutions for a variety of applications, including energy storage and testing, automated systems, etc.

The four most relevant pillars for good corporate governance

19. August 2022 | Hand in hand with globalization, the concept of Corporate Governance has been implemented in an accelerated manner, understanding that it is undoubtedly a tool for competitiveness, where the objective is to ensure the proper management and administration of companies, protect the rights of investors and other interest groups, it is not just a set of […]

What is inflation?

18. August 2022 | Inflation and deflation are economics terms used to describe an increase or decrease in the value of money, relative to the amount of goods and services that money can buy. Financially, inflation is the reduction in the value of the purchasing power of a monetary unit, which manifests itself when an individual purchases significantly fewer […]

E-invoicing in Guatemala: Companies must act now

17. August 2022 | From 1 January 2023, companies in Guatemala will only be able to issue e-invoices. This is the only way tax documents may be issued from this date.

Controlling Beneficiaries

13. June 2022 | Validity As of January 1, 2022 Legal Basis Articles 32-B Ter, 32-B Quater and 32-B Quinquies of the Federal Tax Code (CFF) in correlation with rules 2.8.1.20 to 2.8.1.23 of Miscellaneous Tax Resolution 2022 (RMF) and articles 84- M and 84-N of the CFF itself. Who are the controlling beneficiaries? Always is and will be […]

Navigating Foreign Pension Plans

13. June 2022 | Pension plans are a common investment tool for individuals. The reporting requirements for most U.S. pension plans are straightforward; however, foreign pension plans may have additional filing requirements that are not readily apparent. The individual owners of foreign pension plans may be required to file a Form 3520-A (Annual Information Return of Foreign Trust with […]

The Evolution of Management

7. March 2022 | After more than 30 years of experience in accounting and auditing, I have heard countless recurring complaints from people who need to make timely financial decisions. Chief among the complaints, I often hear, “To prepare for a meeting of my Board of Directors, I need to gather my entire team. Preparation for such meetings takes […]

Tax efficient transfer of U.S. real estate to U.S. recipients

7. March 2022 | The U.S. tax system imposes an estate tax on non-U.S. residents who die while owning U.S. assets. An exemption of $60,000 is available to non-U.S. residents to lower the U.S. estate tax base. U.S. estate tax is levied on the value of U.S. situs assets owned by a non-U.S. decedent, less the exemption. The U.S. […]

Relevant aspects of the 2022 miscellaneous tax resolution (RMF) in relation to the simplified trust regime for individuals (RESICO PF)

7. March 2022 | On December 27, 2021, the RMF 2022 was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) which is effective as of January 1, 2022 (except in cases where a different date is indicated). Below are some of the most relevant aspects of the RMF in relation to the applicable rules for the RESICO PF […]

U.S. Tax Reform: International in the cross-hairs 

5. August 2021 | U.S. businesses still interpreting 2017 tax legislation will soon need to respond to Biden Administration proposals to fund ambitious plans to rebuild infrastructure and assist families. In 2017, the U.S. tax base was expanded to include worldwide income through the creation of the Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI) provisions, affecting nearly all U.S. multinationals. As […]

Reform to NGO Law: Guatemala

5. August 2021 | In Guatemala, the legislation on non-profit entities has not been so severe, so the authorities considered it appropriate to start the supervision and control in a strategic way based on good practices, always respecting constitutional rights, as well as the agreements and treaties that Guatemala has ratified, such as the American Convention on Human Rights, […]

The Evolution of Management

5. August 2021 | What I am about to narrate to you is the result of more than thirty years of experience in financial information analysis from the perspective of accounting, auditing, and the constant recurring complaints of people who need to make timely decisions, based on comprehensive information on their companies, some of the comments heard are listed […]

COVID-19 Implications to Business Groups

5. August 2021 | As a result of the COVID 19 health emergency, compliance with the market value principle becomes an important challenge for Business Groups, given the economic impacts that has been generated in most industries around the world during fiscal years 2020-2021 and will continue to have implications in the following years. That said, the need arises […]

COVID-19 Paid Leave Tax Credits – An Update

8. June 2021 | The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “FFCRA”), enacted by Congress on March 18, 2020, required most employers to provide employees with paid leave in certain situations connected with the COVID-19 pandemic (the “FFCRA Mandate”). To offset the cost of this leave, the FFCRA permitted employers to take tax credits for wages and other expenses […]

International Quality Standards for Auditors: Uruguay

8. June 2021 | The International Quality Control Standard 1 (ISQC) deals with the responsibilities that an audit firm has in relation to its quality control system of its assignments, whether they are audits, review of financial statements and other assignments related to granting a reasonable degree of security. This standard applies to all audit firms and professionals who […]

Simplification of Administrative Procedures in Guatemala

8. June 2021 | The proposal or initiative of Law 5766 for the simplification of requirements for administrative procedures that we hope will be published in May 2021 follows the same philosophy that the most advanced economies in the region have implemented in the last decade and mostly in 2020 (1). The aforementioned initiative will be an important step […]

VAT on foreign services rendered

21. October 2020 | Those who provide services from abroad to residents in Colombia, as a general rule, will have the legal obligation to register with the Colombian tax authority as “service providers from abroad”, in addition to passing on and collecting VAT on B2C operations (Business to Consumer). Despite the fact that foreign services rendered from abroad are […]

Audit considerations during Covid-19

19. October 2020 | Recently the IFAC (International Federation of Accountants), International Federation of Accountants in Spanish, issued certain considerations related to the safe audit of financial statements in times of Covid-19. These are situations that matter to the auditors but also to those who are audited. There is unprecedented uncertainty in the economy, which can affect those who […]

Mexico Tax Reform 2021

14. October 2020 | For the Tax Reform of the 2021 fiscal year, the Executive presented on September 8, 2020, to the Congress of the Union, the respective Economic Package, which includes proposals for the fiscal Miscellaneous regarding the Income Tax Law (LISR ), Law of Value Added Tax (LIVA), Law of Special Tax on Production and Services (IEPS) […]

Presidential Elections, Tax Chaos

12. October 2020 | The upcoming U.S. election on November 3 will not only seat a President for the next four years, it will also establish which party controls both houses of the U.S. Congress, and with control, the ability of the President and his administration to set the legislative agenda. Tax provisions proposed by the two candidates will […]

The Pareto Principle

6. August 2020 | Nowadays, time is conceived as a limited resource and, insofar as it is managed efficiently, it can become an investment rather than an expense, resulting in the generation of returns and tangible value.

Audit in a health emergency

6. August 2020 | The worldwide health emergency situ- ation, and particularly in Uruguay, has affect- ed practically all activities. The auditors' work is no exception.

Mitigating the impact of GILTI

5. August 2020 | The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 introduced a new IRC section 951A, which requires a United States Shareholder (U.S. Shareholder) of a Controlled Foreign Corporation (CFC) to include for each tax year, in gross income for U.S. tax purposes, her (or its) pro-rata share of the CFC’s GILTI income (CFC’s gross income after allowed exclusions and deductions).

Digital Tax: Chile

5. August 2020 | Law 21210 of February 24, 2020 in its article 35 A of the new paragraph 7 bis of the Law on Sales and Services Tax establishes that taxpayers not domiciled or residing in Chile that render services taxed according to the new letter n) of Article 8 of the Law on Sales and Service Tax

Modifications to the tax system in Paraguay

21. February 2020 | According to official data, Paraguay has a total population of 6,873,496 inhabitants. From this total, the total Economically Active Population (PEA) is 3,465,976, which corresponds to approximately 50% of the total population. As of December 31, 2019, the total number of taxpayers registered with the Ministry of Finance was 824,179, which represents 24% of the […]

Use of data analysis for auditing

21. February 2020 | It is the beginning of a new year which leads to reflection and goal setting. As auditing professionals, it is important to question performance and how to keep improving in the vocation, which makes us wonder: is our firm inspired, or are we simply in the market to meet accounting, tax and legal regulations?

Market development of the cannabis in Peru

20. February 2020 | It has been three years since the incident which altered the perception and use of Cannabis in Peru. It is important to conduct an analysis of the current situation, both inside and outside of the country, in order to take a direct look at the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes and how society has […]

Foreign Tax Credits and Various Operating Structures

20. February 2020 | For U.S. companies undergoing international expansion, there are a number of important issues to consider prior to commencing operations in a foreign jurisdiction. A principal consideration is the type of foreign entity through which the U.S. company will be conducting its activities in foreign markets, as this could materially affect overall taxation.

Investment projects in the Mexican energy sector

6. June 2019 | The Federal Government has promoted the construction of new infrastructure and the improvement of the existing one in the energy sector, seeking to turn the country into a world-class logistics platform, promoting a balanced regional development, as well as sustainable urban development. Within the electricity sector, it is worth mentioning that plans and schemes are […]

Tax treatment of a non-residential alien

5. June 2019 | Letʼs start by discussing, in general terms, how the U.S. taxes a nonresident alien. A foreign national who has neither a green card nor satisfies the Substantial Presence Test is considered to be a “U.S. nonresident.” As a U.S. nonresident, she is taxed under an entirely separate regime from the one that applies to U.S. […]

New international standards in auditing

4. June 2019 | The main changes to the International Standards on Auditing (ISA) were not superficial, since they include reforms designed to significantly improve audit reports for investors and other users of financial statements (banks, shareholders, customers, suppliers, the government sector, etc.). In the “RULES RELATING TO THE REPORT OR OPINION OF THE CPA” (sections 700 and 800 […]

Digital transformation at a glance

3. June 2019 | Digital transformation is changing entire organizations as it opens the doors for many opportunities. Numerous market forces are driving the need for digital transformation. Many companies have embarked on complex digital transformation journeys, encompassing all aspects of their business to redefine how they operate. Digital transformation is not just about implementing more and better technologies: […]

Panama: a former tax haven

2. June 2019 | On March 13, 2019, after intense analysis and dialogue, the finance ministers from the European Union removed Panama from the list of “tax haven” countries. This means that Panama is no longer categorized under the list of countries labelled “non coopera- tive on tax issues”. In 2017, the European Commission (EC) wrote the first list, […]

Canada: the great white north

1. June 2019 | Canada has been a very attractive country for foreign investment for a long time. There are many reasons for this including, a very stable political system, successive governments that encourage foreign investments, a stable banking system that weathered the financial crisis of 2008 exceptionally well, a skilled and educated work force, among other factors. When […]