Taxation in Peru
The income tax in Peru is collected by the Superintendencia Nacional de Administración Tributaria, best known as SUNAT. This country uses a system of progressive taxation on personal income, and a flat rate tax on business income.
Peru's government agency involved in taxation issues mainly about Income tax, Added Value Tax and collecting Social Security funds. Standard VAT rate in Peru is 18%.
The following transactions are subject to VAT at an 18% rate:
- Sales of moveable goods made within Peru. - Services rendered within Peru. - Services rendered abroad but economically used within Peru by a domiciled user. - Importation of goods. - Construction agreements.
The first sale of real estate made by construction firms. In all transactions the vendor is subject to VAT, except for the case of importation of goods and services rendered abroad but economically used within Peru, for which VAT is self-assessed by the importers and users, respectively.
The VAT Law follows a debit / credit system, and input VAT may be offset by output VAT. Should excess input VAT be obtained in a particular month, it shall be offset by output VAT obtained during the following months until it is exhausted. Cash refunds of excess input VAT may only be made if it is not possible to offset the excess input VAT related to the exportation of goods and services, as explained below, but not to domestic transactions.
Taxable transactions – VAT is levied on the sale of goods, the provision and use of services, the first sale of real estate by a contractor and imports.
Registration – Taxpayers are required to keep accounting books (such as purchase and sales ledger).
Filing and VAT payment – VAT returns must be filed on a monthly basis.