The Costa Rican Ministry of Finance has officially transitioned all national tax collection to its new digital system. As of October 6, taxpayers must use the Tribu-CR platform for every tax payment, a move that centralizes government revenue operations. This shift permanently disables the previous payment channels through various bank websites and mobile apps.
Authorities designed the change to streamline the payment process for individuals and businesses across the country. The platform allows users to generate the exact amount owed and complete their payment instantly from any location. This mandatory migration to a single digital portal represents a significant step in the government’s broader strategy to modernize its financial infrastructure and increase efficiency.
Official Announcement and New Procedures
The new directive, issued by the Ministry of Finance, took effect after the department disabled older digital payment channels on September 30. The old system, which operated through Online Banking and mobile banking platforms at all national banks, is now inactive for tax purposes. All taxpayers must now navigate to the Virtual Office section on the official ministry website to access Tribu-CR.
“We want to remind everyone that, since last October 6, the Ministry of Finance enabled the Tribu-CR tool for tax payments,” [Translated from Spanish] the ministry’s announcement stated. The release emphasized that every tax payment must now be managed directly through this new platform.
Officials highlight the convenience and security of the new system. The primary payment method integrated into Tribu-CR is a Real-Time Debit system. This feature instantly withdraws funds from a taxpayer’s bank account, finalizing the transaction without requiring a visit to a physical bank branch.
Handling Exceptions and Physical Payments
The ministry’s guidelines also cover scenarios where a digital payment is not possible. Even taxpayers who need to pay in person at a bank branch must first use the Tribu-CR platform. They are required to generate the payment voucher online before visiting any teller. This procedure ensures that every transaction, regardless of its final submission method, is first registered in the central system.
Upon arriving at a bank, individuals need only present their national identification card to complete a payment that was pre-processed online. This hybrid approach aims to maintain service for those with limited internet access while still feeding all data into the new centralized database. The policy ensures a uniform record-keeping standard for the nation’s tax revenue.
This consolidation of payment channels is expected to reduce administrative errors and improve the speed of revenue processing for the government. The move to a dedicated platform, separate from general Online Banking services, gives the Ministry of Finance direct oversight and control over the entire collection lifecycle. The change affects millions of taxpayers and businesses throughout Costa Rica.