EN · 11 articles
Compliance
Tax and legal compliance for expats and Panamanian companies.
- Accounting Records Panama 2026: the annual obligation 80% of SAs ignoreOn May 19, 2026, Kraemer & Kraemer sends us 3 forms: Accounting Records Form, Financial Statement Form, Dormancy Declaration. None of these names appear in English-language expat guides. An obligation separate from DGI Renta, filed with the Resident Agent, with sanctions up to USD 5,000 + forced dissolution.11 min
- Choosing a CCPAP-registered Panamanian contador: 7 criteria and red flags (2026)When you set up an SA in Panama, attention naturally goes to the law firm — because it carries the legal liability. The contador often stays in the background. That's a mistake. A bad contador can cost you far more than a bad lawyer. Here are the 7 selection criteria and our red flags.4 min
- Dormant vs active SA Panama: the 4 criteria that flip the status (2026)If your Panamanian SA is qualified dormant for the year, you sign a single simple form. If it's active, two separate documents. Many foreign founders think their SA is dormant when technically it isn't. Here are the 4 criteria that flip the qualification in practice.5 min
- Hiring in Panama in 2026: Código de Trabajo, Caja, MITRADEL, real salariesPanamanian labor law protects the employee — far more than you think. Your first hire through an SA: presumption of an employment contract, hierarchy of norms, the 10% foreigner quota, 25-30% social charges, and the termination trap that can cost you 6-12 months of salary if the procedure is botched.8 min
- Panama Private Interest Foundation: wealth structure, home-country tax, alternativesThe world's unique wealth vehicle — Law 25 of 1995, inspired by Liechtenstein foundations. Who it's really useful for (wealth > USD 500k, international transmission), who it's dangerous for (US foreign-trust reporting, UK TOAA), and the credible alternatives. A PREMIUM document — not for someone just starting out.8 min
- Selling or dissolving your Panamanian SA in 2026: the 3 exit routes comparedA Panamanian SA does not disappear on its own. As long as it is registered at the Public Registry it keeps accruing tax obligations and can be pursued. Here are the 3 active exit routes — share sale, voluntary dissolution, abandonment — with their costs, timelines, and consequences for your visa.8 min
- Tasa única Panama 2026: who pays, how much, when (complete guide)If you've just incorporated an SA in Panama, the first recurring expense on your Resident Agent's invoice has a strange name: Tasa única. Not an income tax, not a social contribution. It's simply the right to keep your SA active in the Panamanian public registry. Here's who pays, how much, when, and the concrete sanctions.3 min
- Friendly Nations Visa Panama: the dormant SA in 2026, real costs and obligationsYou want the Friendly Nations visa via an SA but without running a real business. It is legal to keep the SA "dormant" — but there is a vital minimum of compliance to maintain, otherwise the visa falls.9 min
- Finding a contador in Panama: the expat guide for 2026Your Panamanian lawyer told you 'you need a contador' with no further detail. Here's the exact framework: how much it costs, where to find one, how to avoid scams.8 min
- Leaving your home tax residency for Panama: the 18-month plan (2026)You're thinking of moving to Panama but you're not sure whether you'll really be treated as a non-resident for tax. Here's the US reality (citizenship-based taxation), the UK Statutory Residence Test, the exit tax, foreign-account reporting, and the 18-month timeline to leave cleanly without getting reassessed in 3 years.10 min
- Panama Accounting Records 2025-2026: the annual compliance obligation 80% of foreign-owned corporations missWhat Law 52 of 2016 and Law 254 of 2021 actually require from your Panama corporation — and how to avoid a USD 1,000 to 5,000 fine for one misunderstood form. Field experience from the May 2026 filing of LAS FUNDADORAS HERMANAS S.A. through Kraemer & Kraemer.10 min