VAT Number Format In Guatemala

Guatemalan VAT number contains seven digits, one dash, and one digit (e.g., 0123456-1).

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VAT Rates In Guatemala

The standard VAT rate in Guatemala is 12%, with a reduced rate of 5% for small businesses. Some goods and services are exempt from Guatemalan VAT, such as existential food supplies and education.

• 12% (Standard) – general regime – Applies to all taxable supplies, with certain exceptions
• 0% (Zero) – exportations

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VAT Payments And Returns In Guatemala

All businesses with Guatemalan VAT number must submit periodic VAT reports.

VAT Returns Frequency In Guatemala

For all companies that operate in Guatemala, VAT returns must be submitted monthly.

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Penalties in case of late filings or misdeclarations

In the case of the late filing of VAT returns and payments, the Guatemalan government prescribed the penalties as follows:

• Omission or alteration of the Tax Identification Number (NIT) will trigger a fine of Q.100 (EUR 12) for each document. The maximum of sanction may not exceed Q.1,000 (EUR 120) per month.
• Non-submission and late submission of tax statement will trigger a fine of Q.30 (EUR 4) for each day of delay with a maximum sanction of:

• Q.600 (EUR 72) when the statement must be submitted weekly or monthly
• Q.1,500.00 (EUR 180) when the statement must be submitted quarterly
• Q.3,000.00 (EUR 360) when the statement must be submitted annually.

• Non-compliance with accounting obligations will trigger a fine of Q.5,000 (EUR 600) each time the taxpayer is inspected.
• Non-compliance with taxation regulations (offer the goods and services without including the corresponding tax) will trigger a penalty of Q.2,000 (EUR 240) each time authorities notice the infraction.

According to articles 29 and 30 of government agreement 5-2013, special invoices, small taxpayer invoices, debit and credit notes issued in Guatemala must have at least the following information:

• must have an identification “Invoice.”
• a unique, sequential number of the invoice
• date of invoice issuance
• supplier/issuer data (company name, address, tax identification number – TIN)
• if a business is “panaderia los patitos,” the full name registered in SAT must be displayed on the invoice
• customer data (address, TIN, and other data if available) if the customer is a business person
• full description of goods and services provided
• any discounts if applicable
• rate and amount of VAT applicable for the category of goods and services provided
• the invoice total (incl. VAT)
• authorization issued by SAT
• authorization number and date of issuance of authorization
• term of validity
• the name and tax identification number of the printing company in charge of printing invoices (must be registered)
• statement message in case of special supplying or tax regimes (general or simplified)

Penalties In Case Of Invoicing Non-Compliance

Failure to issue an invoice will trigger a fine equivalent to the amount of the tax corresponding to the transaction.

As of 2019, all business entities and economic operators in Guatemala are obliged to comply with mandatory e-invoicing in Guatemala.

Governmental body responsible for e-invoicing in Guatemala:

• ‍Superintendencia de Administración Tributaria (SAT)
  

Four subjects are taking part in the Guatemalan e-invoicing model:

1. Seller – an entity issuing the invoice.
2. Certifier (Certificator) – an entity authorized by the SAT to certify e-invoices issued by the seller/issuer.
3. Superintendencia de Administración Tributaria (SAT) – verifies and validates electronic invoices.
4. Buyer – an entity or individual receiving the invoice.

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What does the e-invoicing process in Guatemala look like?

1. The selling party generates an XML document with all required information to issue an electronic invoice and sends it to the certifier (Certificator)
2. The certifier receives, validates, and authorizes the invoice and automatically sends a certified XML message to the SAT
3. The SAT validates the electronic invoice and makes it available for the seller
4. The seller receives the invoice from the certifier and delivers it to the buyer in a printed or electronic form, following Guatemalan invoicing rules, i.e. including all mandatory information on the invoice.

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Date updated [May 12, 2021]

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