The mandatory stamp tax on contracts and other private documents, which existed in Costa Rica in the Tax Code since 1885, was eliminated with Law # 10586 published today in the official bulletin “La Gaceta”. Since the amount of the tax was a percentage of the value of the contract, it could become very onerous; also, a contract could become unenforceable in court for the lack of this tax, which generated intense legal debate. The elimination of this stamp and other obsolete and inefficient taxes with Law # 10586 is a step in the right direction.