With the new year, companies begin a new period of opportunities to continue growing or consolidating their businesses. The first few months also bring with them certain tax, labor, and management obligations that must be complied with to avoid penalties in Guatemala. Below, we share some of these obligations so that you can ensure your organization is complying.

General Assembly

At least once a year, and within the first four months of 2026, an Ordinary General Shareholders' Meeting must be held. In addition to the items that may be agreed upon in the agenda, there are several issues that must be addressed (according to Article 134 of the Guatemalan Code of Commerce):

• Approve or disapprove the profit and loss statement, the balance sheet, and the management report.
• Appoint and remove administrators and determine their emoluments (remunerations).
• Review and decide on the distribution of profits.
• Review and decide on matters specified in the articles of incorporation.

In the case of companies subject to Income Tax (ISR) on profits from lucrative activities, they must file the Annual Income Tax Return (Formulario SAT-1411) before March 31 to avoid penalties and fines. This return confirms the income earned during the previous tax period.[1]

Labor Obligations

All companies in Guatemala are required to file the Annual Employer Report with the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (Mintrab) within the first two months of the year. This document, which is submitted digitally, must include the names, salaries, and occupations of the workers. This allows the public sector to have accurate data that helps create more precise labor strategies and policies. You can complete the process here.

For their part, companies that benefit from Decree 29-89, the law that regulates export and maquila activity, and Decree 65-89, related to free trade zones in the country, must also submit their Worker Payroll digitally.

Additionally, companies qualified under Decree 29-89 must submit the Statistical Report and Annual Affidavit before February 26, 2026, at the following link. This is a mandatory procedure to maintain the benefits of this regime.

Remember that a new minimum wage came into effect on January 1, 2026, which is also mandatory. You can find the current amounts here.

Municipal Tax Ticket

Although the Constitutional Court (CC) issued rulings in 2021 and 2022 that limited the requirement for the Municipal Tax Ticket for carrying out certain procedures, payment of this tax remains mandatory. In the case of employers, they are required to verify and prove that all their workers have paid the amount corresponding to their income.[2]

The company may withhold the payment of the tax from its employees and then transfer the money to the corresponding municipality within 15 days of the withholding. If an employee pays the tax on their own, they must share the receipt to their employer. This is important because, in the event of an inspection, failure to justify the correct payment of this tax for all employees could result in fines for the company.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact us.