Looking to save on taxes while simultaneously enjoying the gorgeous, year-round summer of a Caribbean island paradise? You’re in luck—Puerto Rico is just the place for you. This U.S. territory offers numerous lucrative tax incentives to U.S. citizens and residents as long as you meet the requirements, such as becoming a bona fide resident of Puerto Rico. Thousands of Americans have already made the move to a better life in Puerto Rico.
Getting set up in Puerto Rico can be a challenge, and newcomers to the island must undertake a number of processes upon landing. Among the most urgent are getting electricity, water, and Internet set up at your new Puerto Rico abode, which can be complicated and time-consuming, especially if you don’t speak Spanish. It’s not hard per se, but it does require a lot of documentation.
Getting Electricity Set Up
Make sure you have alternative accommodations ready when you land in Puerto Rico because you can’t get electricity set up immediately. You’ll have to go to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) office in person with the many required documents to secure electrical installation. From there, the process typically takes around five to seven business days. Look up what information you’ll need to present, since it varies depending on whether you own or rent the place and whether you’re setting up a new electrical service or contracting service for an existing property.
Regardless of your circumstances, you have to provide certain information: your full name, marital status, Social Security number, driver’s license or passport, employment details, and work and residential phone numbers. You may also have to provide your rental contract or deed of property, depending on whether you own or are renting the place. If you’re setting up a new electrical service, PREPA will also require the address, a down payment, and additional information.
If you’re running a business in Puerto Rico under the Act 60 Export Services tax incentive, you’ll also need to set up electricity at your commercial property. This requires more documentation than in residential cases, but the exact requirements depend on the type of business. You’ll certainly have to provide the company’s name or the full name of its owner, and other documents might include a Certification of Electrical Installation, a use permit, and a down payment, depending on whether you’re contracting a new electrical service.
Getting Water Set Up
Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados de Puerto Rico (AAA) is the island’s water service provider. Like with electricity installation, it can take a while to get water set up—seven to 14 days. You can initiate the process via an in-person visit or email, but the agency may take up to three days to respond to emails, delaying the process.
AAA requires various information to set up water services at your new Puerto Rico home, including your full name, Social Security number, ID card or driver’s license, and physical and postal addresses. You may also need to present a Plumbers Certification if you’re getting services for a new property or one that’s been out of service for at least a year. A down payment is also required, as well as your rental contract or deed of property, as applicable.
Getting Internet Service Set Up
It’s hard to thrive in the modern world without Internet service, especially when you’re moving and want to keep in touch with people in your previous city. Puerto Rico is rife with Internet service providers, but your selection depends on where your home is located—more remote parts of Puerto Rico may only have access to a single Internet service provider. However, areas popular among Act 60 decree holders, such as San Juan, Bayamón, and Dorado, generally offer a wide selection of companies to secure Internet services from.
The documentation you need to provide depends on where your home is, which company you choose, and the type of Internet service you contract, but you’ll generally need to provide your full name, Social Security number, and physical and postal addresses, as well as your rental contract and a down payment or installation fee, if applicable.
Getting these essential services set up in Puerto Rico isn’t difficult, but it can be complicated, and in particular, newcomers who don’t speak Spanish can run into challenges. It can be worth it to invest in PRelocate’s New Puerto Rico Resident Package, which offers a welcome orientation and info to help you thrive in your new Puerto Rican life, as well as assistance setting up residential and personal services like electricity, water, and Internet.