Puerto Rico (PR)
Puerto Rico is a self-governing US Commonwealth (Estado Libre Asociado) in the northeastern Caribbean, offering a unique blend of vibrant Latin culture, US legal framework, and tropical island living.
Capital: San Juan
Region: Americas
Language: Spanish
Currency: USD ($)
Cost of living: Moderate (index 65)
Emergency: 911
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Professional Services
Finding lawyers, accountants, doctors and other professionals in Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico's professional services sector is concentrated in San Juan (particularly the Hato Rey financial district). Personal referrals within the Act 60 and expat community are the most reliable way to find qualified advisers. Always verify professional licences: attorneys through capr.org, CPAs through cpapr.org, real estate agents through estado.pr.gov, and financial advisers through FINRA BrokerCheck. Beware of unqualified "consultants" in the Act 60 space — the combination of complex US/PR tax law and high financial stakes requires properly credentialled professionals. For Act 60 compliance specifically, budget $10,000–25,000/year in professional fees for attorney, CPA, and DDEC reporting once established.
Language options: Professional services in Puerto Rico's private sector are broadly bilingual (Spanish/English), particularly at the Big 4 accounting firms, US law firm branches, and major financial advisers. Most professionals serving the Act 60 and expat community are fully English-speaking. Government-facing professionals (Hacienda, DTOP, DACO) typically work in Spanish but many have English capacity. Always confirm language preference when making first contact. For complex legal and tax matters, working in English with a bilingual adviser minimises miscommunication risk.
Attorney / Legal Services (Abogado)
$200–450/hour for senior attorneys. Flat-fee: business formation $1,500–3,000, simple closing $1,000–2,000. Act 60 application preparation: $3,000–8,000 depending on complexity. Immigration petitions: $3,000–15,000+ depending on visa type. How to find: Search the Puerto Rico Bar Association directory at capr.org (Colegio de Abogados y Abogadas de Puerto Rico). Martindale-Hubbell and Avvo list PR attorneys with peer ratings. Ask in Act 60 expat Facebook groups for personal referrals — the most reliable method. Law firms: McConnell Valdés, DLA Piper PR, Pietrantoni Méndez & Álvarez are leading firms. For Act 60 specifically: firms like Ferraiuoli LLC and McConnell Valdés have dedicated incentives practices.
Colegio de Abogados y Abogadas de Puerto Rico (capr.org)Puerto Rico Bar Association
💡 Verify Bar membership before retaining any attorney. For Act 60 matters, use only attorneys with specific Act 60 experience — this is highly specialised. Confirm whether the attorney is also a US-licensed attorney if you need cross-border advice.
CPA / Tax Accountant (Contador Público Autorizado)
$300–800 for individual PR tax return (Form 482) preparation. Corporate tax return: $1,500–5,000+. Act 60 annual compliance report: $3,000–10,000/year. Big 4 hourly rates: $250–500/hour for senior staff. How to find: Puerto Rico CPA Society (cpapr.org) maintains a directory of licensed CPAs. For Act 60 tax matters, the Big 4 all have PR offices: PwC (787-772-7700), Deloitte (787-759-8000), EY (787-759-8800), KPMG (787-622-4000). Mid-tier: BDO Puerto Rico. For individual PR tax returns (Form 482), local CPA firms specialising in Hacienda filings are more cost-effective than Big 4.
Puerto Rico Society of Certified Public Accountants (cpapr.org)
💡 Puerto Rico has a completely separate tax system from the US federal system — do not use a mainland CPA unfamiliar with Hacienda (PR Treasury). You likely need both a PR CPA (for Form 482/Hacienda) and awareness of US IRS obligations (Form 1040/IRC §933). Many PR CPAs are dual-qualified.
Act 60 Relocation Consultant
$2,000–8,000 for a full Act 60 relocation package (DDEC application filing, bona fide residency checklist setup, document preparation). Annual compliance maintenance: $1,500–5,000/year. CPA required separately for tax returns. How to find: Ask in Act 60 expat Facebook groups for referrals — personal recommendations are most reliable. Companies: Puerto Rico Incentives (puertoricoincentives.com), Act Now Advisory, and several boutique consultancies. Always verify credentials — the field has many unqualified practitioners. Look for consultants with verifiable DDEC experience and references from established decree holders.
💡 Act 60 relocation consultants are not attorneys or CPAs — their role is in application coordination, not legal or tax advice. You need an attorney for the decree application and a CPA for tax compliance. Be wary of promises of guaranteed approval or inflated cost savings projections.
Real Estate Agent (Corredor de Bienes Raíces)
Buyer pays no agent commission in PR. Seller pays 4–6% of sale price. Property management: 8–12% of monthly rent for long-term rentals. How to find: Puerto Rico Real Estate Brokers Board (Junta de Corredores de Bienes Raíces de Puerto Rico) licenses all agents — verify licence at estado.pr.gov. Major agencies: Coldwell Banker Puerto Rico, Century 21 Puerto Rico, RE/MAX Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico Sotheby's Realty (luxury). Zillow and Realtor.com list PR agents. For Act 60-oriented properties in Condado and Dorado, use agents with expat-focused specialisation.
Asociación de Corredores y Agentes de Bienes Raíces de Puerto Rico (ACAPR)
💡 Request a licensed Corredor (broker) for legal closing transactions. Agents (Agentes) must work under a licensed broker. Title insurance is strongly recommended — engage a title company (e.g., First American Title Puerto Rico) early in the process.
Financial Adviser / Wealth Manager
AUM fees: 0.5–1.5% annually on managed assets. Hourly financial planning: $200–400/hour. Act 60 investment structuring consultation: $1,500–5,000 initial engagement. How to find: FINRA BrokerCheck (brokercheck.finra.org) verifies registered investment advisers and brokers operating in PR. SEC-registered RIAs providing investment advice: search at adviserinfo.sec.gov. Local options: Oriental Financial, EuroAmerica Financial Corp, Raymond James PR. For Act 60 Chapter 2 (Individual Investors) specific planning: advisers who understand the 0% capital gains strategy and Roth IRA conversion opportunities are essential.
FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority)CFP Board (Certified Financial Planner)
💡 Verify FINRA registration and any disciplinary history via BrokerCheck before engaging. For Act 60 Chapter 2, the adviser must understand both PR tax law (via a PR CPA partner) and US investment law — rare combination, so ask explicitly about their experience with Act 60 bona fide residency investment structures.
Shipping / Freight / Customs Broker
US mainland 20-foot container: $1,500–3,500 depending on origin port and season. International 20-foot container: $3,000–8,000+ including customs clearance. US Customs broker fee for international: $200–500 per shipment. How to find: Major container lines serving Puerto Rico: Crowley Maritime (crowley.com), TOTE Maritime (totemaritime.com), Ocean Network Express. For household goods from US mainland: PODS and 1-800-PACK-RAT deliver to PR. For international shipments: use a licensed US Customs broker (find at ncbfaa.org). Many Act 60 relocation consultants have shipping partnerships.
💡 Household goods from the US mainland to PR are not subject to customs duties (same domestic market). International household goods are subject to US Customs duties — use a licensed customs broker and provide a detailed inventory. Puerto Rico follows the Jones Act — all shipments between US mainland ports and PR must use US-flagged vessels, which affects pricing and transit times.
Professional Services
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