Six years on, DDEC launches Certified Professional Program

By THE STAR STAFF

Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC by its acronym in Spanish) Secretary Sebastián Negrón Reichard announced Wednesday the implementation of the Certified Professional Program, a mechanism established under the Incentives Code (Act 60-2019) that had not been activated until now.

Joining Negrón Reichard at the announcement was Ernesto J. Zayas García, director of the DDEC’s Office of Business Incentives.

The new program will allow licensed professionals to issue pre-eligibility certifications for standardized tax exemption applications, reducing processing times and improving efficiency for applicants.

“Since Act 60 took effect in 2019, this essential resource remained inactive. Today, we fulfill that pending task with a modern structure that empowers licensed professionals to certify eligibility quickly,” Negrón Reichard said. “This step is key to simplifying processes, cutting bureaucracy, and making Puerto Rico a more competitive destination for investment.”

Under the program, certified professionals will be authorized to issue pre-eligibility certificates for applications that do not require discretion or negotiation by the DDEC, potentially cutting up to two weeks from administrative processing. In later phases, they will also conduct compliance certifications and audits, leveraging their professional licenses.

Zayas García emphasized that the Certified Professional Registry (RPC by its initials in Spanish) was developed in coordination with the General Services Administration (ASG) and modeled after successful systems such as the Single Bidder Registry (RUL) and Single Supplier Registry (RUP).

“This marks a structural transformation in how incentives are processed,” he said. “Attorneys, certified public accountants, and licensed agronomists will become DDEC partners in validating information and certifying eligibility and compliance. This accelerates processes, increases regulatory certainty, and provides businesses with a more agile mechanism.”

Registration and requirements

Registration is now open through the DDEC Incentives Portal (http://incentives.ddec.pr.gov). Applicants must log into their online profile and request enrollment in the RPC following instructions in administrative memo DDEC 2025-015.

To qualify as a certified professional, candidates must hold a valid license as an attorney admitted by Puerto Rico’s Supreme Court, a CPA license, or an agronomist license (for bona fide agricultural tax incentives).

The rollout has four phases:

Phase 1: Online platform launch on Oct. 1, 2025.

Phase 2: Training sessions for candidates on Dec. 11, 2025, in partnership with the Puerto Rico CPA Society.

Phase 3: Starting Jan. 1, 2026, certified professionals may submit pre-eligibility certificates for standardized cases.

Phase 4: Beginning March 1, 2026, certified professionals will be authorized to conduct compliance evaluations and audit files.

ASG Administrator Karla Mercado Rivera praised the initiative, noting that the integration of the new platform with ASG’s Single Registry represents significant savings for the government and optimizes resources.

Tax credit validation guidelines published

In parallel, the Office of Incentives finalized another structural project addressing a longstanding regulatory gap: publishing Guidelines for Agreed-Upon Procedures Reports required from CPAs to validate tax credits for tourism developments and priority projects in opportunity zones. The guidelines standardize reporting, ensure compliance with Act 60, and strengthen accountability.

CPA David Rodríguez Ortiz, president of the Puerto Rico CPA Society, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment.

“Our members bring expertise that will greatly benefit these training sessions and the successful implementation of the Certified Professional Registry,” he said.