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Argentina VAT on digital services update

Ending of Withholding VAT requirements for electronic payments 1st Sept 2025

The requirement for payment providers to withhold the VAT element on electronic payments for foreign digital services will end on 1 September 2024. This was confirmed last week in a Ministry of the Economy publication.

Jan 2023 Argentina simplified e-commerce platform VAT and Withholding Tax April 2023

Argentina (General Resolution No. 5319/2023) is to introduce a range of simplifications to the VAT regime for digital platforms for e-commerce. This will enable easier compliance of VAT and Withholding Tax.

The changes include:

  • Raising the VAT registration threshold to:
    • 120 transactions per annum; and/or
    • ARS 200,000 per annum (approx. USD 1,100)
  • New definitions of digital platforms to clarify who is liable to VAT or Withholding Tax
  • Appointment of fiscal collection agents for Withholding Tax for platforms – there are now 20
  • New compliance procedures (returns and deadlines) for Withholding Tax agents
  • Confirmation of withholding VAT rates (see below)

Argentine VAT and Withholding Tax rules since 2018

Argentina brought non-resident providers of digital (or electronic) services into its Value Added Tax net in June 2018. Rather than imposing the obligation to VAT register and collect taxes, it has applied a withholding VAT requirement on payment providers processing consumer payments to overseas providers. They become the payment withholding agent based on list of foreign digital service providers. This means there is effectively no VAT registration threshold.

Check our global VAT and GST on digital services tracker to see which other countries have introduced indirect taxes on electronic services to consumers.

Argentina levies VAT, or Impuesto al valor agregado (IVA), at 21%. Services provided to Argentinian businesses with a VAT registration are subject to the reverse charge. This makes the customer responsible for the VAT.

Which electronic services subject to VAT?

Argentina includes a standard listing of digital services subject to VAT, including:

  • Apps
  • Website provision and hosting
  • Streaming and download media
  • Digital advertising services
  • Cloud software or data storage
  • Access to digital images
  • Online gaming
  • Gambling sites
  • e-learning

Withholding VAT

Payment providers (banks, credit card merchants, e-wallet and similar) have become responsible for defining eligible transactions. They must withhold VAT at the full standard rate, currently 21%. The list of digital service providers is controlled by the tax office, AFIP. Providers are liable to remit, on a monthly basis, any VAT collected via the SICORE payments system.

The latest calculations are as follows:

  • 1% if the provider or seller if VAT registered
  • 3% rising to 7% for VAT-registered providers or sellers with poor compliance record
  • 7% for sellers or providers who are registered under the simplified procedure but then exceed the threshold.
  • 8% for all other sellers or providers.

Calculate or verify Argentine withholding VAT or any global GST calculations on individual or batch transactions with our Advisor and Auditor services.

Central and South America VAT on digital services

Comments (click for details) Rate Date Threshold Comments
Argentina 21% Apr 2018
Aruba 4% Jan 2023 -
Bahamas 10% Jan 2015 BSD 100,000
Barbados 17.5% Dec 2019 BBD 200,000
Bolivia 13% Nov 2022 -
Brazil 26.5% Jan 2026 n/a Regulations in parliament
Chile 19% Jun 2020 Nil
Colombia 19% Jan-18 Nil
Costa Rica 13% Oct 2020 Nil Withholding VAT option
Curaçao 6% 2020 Nil
Dominican Republic 18% 2025 Nil Currently withholding VAT
Ecuador 12% Sep 2020
El Salvador 13% 2022 - Replace Withholding VAT
Guatemala 12% TBC
Honduras 15% 2022 HNL 250,000
Panama 10% 2022 Withholding VAT
Paraguay 10% Jan-21 Nil Withholding VAT; 4.5% DST
Peru 18% 2024 Nil Withholding VAT
Puerto Rico 10.5% Jan 2020 $100,000; or 200 transactions Marketplaces
Suriname 10% Jan 2023 SRD 500,000
Uruguay 22% Jan 2018 Nil VAT and Withholding Tax

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