The head of the national tax office (AFIP), Ricardo Echegaray, today announced new measures to ensure travelling Argentines pay the appropriate taxes on goods purchased abroad.
In a radio interview, Echegaray said that from today, AFIP will cross-check the goods declared by travellers returning to Argentina with their credit and debit card statements.
“Any merchandise coming through customs needs to be declared. If it is not, we will cross-check the data and send a note requesting that the person pay the corresponding tax,” explained Echegaray.
Anyone returning from an international trip must make a customs declaration if the value of the goods brought back from abroad exceeds US$300. If the trip was taken within the Mercosur region, the threshold falls to US$150. A 50% tax is charged on all goods whose value exceeds these limits.
“Now we have more sophisticated information that allows us to check detailed consumer records,” said Echegaray. “With their tax situation in order, Argentines can take holidays, buy things and go to events anywhere they want in the world. We live in a democracy.”
Echegaray’s announcements came on the same day as the government confirmed in its official bulletin a new 15% tax advance on all overseas spending with a debit or credit card. The charge will be applied at the moment of purchase and then can be deducted from the individual’s tax obligations.
The head of the tax office defended the measure, saying that “it is not a new tax, but an advance on taxes that already exist.”
“Those who pay their taxes correctly will understand that it has a neutral impact,” added Echegaray.
According to AFIP data, Argentines spent $7.4bn with credit cards abroad in the 18 month period between January 2011 and June 2012.
Well, when she, supposedly, bought the shoes, these laws weren’t in place. And the tax goes towards your Ganandxias Tax, or your Bienes Tax, and is not an additional tax if you don’t qualify to pay those taxes. Although proving such and actually getting reimbursed might not be a walk in the park, to say the least. And now they have announced that at la aduana, they will be checking that you haven’t used your credit card and not declared the purchaces. Oh boy! What fun!
Tina, yes, if you pay cash, it’s not a problem. This law came about after the dollar controls led to many people just using their local credit cards abroad and paying for them in pesos at the official rate, thus aboiding e necessity to actually exchange money. So now that loophole is gone, althoug the 15% is still less than paying 2 pesos more oer dollar in the parallel market.