Country：阿根廷 · Banking & Capital
Argentina · Banking & Capital
Argentina substantially relaxed foreign-exchange controls from April 2025, but they are not fully liberalized: profit repatriation, dividend distribution, and import payments remain subject to the foreign-exchange rules in force at the time. Companies must first obtain the CUIT tax number from AFIP before opening an account. Fund flows must coordinate tax, customs, and foreign-exchange rules.
Key points
- Foreign-exchange controls substantially relaxed from April 2025 but not fully liberalized.
- Profit repatriation, dividend distribution, and import payments must comply with the BCRA foreign-exchange rules in force.
- Companies must obtain the CUIT tax number before opening an account.
- RIGI companies enjoy a foreign-exchange exemption schedule (ordinary projects gradually exempted from collection obligations from year 2).
- Under inflation, exchange-rate and cash-flow planning need attention.
Procedure
- Obtain the CUIT tax number.
- Prepare KYC and beneficial owner documents.
- Schedule a bank account opening appointment (local entity guarantee required).
- Plan cross-border funds (coordinating tax, customs, and foreign-exchange rules).
Hard requirements
- CUIT tax number; KYC/UBO; a local entity (most banks require).
Costs
Account maintenance fees; foreign-exchange transaction costs.⏱ ⏱ Timeline：Account opening takes several weeks (depending on bank compliance).⚠ Common risks
- Foreign-exchange rule changes may affect profit repatriation.
- Local-currency depreciation and cash-flow risks under high inflation.
- Bank compliance inquiries may delay cross-border payments.
Handbook
📘 Step-by-Step Handbook (with owner / timeline / cost / penalties)
Applies to：Opening a corporate account for an Argentine local entity, cross-border fund receipt/payment, and foreign-exchange compliance.
Prerequisites
- The company completed IGJ registration and obtained CUIT (prerequisite for account opening).
- Beneficial owner (UBO) look-through information and funding-source proof prepared.
- The legal representative's local residence or authorization is clear, with business substance evidence.
| Step | Action | Owner | Timeline | Cost | Official form / system | Notes & penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Obtain the CUIT tax number (prerequisite). The company must obtain CUIT before opening an account; CUIT is the core identifier for bank KYC. | ARCA | 24 hours to 15 working days | Low government fees | ARCA CUIT tax registration | Penalty：Banks refuse accounts directly without CUIT. |
| 2 | Prepare KYC and beneficial owner (UBO) documents. Provide the registration certificate, articles, shareholder look-through, controllers, business contracts, and funding-source explanations. | Company/Compliance | 1–2 weeks | Mostly internal cost | Bank KYC questionnaire, UBO declaration | Penalty：Incomplete information causes rejection or delays. |
| 3 | Schedule and submit the account opening application. Most banks require the local entity and legal representative to appear in person or by video; prefer banks friendly to SMEs and Chinese capital. | Bank | Several weeks | Account maintenance fees (per bank) | Account opening application | Penalty：Shell companies or those without real business are refused. |
| 4 | Inject registered capital and activate the account. Transfer verification or capital from the provisional account to the final corporate account, activating receipt/payment functions. | Company/Bank | 1–2 weeks | Transfer handling fees | Provisional-to-final account conversion | Penalty：Capital not in place affects operations. |
| 5 | Plan cross-border funds (tax, customs, and foreign-exchange coordination). Arrange inflows/outflows under the relaxed rules effective April 2025; profits distributable to non-resident shareholders from FY2025; new investments repatriable without pre-review after 6 months. | Finance or advisor | Ongoing | Advisor or transaction costs | BCRA MLC declaration | Penalty：Violating BCRA declarations is penalized. |
| 6 | Maintain account compliance and filings. A 0.6% transaction tax applies to each bank debit and credit; electronic invoices obtain CAE in real time; report suspicious transactions promptly. | Finance | Ongoing | Transaction tax or filing costs | Monthly transaction tax filing, electronic invoice CAE | Penalty：Late filings or abnormal transactions lead to freezes. |
✅ Self-check list
⚠ Common pitfalls
Applying for an account without CUIT影响：Banks refuse directly规避：Obtain ARCA CUIT first
Shell companies refused影响：Cannot receive/pay, business paralyzed规避：Prepare business substance materials and choose friendly banks/EMIs
Assuming full foreign-exchange controls remain影响：Profits trapped规避：Since April 2025 the rules opened in three phases; handle per the new rules
Unclear UBO/funding sources影响：AML rejection or freeze规避：Look through controllers truthfully and prepare funding-source proof
Ignoring the account transaction tax (0.6%) and high inflation影响：Cash-flow and tax burden deviations规避：Include in cash-flow planning and file monthly
Large outflows not compliantly declared影响：BCRA penalties规避：Note the USD 100,000 threshold (partially exempt from pre-review from June 2025, but keep declaration evidence)
📅 Ongoing post-incorporation obligations
- Keep the account active with a minimum balance
- Monthly debit/credit transaction tax filing and payment
- Electronic invoice CAE compliance
- Cross-border transactions must be declared per the Central Bank of Argentina (BCRA) rules
- Update beneficial owner (UBO) and KYC information with the bank when changes occur
🔗 Official portals
📎 Source：Central Bank of Argentina (BCRA); Kreston 2025 Investment Climate
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