Services · Company formation
How to open a company and business in Argentina
Less than a million pesos of capital and 72 hours to register - that is the SAS in 2026. The price is corporate tax of up to 35% and currency controls for companies. We break down the S.A., S.R.L. and SAS, director rules, fees, taxes and bank accounts.
Is it worth opening a company in Argentina
Argentina takes up to 35% of a company's profit - three and a half times more than neighbouring Paraguay with its 10% rate. Under the ARCA tax agency's 2026 scale, the first ARS 133.5 million of profit (about USD 89,000 at roughly 1,500 pesos to the dollar) is taxed at 25%, the band up to ARS 1.34 billion at 30%, the rest at 35%. Dividends then face another 7%.
Getting in has become easier. The simplified stock company (SAS) is registered online, and the Buenos Aires registry promises 72 hours and a tax number at the same time. In 2026 the registry scrapped dozens of formal requirements.
The uncomfortable part is money and people. Companies still live under currency controls: buying dollars to hold in an account or send abroad requires central bank approval, and export proceeds must be sold for pesos. Most directors of a stock corporation must live in Argentina. Add turnover tax and 0.6% on every credit and debit to the account.
It suits people moving to Argentina to run a business there, selling to Argentine customers, setting up a subsidiary for local contracts, or already holding Argentine residency and wanting to trade through a company. It does not suit a low-tax holding, a business serving foreign clients without living in the country, or a quick dollar account: neighbours are simpler.
We will calculate online the cost of registering and running your company for the first year.
Which company to open in Argentina: S.A., S.R.L. or SAS
The minimum capital of an Argentine stock corporation is 37-38 times higher than that of a simplified one. So the choice is mostly about how much money you can lock up at the start. The forms are set out in the Companies Act 19,550 (Ley General de Sociedades) and Law 27,349 of 2017.
| Form | What it is | Members | Minimum capital | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S.A. (sociedad anónima) | stock corporation, the most common form | 2 or more shareholders | ARS 30,000,000 (about USD 20,000), 25% of cash contributions paid upfront | larger businesses, raising investment |
| S.A.U. (sociedad anónima unipersonal) | single-shareholder stock corporation | 1 shareholder, which cannot be another S.A.U. | the same ARS 30,000,000, paid in full at registration | subsidiary of a foreign company |
| S.R.L. (sociedad de responsabilidad limitada) | limited liability company (LLC) | 2 to 50 members | no statutory minimum | small and mid-sized businesses with partners |
| SAS (sociedad por acciones simplificada) | simplified stock company under Law 27,349 | 1 or more members, individuals or companies | 2 monthly minimum wages: ARS 782,400 from 1 October 2026, ARS 812,800 from 1 December (about USD 520-540) | start-ups, small businesses, a single founder |
The minimum wage (Salario Mínimo, Vital y Móvil) is set by a national wage council and reviewed almost monthly, so the SAS minimum rises with it. The S.A. capital was fixed by Decree 209/2024, published on 1 March 2024.
The S.A.U. has a catch: Article 299 of Law 19,550 puts it under permanent registry supervision, so it needs a statutory auditor (síndico) - a lawyer or accountant who oversees the board. An ordinary S.A. can skip one if its bylaws say so.
One person cannot form an S.R.L.: the law allows single-member companies only as stock corporations. A lone founder is left with an SAS or an S.A.U. with ARS 30 million and a síndico. A foreign corporate founder first registers with the Argentine registry under Article 123 of Law 19,550.
Can you open an SAS in Argentina in 2026
The SAS is the only Argentine form one person can set up without a notary, online and, by the registry's own promise, in 72 hours. Companies based in the city of Buenos Aires are registered by the IGJ (Inspección General de Justicia, General Inspectorate of Justice), the capital's commercial registry; provinces run their own.
Applications go only through the TAD government portal (Trámites a Distancia), with a tax number and a tax-office password (clave fiscal) of level 2 or higher. On registration the system publishes the notice in the Official Gazette (Boletín Oficial) and issues the company's CUIT (Clave Única de Identificación Tributaria, the single tax ID). The IGJ warns that TAD glitches can cause delays.
What has changed since 2024:
- the IGJ approved a new model statute (estatuto modelo). It is taken without edits: any change moves the application onto the ordinary, slower track;
- since 2024 SASs no longer file financial statements with the IGJ, and their books are kept electronically free of charge;
- IGJ Resolution 11/2026, published on 22 September 2026, allows an SAS to carry on any lawful activity, and a cash contribution of up to 2 minimum wages to be evidenced by a sworn statement of the administrator or founders;
- capital can also be contributed in crypto-assets held with a provider registered with the National Securities Commission (CNV).
One condition breaks the offshore-style simplicity: at least one administrator must live in Argentina, and the model statute requires two, a principal and an alternate. And watch the law: a reform bill presented in the Senate in June 2026 would fold the SAS into the general company regime. For now it is only a bill.
Do you need a resident director, and can you register remotely
A founder need not fly to Argentina, but a company cannot be run only from abroad. All directors give an address in Argentina for notices, but not all must live there:
- S.A. - an absolute majority of directors (Article 256 of Law 19,550); if there is one director, that person must live in Argentina;
- SAS - at least one administrator lives in Argentina (Article 51 of Law 27,349). A foreign administrator needs a CDI tax code (see below), a representative in Argentina and a local address for notices;
- S.R.L. - the law gives managers (gerentes) the same duties and restrictions as S.A. directors (Article 157). Plan for a manager who lives in the country.
Founders face no nationality or residence limits. A foreigner without residency needs a CDI (Clave de Identificación, a tax code for foreigners), issued by the tax agency ARCA (Agencia de Recaudación y Control Aduanero, called AFIP until 2024). Without it a foreigner cannot be added to an SAS application: TAD finds members by CUIT, CUIL (Clave Única de Identificación Laboral, an employee number) or CDI. More in our article on CUIL and CUIT in Argentina.
Registered address. The registered address (sede social) must be in the region of registration; for an SAS with the IGJ, the city of Buenos Aires. Notices go there and records are kept there; since 2026 an email address can be added. A company secretary, as in the UK, is not required.
Remote registration. Founders sign a power of attorney before a notary in their own country, add an apostille and send the documents to a representative in Argentina. Russia, Belarus and Argentina are all parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. Translations into Spanish are done by a sworn translator (traductor público). Since May 2026 the IGJ accepts printed digital documents from abroad with an apostille and lets a foreign corporate founder register alongside the new Argentine company.
A company does not by itself give residency; see the Argentine residency page and the digital nomad visa.
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How to register a company in Argentina: steps and timelines
Law 27,349 gives the registry 24 hours for an SAS on the model statute; the IGJ says 72. A foreigner loses time earlier, on the CDI, powers of attorney, apostilles and translations. For the S.A. and S.R.L. the law sets no fixed registration deadline.
| Step | What happens | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Tax codes | foreign founders and administrators obtain a CDI from the tax agency ARCA | depends on ARCA, no statutory deadline |
| 2. Name | online check against the IGJ database for clashes | immediate |
| 3. Documents from abroad | power of attorney, founder company papers, apostille, sworn translation | depends on the issuing country |
| 4. Bylaws and signatures | an S.A. needs a notarial deed (escritura pública); an S.R.L. or SAS can use signatures certified by a notary (escribano) or digital signatures, and an SAS also certification at the IGJ | by appointment |
| 5. Capital contribution | at least 25% of cash: bank transfer, notary's statement, or a sworn statement for up to 2 minimum wages | before filing |
| 6. Filing with the registry | SAS via TAD; S.A. and S.R.L. with the IGJ; a notice is published in the Official Gazette | SAS: 24 hours by law, 72 hours per the IGJ; S.A. and S.R.L.: no set deadline |
| 7. Tax registration | an SAS gets its CUIT at registration, an S.A. or S.R.L. registers with ARCA separately; then turnover tax, in Buenos Aires with the city tax agency AGIP (Administración Gubernamental de Ingresos Públicos) | SAS: 24 hours for the CUIT by law |
| 8. Company books | an SAS keeps electronic books; an S.A. or S.R.L. has its books certified by the IGJ (rúbrica) | after registration |
| 9. Bank account | after the CUIT, with checks on owners and funds | the bank decides |
If the IGJ finds an error, the file waits for corrections. Since 2026 delays can be escalated to the examiner's superior with a request to expedite (pronto despacho); since 10 August 2026 registered documents are issued only digitally via TAD.
In September 2026 the IGJ dropped the mandatory professional opinion (dictamen de precalificación) for new companies; a specialist now helps with speed rather than box-ticking.
How much does it cost to open a company in Argentina
The main line in an Argentine start-up budget is not fees but capital. A stock corporation needs ARS 30 million, about USD 20,000; an SAS needs a few hundred dollars. Below are official payments only; we quote the cost of our support after reviewing the documents.
| Payment | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| S.A. minimum capital | ARS 30,000,000 (about USD 20,000) | at registration at least ARS 7,500,000 (25%, about USD 5,000); an S.A.U. pays the full amount |
| SAS minimum capital | ARS 782,400 from 1 October 2026, ARS 812,800 from 1 December 2026 (about USD 520-540) | 2 monthly minimum wages |
| S.R.L. minimum capital | no statutory minimum | 25% of cash contributions upfront, the rest within 2 years |
| SAS registration with the IGJ | ARS 195,600 from 1 October 2026, ARS 203,200 from 1 December 2026 (about USD 130-135) | 25% of the minimum capital; includes the Official Gazette notice |
| Signature certification at the IGJ for an SAS | ARS 34,500 (about USD 23) | 23 modules of ARS 1,500; the IGJ module is the unit in which registry fees are counted |
| IGJ fees for the S.A. and S.R.L. | depend on the procedure | an S.A. pays a formation fee and an annual fee based on its accounts; S.R.L. filings and book certification are priced in modules |
Example calculation for a single founder forming an SAS with minimum capital in October 2026. The capital is ARS 782,400. Upfront the founder pays ARS 195,600 for registration, which counts as the first 25% of capital. With signatures certified at the IGJ the total is ARS 230,100, about USD 150. The remaining ARS 586,800 of capital is paid into the company within 2 years.
Add a notary, apostille, translation and accounting from month one; we quote the cost of our support after reviewing the documents.
A corporation needs capital of about $20,000, a simplified company about $515
The law does not stop you registering a company on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fees: a company form whose capital does not fit your budget, a board without the resident director the law requires, a foreign corporate founder not registered with the corporate inspectorate and a bank account stuck on currency controls. We choose the form, find a resident director, register the foreign corporate founder, prepare the articles and handle registration up to the tax number and account.
The cost of support depends on the company form and founders; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
What taxes and filings does an Argentine company have
Income tax is not the only charge: turnover tax and the bank movements tax are due even in a loss-making year. An Argentine company is taxed on worldwide income, with credit for foreign tax.
| Tax | Rate in 2026 | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate income tax (Impuesto a las Ganancias) | 25% up to ARS 133.5 million, 30% up to ARS 1.34 billion, 35% above | bands indexed yearly; losses carried forward 5 years |
| Dividend tax | 7% | withheld on payments to individuals and non-residents |
| VAT (IVA, Impuesto al Valor Agregado) | 21%; 10.5% for certain goods and services; 27% for utility and telecom services other than for housing; 0% on exports | monthly return and payment |
| Turnover tax (Ingresos Brutos) | usually 1-5%, 4-6% for trade and services | provincial, on gross revenue, not profit |
| Tax on bank account movements (Impuesto sobre los Créditos y Débitos en Cuentas Bancarias) | 0.6% on each credit and 0.6% on each debit | 33% of it is credited against income tax |
| Wealth tax paid for shareholders (Impuesto sobre los Bienes Personales) | 0.5% of the company's equity | paid for individual and non-resident shareholders |
| Employer social security | 24-26.4% on top of payroll | pension fund, health insurance and employment fund |
There is effectively no VAT threshold for companies: an entity with taxable activities must register, except for small operations. The simplified regime (monotributo) is for individuals; companies pay under the general rules. Personal taxes: see taxes in Argentina.
What a company files every year:
- an income tax return with accounts - by the 15th of the fifth month after year end;
- nine advance payments of 11.11% of the previous year's tax;
- monthly VAT returns - between the 12th and 22nd of the following month;
- an auditor's report on the annual accounts;
- an S.A. files its accounts with the IGJ, an SAS does not, an S.R.L. only with capital of ARS 2 billion or more.
Beneficial owners. At SAS registration, everyone holding 10% or more of capital, or controlling the company otherwise, is disclosed under oath under the rules of the financial intelligence unit UIF (Unidad de Información Financiera, Resolution 112/2021).
Bank accounts, currency controls and Russian and Belarusian citizens
Opening an Argentine company account is easier than getting dollars out of it. Article 60 of Law 27,349 requires banks to let an SAS open an account with just its registered bylaws and proof of its CUIT. The bank need not lend and decides on each client after checking owners, business and funds. Local account details are explained in our article CBU, CVU and alias in Argentina.
Currency controls for companies. Under the 2026 currency control rules, a company needs approval from the central bank BCRA (Banco Central de la República Argentina) to:
- buy foreign currency to hold in a dollar account in Argentina or transfer to its own account abroad;
- pay dividends to foreign shareholders out of profits for financial years before 2025;
- access the foreign exchange market at all if it holds more than USD 100,000 in liquid foreign assets.
In practice such approvals are rarely granted: the BCRA has no criteria or deadlines for them. Export proceeds must be sold for pesos within BCRA deadlines. Breaches mean fines of up to ten times the transaction and, in serious cases, prison for directors. Dividends from profits of financial years from 2025 onward need no such approval, but still follow BCRA rules.
Russian and Belarusian citizens. Company law sets no nationality limits. Russians need no visa for trips of up to 90 days; Belarusian nationals: for the entry conditions, ask an expert. Argentina has a double tax treaty with Russia; there is none with Belarus.
The main filter is the bank: dollars move through US correspondent banks, so clients face sanctions screening and deeper source-of-funds checks. Corporate founders from FATF-listed countries (GAFI, the global anti-money-laundering body) face stricter IGJ rules.
For a Russian tax resident, a stake above 10% in a foreign company must be notified to the Russian tax service, and above 25% (or above 10% if Russian residents together own more than 50%) the controlled foreign company rules apply. Our CFC notifications and reporting service can help. See also the business account in Argentina and personal account in Argentina pages.
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What we do
Most of the time in Argentina goes on paperwork from abroad. That is what we handle:
- we choose the form - SAS, S.A., S.A.U. or S.R.L. - and work out capital, payments and taxes upfront; if Argentina does not suit you, we say so;
- we prepare the bylaws, powers of attorney, translations and apostilles;
- we help obtain the CDI and file with the IGJ or a provincial registry through to the CUIT and turnover tax registration;
- we help with the company's registered address in Buenos Aires;
- we prepare the beneficial owner and politically exposed person (PEP) declarations for the registry;
- we handle monthly VAT and turnover tax returns, advance payments and annual accounts together with a locally licensed partner;
- we prepare the bank compliance pack and support the account opening.
Legal representation - certification of signatures and documents by a notary, acting as representative of foreign administrators, representation before authorities and courts - is handled by Murblz specialists together with partners and notaries licensed in Argentina.
All programmes and articles on the country are on the Argentina page. To compare with a neighbour, see company registration in Paraguay; other countries are in the company registration and company registration abroad sections.
See also
Business account · Personal account · Investment property · All country programs
FAQ
Can a foreigner open a company in Argentina?
How much does it cost to open a company in Argentina?
Does an Argentine company need a resident director?
Can I register a company in Argentina remotely?
What is the corporate income tax rate in Argentina in 2026?
What is an SAS in Argentina and does it still work in 2026?
Can dividends be paid out of Argentina?
Can a Russian citizen open a company in Argentina?
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We choose the Argentine company form, including a simplified joint stock company (SAS), register it, obtain the tax number and explain currency controls for a foreign owner.
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