Best Move I Ever Made

[earlyretirement]

I believe the old forum said most people weren't paying annual asset taxes as well and IIRC sounded like it was easy to avoid, but like you said sounds like there's penalties at some point for not paying.

I wonder if even though your friend wasn't collecting rent, the fact he had a friend staying there, AFIP used it against him. I recall somewhere, somebody said they check the light bills and can use that to say whether somebody was occupying the place or not. Somebody more knowledgeable may be able to confirm or dismiss this.

HOAs seem to be all over the place, the other day I was on zonaprop and saw a place about the same size as mine w a 400k listed expensas going for 150k USD for the unit.

I haven't paid any income tax in Argentina and my property manager has been deducting annual property tax which as Piranha mentioned above has been about 1%. No word on the deed yet either.

All good information. Most locals don't pay annual asset tax on their properties. Most locals break the law. Most locals are operating in black in some way, shape or form. You get no annual property tax statement in the mail like the USA. It is your obligation to hire an accountant. Just be careful. My close friends in Argentina that own 20 apartments DO pay their asset taxes on all their properties in Argentina. She is an accountant and tells me the penalties and interest for not paying are massive. She has people that have gotten audited and have to pay huge back taxes and penalties.

Just remember as a non-resident foreigner you have to have a local as your local tax substitute so keep that in mind. You can't just do it on your own. So talk to a good accountant. Also, up until Milei, you had to get a special permit when you sold if you didn't have a DNI and part of that process was making sure you paid rental taxes and annual asset taxes. Milei got rid of that but you never know when it will come back.

So always good to talk to an accountant.

 

[TonyTigre]

It's said that nothing in life is certain except for death and taxes...

 

[JonJLA]

It's said that nothing in life is certain except for death and taxes...

Agreed! I have found if you don't pay taxes they end up getting you one way or another! I would rather pay and sleep at night.

All good information. Most locals don't pay annual asset tax on their properties. Most locals break the law. Most locals are operating in black in some way, shape or form. You get no annual property tax statement in the mail like the USA. It is your obligation to hire an accountant. Just be careful. My close friends in Argentina that own 20 apartments DO pay their asset taxes on all their properties in Argentina. She is an accountant and tells me the penalties and interest for not paying are massive. She has people that have gotten audited and have to pay huge back taxes and penalties.

Just remember as a non-resident foreigner you have to have a local as your local tax substitute so keep that in mind. You can't just do it on your own. So talk to a good accountant. Also, up until Milei, you had to get a special permit when you sold if you didn't have a DNI and part of that process was making sure you paid rental taxes and annual asset taxes. Milei got rid of that but you never know when it will come back.

So always good to talk to an accountant.

You taught me Mike long ago to just do things right in Argentina. I'm still using the accountant that you recommended and she is great! She does my annual property taxes. In fact, she just did it! Always due around May. She is my substitute and she told me she doesn't take on any new clients unless she knows them or they were recommended by someone she knows. I didn't know but they are responsible for all your finances and taxes.

I think it's crazy that some foreigners aren't paying their asset taxes here. I met a few Americans that bought here and just don't do anything except pay their ABL bills. Many have problems when they go to sell.

I'm lucky. I bought a long time ago so I'm grandfathered in. When I sell I pay 0% capital gains tax either. But I will never sell my apartment in Palermo Uno. I have a great view and they can't build high-rises in this area.

 

[Avocado]

It is good some of you with dollar incomes and savings are living your best life. Meanwhile many locals are struggling.

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mileis-argentina-economic-miracle-not-everyones-winner-2025-05-05/

 

[Johnny]

It's said that nothing in life is certain except for death and taxes...

Very true Tony! I work for one of the largest banks in the USA. I'm a wealth manager and almost all of my income from work is all W2 so I have no place to hide! Very true about death and taxes. But I started building up my real estate portfolio and it has been a big help with getting tax free income. Love it!

Agreed! I have found if you don't pay taxes they end up getting you one way or another! I would rather pay and sleep at night.


You taught me Mike long ago to just do things right in Argentina. I'm still using the accountant that you recommended and she is great! She does my annual property taxes. In fact, she just did it! Always due around May. She is my substitute and she told me she doesn't take on any new clients unless she knows them or they were recommended by someone she knows. I didn't know but they are responsible for all your finances and taxes.

I think it's crazy that some foreigners aren't paying their asset taxes here. I met a few Americans that bought here and just don't do anything except pay their ABL bills. Many have problems when they go to sell.

I'm lucky. I bought a long time ago so I'm grandfathered in. When I sell I pay 0% capital gains tax either. But I will never sell my apartment in Palermo Uno. I have a great view and they can't build high-rises in this area.

It is crazy that people will buy in another country and not really understand the tax laws. The first thing I do when I buy is get a good accountant that focuses on non resident issues and also resident issues. I'm working on getting my residency in Mexico now.

Always better to do things right.

 

[Spend Thrift]

It is good some of you with dollar incomes and savings are living your best life. Meanwhile many locals are struggling.

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mileis-argentina-economic-miracle-not-everyones-winner-2025-05-05/

Sorry to hear about tough conditions. The costs of living for those of us in dollars the past 18 months has been staggering. Amazing how quickly things change from end of 2023. My costs have gone up significantly.

 

[Spend Thrift]

I moved here in February. I really don't understand the negativity of some people in this forum. Buenos Aires is a beautiful city, with lots to offer, and it is CHEAP. I don't care what anyone else says, most people's biggest budget item is housing, and I am paying less to rent an apartment in Recoleta than it cost me in New Mexico to own my house outright with utilities, taxes and insurance.

Food at the grocery store is, for the most part, inexpensive. Yes, a few things like olive oil are ridiculously overpriced. But other things, like meat and produce are less than the US. I spend around $100 a week for groceries, eating at home 5 days a week and going out to dinner twice a week. Dining out is fairly expensive. I'd say comparable to the US.

Transportation is another big expense for most people. In the US I owned my car, and STILL paid $200-300 month for gas, insurance, etc. Here I am averaging around $15 month on buses and subte, and getting in some needed exercise by walking.

I love to listen to live music. Later today I'll be heading to the Strummer Bar for the Punk Rock Lunch. 4 or 5 bands over 4 hours. FREE. No cover, no minimum. I'll get my agua con gas and a pretty good burger for around $12. Tomorrow night I'll be heading to the Conventillo Cultural Abasto for a couple hours of Chicago Blues bands...again, no cover charge, no minimum.
In May, I'm going to see Chrissy Hynde and The Pretenders. $50. At a concert in Los Angeles, you can't park your car for $50.
I also love horse racing. I've been to the Hippodromo Palermo a couple times where you can get an all day table in the clubhouse for, basically, a $15 food/drink minimum.

I have already made many friends, and got invited to a birthday party by a guy I met here. His grandfather was a famous tango singer in the 40's, and the party was at his grandfather's San Telmo apartment. The biggest home I've seen in Argentina - 4000 sq feet, 4 bedroom 5 bath and 2 maids quarters!

So, yeah...moving to BsAs was a great decision for me, and I'm making it permanent.

@daveholman what is your average total monthly expense? Did you buy healthcare insurance here? Did your wife ever move down with her child? Are they planning to? Your costs sound like they would skyrocket if you had to enroll her in private schools. Most of the people I know here with children send them to private schools and costs keep jumping up.

My costs have skyrocketed since I moved here. I read on some other forums of expats struggling here on their pensions. I can't imagine the quality of life for many will be enjoyable without having a very good monthly income. I met a few people living on their SS payments and they are struggling.

 

[daveholman]

@daveholman what is your average total monthly expense? Did you buy healthcare insurance here? Did your wife ever move down with her child? Are they planning to? Your costs sound like they would skyrocket if you had to enroll her in private schools. Most of the people I know here with children send them to private schools and costs keep jumping up.

My costs have skyrocketed since I moved here. I read on some other forums of expats struggling here on their pensions. I can't imagine the quality of life for many will be enjoyable without having a very good monthly income. I met a few people living on their SS payments and they are struggling.

Margarita and Sophia are coming to visit on Monday. IDK if she will decide to move or not. The kid's only 3, so school is a couple years away. I can't say I'm struggling. I don't have health insurance, because it costs more than just paying cash. My cardiologist charged me $55 for an office visit, and the most comprehensive physical I've ever had, with blood tests, chest X-ray, echodardiogram and stress test was a whopping $280. My meds are the same as in the US (about $100/month).
With rent at $500, and grocery store meals running $15/day, I'm not dipping in to my savings at all yet. Of course if the fam does move, I will need a bigger place. I'm in a studio in Recoleta. We would probably have to move to a cheaper neighborhood to afford a 2bedroom.

 

[daveholman]

i paid $120 USD for a 168-m2 house in Mendoza Capital for 2025, and next year it will be about $100USD total. for a 133k house this is far from 1% because that would be like 11x more than i'm paying (rough math). property taxes for this house in South Dakota would be 3000 USD per year, and i'm paying 120 bucks...


f*ck you, commie. go somewhere else and leave this Expat forum alone. no one wants you here! you're not a victim and no one gives a sh*t what retarded Peronists think. bye!


and where is this magical place where private schools for kids, and overall costs are better than Argentina? like @CraigM noted, the crybabies have no clue how the USA or rest of the world is. zero perspective.


abandoned? wtf, he's just describing the cost in Argentina...no sh*t, i spend things in the USA, too...what does that have to do when i describe the cost of eggs in Argentina? what a weird statement.


come visit in Mendoza before buying in CABA! and i would check-out Cordoba, too, just because it's in-between city sizes.

most of the people crying are commies who brigade this forum, or Expat Lefties who spend tons of money on unnecessary stuff and then claim Argentina is uniquely now very expensive in Dollars (ignoring the costs of the USA/EU/UK and refusing to change their habits now that subsidies are going away).

 

[daveholman]

I went to Cordoba for a couple days. It's definitely on my list. For now, I am staying in the big city until I get my DNI. I recently got my Precaria, and I have an appointment with Migraciones on Friday. So, if all goes well, I'll be checking out some other cities to possible buy property in. I'm heading to Tucuman and Salta in a couple weeks. Mendoza and Mar del Plata are on the list as well

 

[Canada Goose]

Margarita and Sophia are coming to visit on Monday. IDK if she will decide to move or not. The kid's only 3, so school is a couple years away. I can't say I'm struggling. I don't have health insurance, because it costs more than just paying cash. My cardiologist charged me $55 for an office visit, and the most comprehensive physical I've ever had, with blood tests, chest X-ray, echodardiogram and stress test was a whopping $280. My meds are the same as in the US (about $100/month).
With rent at $500, and grocery store meals running $15/day, I'm not dipping in to my savings at all yet. Of course if the fam does move, I will need a bigger place. I'm in a studio in Recoleta. We would probably have to move to a cheaper neighborhood to afford a 2bedroom.

Wow! That is cheap! Where did you go to for those doctors and how did you find them? Can you post or DM me? I was curious how people find these doctors and are they good? I noticed long term rents are still cheap.

I went to Cordoba for a couple days. It's definitely on my list. For now, I am staying in the big city until I get my DNI. I recently got my Precaria, and I have an appointment with Migraciones on Friday. So, if all goes well, I'll be checking out some other cities to possible buy property in. I'm heading to Tucuman and Salta in a couple weeks. Mendoza and Mar del Plata are on the list as well

Keep us posted how things are there. Things seem really cheap outside of CABA.

 

[daveholman]

Wow! That is cheap! Where did you go to for those doctors and how did you find them? Can you post or DM me? I was curious how people find these doctors and are they good? I noticed long term rents are still cheap.

Keep us posted how things are there. Things seem really cheap outside of CABA.

Centro Medico Roca in Caballito. I was referred by my online doctor (who charges $45 for a zoom visit). I asked her about an English speaking cardiologist. My Spanish is fair, but I'm more comfortable in English for important things like medical care.