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v10Argentina
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1---
2name: ar-vat-return
3description: >
4 Argentine VAT return (IVA -- Impuesto al Valor Agregado) for self-employed individuals under the regimen general. Covers the standard 21% rate, reduced 10.5%, increased 27%, monthly filing via AFIP SIAP/web, debito/credito fiscal computation, and withholding/perception regimes. Primary source: Ley 23.349 (Ley de IVA) and its regulatory decree (Decreto 692/98).
5version: 1.0
6jurisdiction: AR
7tax_year: 2025
8category: international
9depends_on:
10 - vat-workflow-base
11validated: April 2026
12---
13 
14# Argentina VAT Return (IVA) v1.0
15 
16## What this file is
17 
18**Obligation category:** CT (Consumption Tax)
19**Functional role:** Return preparation
20**Status:** Complete
21 
22This is a Tier 2 content skill for preparing the Argentine IVA (Impuesto al Valor Agregado) monthly return for self-employed individuals (autonomos/monotributistas graduating to regimen general). Argentina has a three-rate VAT system with extensive withholding and perception regimes.
23 
24---
25 
26## Section 1 -- Scope statement
27 
28**In scope:**
29 
30- Monthly IVA return (DDJJ IVA -- F.2002)
31- Responsable Inscripto (registered taxpayer under the general regime)
32- Three VAT rates: 21%, 10.5%, 27%
33- Debito fiscal (output VAT) and credito fiscal (input VAT)
34- Withholdings (retenciones) and perceptions (percepciones) suffered
35- Filing via AFIP web services or SIAP
36- Electronic invoicing (factura electronica) requirements
37 
38**Out of scope (refused):**
39 
40- Monotributo (simplified small taxpayer regime)
41- Corporate IVA returns
42- IVA on imports (customs VAT) beyond basic classification
43- Transfer pricing implications
44- Percepciones as agent (acting as withholding/perception agent)
45- Provincial gross income tax (Ingresos Brutos)
46 
47---
48 
49## Section 2 -- Filing requirements
50 
51### Who must file
52 
53Every Responsable Inscripto must file a monthly IVA return, even if there is no activity (zero return). Registration is mandatory once annual revenue exceeds the Monotributo thresholds. **Source:** Ley 23.349, Art. 4.
54 
55### Filing schedule
56 
57| Item | Detail | Source |
58|------|--------|--------|
59| Filing period | Monthly | Ley 23.349, Art. 27 |
60| Due date | Determined by CUIT ending digit (AFIP calendar, typically between the 18th and 22nd of the following month) | RG AFIP 3382/2012 |
61| Filing method | Electronic via AFIP web (F.2002 online) | RG AFIP 3711/2015 |
62| Electronic invoicing | Mandatory for all Responsables Inscriptos | RG AFIP 4291/2018 |
63 
64---
65 
66## Section 3 -- Rates and thresholds
67 
68### VAT rates
69 
70| Rate | Applies to | Source |
71|------|-----------|--------|
72| 21% (standard) | Most goods and services | Ley 23.349, Art. 28 |
73| 10.5% (reduced) | Capital goods, certain food products, medical services, newspapers, residential construction, certain transport | Ley 23.349, Art. 28, inc. a) |
74| 27% (increased) | Telecommunications, gas, electricity, water for non-residential use | Ley 23.349, Art. 28, inc. b) |
75| 0% (exempt) | Specified exempt supplies (education, health under certain conditions, financial services, books, bread/milk) | Ley 23.349, Art. 7 |
76 
77### Key thresholds
78 
79| Item | Amount | Source |
80|------|--------|--------|
81| Monotributo graduation threshold (services, 2025) | ARS ~11,916,410/year (updated periodically) | Ley 24.977, Annex |
82| Credito fiscal carry-forward | Unlimited (no expiry) | Ley 23.349, Art. 24 |
83 
84---
85 
86## Section 4 -- Computation rules (Step format)
87 
88### Step 1: Compute debito fiscal (output VAT)
89 
90For each sale/service during the month:
911. Classify the transaction: standard (21%), reduced (10.5%), increased (27%), or exempt.
922. Verify the electronic invoice (factura electronica) was issued via AFIP.
933. Debito fiscal = sum of IVA charged on all invoices issued.
94 
95### Step 2: Compute credito fiscal (input VAT)
96 
97For each purchase/expense during the month:
981. Verify the supplier's invoice is a valid factura electronica.
992. Classify the IVA rate charged.
1003. Verify the expense is related to taxable activity (credito fiscal is only recoverable on purchases related to taxable sales).
1014. Credito fiscal = sum of IVA on valid purchase invoices.
102 
103### Step 3: Apply pro-rata rule if mixed activities
104 
105If the taxpayer makes both taxable and exempt sales:
106- Credito fiscal must be apportioned between taxable and exempt activities.
107- Only the portion attributable to taxable activities is recoverable.
108- Pro-rata = taxable sales / (taxable sales + exempt sales).
109- Recoverable credito fiscal = total credito fiscal x pro-rata.
110 
111**Source:** Ley 23.349, Art. 13.
112 
113### Step 4: Compute net IVA position
114 
115Debito fiscal - credito fiscal = net IVA.
116 
117- If positive: tax to pay.
118- If negative: carry forward as saldo a favor tecnico (technical credit balance).
119 
120### Step 5: Apply withholdings and perceptions suffered
121 
122Deduct IVA withholdings (retenciones) and perceptions (percepciones) suffered during the month from the net IVA:
123 
124- Withholdings: amounts withheld by customers who are designated withholding agents.
125- Perceptions: additional IVA charged by suppliers who are designated perception agents.
126 
127Net amount due = net IVA - withholdings - perceptions.
128 
129If negative: the balance becomes saldo de libre disponibilidad (freely available balance) that can be applied to other AFIP obligations.
130 
131### Step 6: File and pay
132 
133- File F.2002 via AFIP web portal.
134- Pay via VEP (Volante Electronico de Pago) through authorized banks.
135 
136---
137 
138## Section 5 -- Edge cases and special rules
139 
140### E-1: Factura electronica requirement
141 
142All invoices (ventas and compras) must be electronic invoices authorized by AFIP. Paper invoices are no longer valid for credito fiscal. Types:
143- Factura A: between Responsables Inscriptos
144- Factura B: from Responsable Inscripto to final consumer or exempt subject
145- Factura C: from Monotributista
146 
147Only Factura A and certain import documents generate credito fiscal.
148 
149### E-2: Saldo a favor tecnico vs. libre disponibilidad
150 
151- **Saldo a favor tecnico:** arises when credito fiscal exceeds debito fiscal. Can only be carried forward against future debito fiscal.
152- **Saldo de libre disponibilidad:** arises from excess withholdings/perceptions. Can be used against any AFIP tax obligation (IVA, Ganancias, etc.) or requested as refund.
153 
154### E-3: Non-computable credito fiscal
155 
156Credito fiscal is NOT recoverable for:
157- Personal consumption items (food, clothing for personal use)
158- Automobiles exceeding a threshold value
159- Invoices from Monotributistas (Factura C has no IVA discrimination)
160- Purchases from non-registered suppliers
161 
162### E-4: Services exported
163 
164Services exported (performed for foreign clients, consumed abroad) are treated as zero-rated with credit recovery. The taxpayer can claim a refund of the related credito fiscal. **Source:** Ley 23.349, Art. 43.
165 
166### E-5: Inflation and currency
167 
168All amounts are in Argentine Pesos (ARS). Given high inflation, the real value of credito fiscal carry-forwards erodes over time. There is no inflation adjustment mechanism for VAT credits.
169 
170### E-6: Withholding regimes (regimenes de retencion)
171 
172Large buyers (designated by AFIP) must withhold a percentage of IVA from payments to suppliers. Common rates: 50% or 100% of the IVA. The withheld amount is credited against the supplier's IVA liability. **Source:** RG AFIP 2854/2010.
173 
174---
175 
176## Section 6 -- Test suite
177 
178### Test 1: Standard monthly return
179 
180- **Input:** Sales at 21%: ARS 1,000,000. Purchases at 21%: ARS 600,000.
181- **Expected:** Debito: ARS 210,000. Credito: ARS 126,000. Net IVA: ARS 84,000.
182 
183### Test 2: Mixed rates
184 
185- **Input:** Sales at 21%: ARS 500,000. Sales at 10.5%: ARS 200,000. Purchases at 21%: ARS 400,000.
186- **Expected:** Debito: (500,000 x 21%) + (200,000 x 10.5%) = 105,000 + 21,000 = 126,000. Credito: 84,000. Net: ARS 42,000.
187 
188### Test 3: Withholdings reduce payment
189 
190- **Input:** Net IVA: ARS 84,000. Withholdings suffered: ARS 30,000. Perceptions suffered: ARS 10,000.
191- **Expected:** Amount due: 84,000 - 30,000 - 10,000 = ARS 44,000.
192 
193### Test 4: Saldo a favor
194 
195- **Input:** Debito: ARS 50,000. Credito: ARS 80,000.
196- **Expected:** Saldo a favor tecnico: ARS 30,000. Carry forward to next month. No payment due.
197 
198### Test 5: Pro-rata for mixed activities
199 
200- **Input:** Taxable sales: ARS 800,000. Exempt sales: ARS 200,000. Total credito fiscal: ARS 100,000.
201- **Expected:** Pro-rata: 800,000 / 1,000,000 = 80%. Recoverable credito: ARS 80,000.
202 
203---
204 
205## Section 7 -- Prohibitions
206 
207- **P-1:** Do NOT claim credito fiscal from Factura C (Monotributista invoices). They do not discriminate IVA.
208- **P-2:** Do NOT claim credito fiscal on personal consumption items.
209- **P-3:** Do NOT ignore the pro-rata rule when both taxable and exempt sales exist.
210- **P-4:** Do NOT confuse saldo a favor tecnico with saldo de libre disponibilidad. They have different uses.
211- **P-5:** Do NOT file without verifying all invoices are properly authorized electronic invoices.
212- **P-6:** Do NOT advise on Monotributo eligibility or transition. That is a separate analysis.
213 
214---
215 
216## Section 8 -- Self-checks
217 
218Before delivering output, verify:
219 
220- [ ] All sales invoices are authorized electronic invoices (factura electronica)
221- [ ] Correct VAT rate applied per transaction (21%, 10.5%, 27%, exempt)
222- [ ] Credito fiscal only claimed from valid Factura A or import documents
223- [ ] Pro-rata applied if mixed taxable/exempt activities
224- [ ] Withholdings and perceptions correctly deducted
225- [ ] Saldo a favor correctly classified (tecnico vs. libre disponibilidad)
226- [ ] Filing due date verified against AFIP calendar for CUIT ending digit
227- [ ] Zero return filed if no activity
228 
229---
230 
231## Section 9 -- Disclaimer
232 
233This skill and its outputs are provided for informational and computational purposes only and do not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Open Accountants and its contributors accept no liability for any errors, omissions, or outcomes arising from the use of this skill. All outputs must be reviewed and signed off by a qualified professional (such as a CPA, EA, tax attorney, or equivalent licensed practitioner in your jurisdiction) before filing or acting upon.
234 
235The most up-to-date, verified version of this skill is maintained at [openaccountants.com](https://openaccountants.com). Log in to access the latest version, request a professional review from a licensed accountant, and track updates as tax law changes.
236 

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Argentine VAT return (IVA -- Impuesto al Valor Agregado) for self-employed individuals under the regimen general. Covers the standard 21% rate, reduced 10.5%, increased 27%, monthly filing via AFIP SIAP/web, debito/credito fiscal computation, and withholding/perception regimes. Primary source: Ley 23.349 (Ley de IVA) and its regulatory decree (Decreto 692/98).

ARty-2025

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