How to Start an LLC in Argentina

Can You Register an LLC in Argentina?

The short answer is yes, and the process is more straightforward than most people expect for a country with such a complex economic reputation.

• Foreign ownership is fully permitted: Foreigners can hold up to 100% of an SRL’s shares, with no restrictions on nationality for shareholders.
• No residency required to own the company: Physical presence in Argentina is not mandatory for SRL members, so you can own and operate remotely with the right setup. 
• Director residency has nuance: If a single director is appointed, they may be of any nationality but must reside in Argentina. If more than one director is appointed, the majority must be Argentine residents. 
• Remote registration is possible: In most cases, in-person presence is required, but with a power of attorney, you can register your company remotely, provided you appoint a local legal representative. 
• Unique insight on sector ownership caps: Full foreign ownership applies across most activities, with exceptions only in aviation, capped at 49%, and media, capped at 30%.

Advantages of Forming an LLC in Argentina

Argentina offers a solid mix of legal protections, market access, and emerging incentives that make it worth a serious look for founders.

• Liability stays capped at your contribution: In an SRL, shareholders’ liability is strictly limited to the amount of their capital contributions, so personal assets stay protected. 
• MERCOSUR opens a massive regional market: Argentina’s membership in MERCOSUR gives businesses access to a trading bloc of 11 countries and over 270 million people, with free movement of goods between member nations. 
• Minimum capital requirements are very low: For an SRL, the minimum starting capital is around AR$100,000, making it accessible for small and medium-sized businesses from day one. 
• Profit repatriation is permitted: Profit and capital can be freely transferred abroad, with no restrictions on international transfers through authorized financial institutions. 
• Founding an SRL can open residency pathways: Company owners can obtain an investor visa valid for up to three years, with a clear pathway to permanent residency and eventually citizenship after two years of residence. 
• Lesser-known advantage, the RIGI investment incentive regime: Argentina’s 2024 Large Investment Incentive Regime offers qualifying businesses a reduction in corporate income tax from 35% to 25%, exemptions from import duties on machinery, and regulatory stability for up to 30 years. 
• Tech sector relaxations introduced in 2024: In 2024, the Argentine government introduced currency regulation relaxations specifically for investment projects and the IT sector, making it easier for tech-focused founders to operate.

Steps to Register an LLC in Argentina

The registration process runs through the IGJ, Argentina’s General Inspection of Justice, and moves in a logical sequence once you have your documents in order.

• Step 1: Reserve your company name. Check name availability through the IGJ’s online portal and ensure your chosen name is unique and not already registered by another entity. Submit a few alternatives to speed things up, since rejections for similar names do happen.
• Step 2: Draft and notarize your bylaws: Draft a social contract in the presence of a notary public, which must outline the company’s commercial objectives, and all shareholders must sign it. 
• Step 3: Deposit initial share capital: Deposit a minimum of 25% of your subscribed capital to Banco de la Nación Argentina and obtain proof of payment for notarization. The remaining 75% can be contributed within two years.
• Step 4: Dile with the IGJ: Submit the full documentation package to the IGJ for registration. Once filed, registration is typically completed within two to three weeks. 
• Step 5: Obtain your CUIT tax ID: After registration, apply to AFIP (now operating as ARCA) for your company’s CUIT, the Unique Tax Identification Code mandatory for all Argentine companies. 
• Step 6: Open a corporate bank account: Once registered, open a bank account in the company’s name to begin formal financial operations. 
• Actionable tip: Appoint a local representative early: If shareholders are not Argentine residents, appointing a local legal representative via power of attorney before you begin saves significant back-and-forth with the IGJ. 
• Where delays most often happen: Foreign documents not translated into Spanish are the most common cause of processing slowdowns. Every document from outside Argentina must be certified and apostilled before submission.

Documents Required for LLC Registration in Argentina

Getting your documents together before you start saves weeks of back-and-forth. Here is what you will need.

• Valid government-issued ID for all shareholders and directors: Submit passports or national IDs for all directors and shareholders; foreign documents must be notarized or apostilled to meet IGJ standards. 
• Proof of a registered Argentine address: Provide a lease or virtual office contract confirming a commercial Argentine address, since residential spaces do not qualify. Virtual office services in Buenos Aires can handle this quickly if you are registering remotely.
• Notarized articles of incorporation: Prepare the articles of incorporation detailing your company’s objectives, governance structure, and shareholder rights, with all partners signing before a public notary.
• Power of attorney for non-resident founders: Foreign shareholders who are not present in Argentina need a locally recognized power of attorney, allowing a representative to complete the incorporation process on their behalf. 
• Apostilled and translated versions of all foreign documents: Documents not in Spanish must be translated and certified by an authorized Argentine translator before the IGJ will accept them.
• Proof of initial capital deposit: A bank confirmation from Banco de la Nación Argentina showing the deposit of at least 25% of subscribed capital is required as part of the registration package. 
• Extra detail on apostilles: Most countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention can issue apostilles directly. If yours is not, documents need to go through the Argentine consular authority in your home country, so checking this early avoids delays.

Tax Obligations After LLC Registration in Argentina

Once your SRL is registered, the tax picture in Argentina has a few layers to it. Knowing what each one covers upfront saves you from surprises down the road.

• Corporate income tax follows a progressive scale: As of 2025, the corporate tax rate in Argentina ranges from 25% to 35%, depending on a company’s annual net taxable income, with the highest bracket applying to income exceeding ARS 1,016,795,752.62. 
• How Argentina stacks up regionally: Mexico sits at a flat 30% corporate rate, and Brazil imposes a similar level, while Argentina’s top rate of 35% places it among the higher end of the Latin American range. For smaller SRLs generating modest income, the 25% entry rate is competitive.
• VAT is filed monthly and has tiered rates: Argentina’s standard VAT rate is 21%, with a higher rate of 27% applied to telecoms, domestic gas, and commercial energy, and a reduced rate of 10.5% covering items like passenger transport, residential construction, and certain medical services. 
• A new simplified VAT return system launched in 2025: In June 2025, Argentina introduced a digitized, pre-filled VAT return system called IVA Simple, which will be mandatory for all VAT-registered businesses from November 2025. This is good news for founders managing compliance remotely.
• Dividend distributions carry a withholding tax: Dividends are subject to a flat 7% withholding tax if the income was generated after the 2018 tax reform, though no withholding applies if dividends derive from profits already taxed at the corporate level. 
• A gross income tax applies at the provincial level: Argentina also imposes a gross income tax called IIBB, which is administered separately by each province’s own revenue service rather than the federal authority. The rate varies by province and activity, so checking your specific jurisdiction matters here.
• Hidden fee to watch for, the three-tier tax system: Argentina has three tax jurisdictions that can apply simultaneously to an Argentine entity: national, provincial, and municipal. Many founders only plan for federal taxes and miss the provincial and municipal layers entirely until their first audit.
• Tax treaty access can reduce withholding costs: Argentina has signed tax treaties with several countries to avoid double taxation, which can reduce or eliminate withholding taxes on cross-border payments and provide mechanisms for resolving disputes. 

Checking if your home country has a treaty with Argentina before structuring payments is worth doing early.

Set Up Your LLC in Argentina Today with Commenda

Getting an SRL registered is one thing. Making sure every subsequent filing, tax registration, and compliance deadline stays on track is where most founders hit friction. That is where Commenda steps in.

Commenda handles everything from initial formation documents to ongoing compliance support, including tax registration, document preparation, and accounting integration. 

For international founders setting up in Argentina, that means you get a team that already knows the IGJ process, the AFIP filing system, and the local quirks that slow things down.

• End-to-end formation support: Commenda handles tax registration, CUIT setup, and filings across AFIP platforms for income tax, VAT, and withholding tax, ensuring timely and accurate submissions in line with General Resolution 5492/2024. 
• No physical presence required: Commenda facilitates remote incorporation by handling digital notarization, power of attorney, and document processing, all managed from abroad without requiring founders to travel. 
• Built for cross-border founders specifically, Commenda supports ongoing compliance for Argentine entities, including audited financial statements, regular tax filings, and adherence to labor law requirements, so nothing gets missed as the business grows. 
• Proven track record with global companies: With experience helping over 250 cross-border companies, including startups and multinational corporations, Commenda manages document preparation, compliance checks, and accounting integration across multiple jurisdictions. 
• One platform, not a patchwork of vendors: Commenda consolidates company incorporation, tax registration, and ongoing compliance monitoring in a single interface, so businesses avoid coordinating across multiple vendors as they scale. 

Ready to move forward? Book a free consultation with Commenda and get clarity on the full setup process for your Argentina SRL before you take the first step.