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A friend is traveling to Buenos Aires from the US, bringing both his personal notebook, and a new one for a relative.

As I understand it, he'll have to pay 50% of the value of the new one (not sure if the USD 300 exemption applies to foreign travelers).

Questions:

  • Will he be able to pay the duty with his american credit card?
  • Does he have to do anything to avoid paying taxes on his own notebook, which he will bring back to the US when he leaves?
hippietrail
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Diego Mijelshon
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2 Answers2

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As of Sept. 2018, you are exempted for two personal items: one laptop/tablet and a cell phone.

Sources: Resolución General 4315, La Nacion

Anecdotally, you can get away with more if you make sure to take everything out of its packaging, take off price tags, spread your devices across bags and clothing, and do what you can to make it look used. Officials have been known to ask you to turn on devices just to see that it looks used-- if you turn on your phone and they see a welcome setup wizard, they'll know it's brand new and charge you.

crypdick
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You can bring in merchandise up to a value of $300 by air or sea or $150 by land. Technically, bringing in merchandise with an industrial or commercial purpose is prohibited. You need to fill out form OM-2132. For the laptop you are importing you can pay by credit card (Mastercard, Cabal or Visa only) but there is a 15% surcharge. The authorities may request a copy of an invoice confirming the value of the new laptop. If you can't supply one they will arbitrarily assign a value.

If the customs guys don't speak good English you're looking for 'el formulario para derechos de importacion' (the form for import duties). My Spanish isn't that good, but that will get you the right one.

Darren
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