Do I have to convert service export dollars into pesos?

Last verified: 27 Oct 2026 · Status: Changing

Short answer. It depends on who invoices. Companies must bring service export dollars into Argentina and sell them for pesos in the official exchange market within 20 business days of collection. Individuals may keep them in dollars, with no annual cap since September 2025, if the money lands in their own dollar account at a local bank.

As of 26 Oct 2026. Rules in force at that date.

Key rules

Legal basis. The value of exports of goods and services must be brought into the country in foreign currency and/or traded in the exchange market on the terms the BCRA sets (Decree 609/2019, art. 1, as replaced by Decree 91/2019, BO 28 Dec 2019).
Companies: settle within 20 business days. Collections for services rendered by residents to non residents must be brought in and settled in the official market (MLC) within 20 business days of collection abroad or in Argentina, or of credit to an account abroad (BCRA "Exterior y Cambios", point 2.2.1, ordered text at 14 Sep 2026, last communication incorporated: Com. A 8481). There is no minimum amount; usual foreign bank charges count as settled (same point). The rate is the one freely agreed with the bank (point 1.3).
Individuals: may keep dollars. Services exported by individuals are exempt from settlement if the funds arrive within the term, are credited to a foreign currency account in the client's own name at a local financial entity, and the mechanism is fiscally neutral. Banks may not charge commissions, only documented foreign bank charges at cost (point 2.2.2.1; point 2.8).
The 2025 and 2026 relaxation. From 14 Apr 2025, resident individuals were freed from the 90 day securities sworn statements on outflows (Com. A 8226, point 4). On 18 Sep 2025 the BCRA removed the USD 36,000 annual cap on the individuals' exception (Com. A 8330, point 1). On 9 Apr 2026 it extended the exception to all service concepts (Com. A 8417, point 2). None of this freed companies.
Knowledge economy companies. Beneficiaries of the export chapter of Decree 679/2022 (art. 8) may keep up to 30% of the dollars from incremental net exports, measured quarterly against the same quarter of 2021, only to pay registered staff in dollars. They need a bank certificate and a special account (points 2.2.2.2 and 2.6.2.1).
Penalties. Breaches fall under the Criminal Exchange Law (point 1.5): a fine of up to 10 times the operation for a first offence, prison of 1 to 4 years for a first repeat offence, and joint liability of the directors involved (Law 19.359, t.o. 1995, art. 2(a), (b), (f)).

What changes the answer

Company or individual. The exception in point 2.2.2.1 is for individuals only. An SAS with one partner is still a company.
Knowledge economy registration. A registered company with export growth over 2021 can keep up to 30% of the increase, but only for dollar payroll (Decree 679/2022, art. 8).
RIGI vehicle. A RIGI project vehicle that opted for FX benefits follows point 14.1.3 instead (point 2.2.1).
Dollar payments you already have access for. A company may skip settlement if the dollars stay in its local dollar account and are applied at the same time to a payment with MLC access, with a sworn statement (point 2.7).

Worked examples

A developer invoices a US client USD 5,000 a month, credited abroad on Monday 2 Nov 2026, billing either through an SAS or as an individual. The official buying rate is a hypothetical ARS 1,530.00 per US$ (no BCRA rate for 23 Oct 2026 could be captured). Peso values are converted to USD at dolar MEP ARS 1,563.90 per US$ on 23 Oct 2026, from some secondary summaries (unconfirmed) (live: /data/mep/). Foreign bank charges are assumed to be zero.

Step or item	Time	Cost ARS	Cost USD
Collection credited abroad	2 Nov 2026	0	0
SAS: settlement deadline (20 business days, point 2.2.1)	30 Nov 2026, weekends only (unconfirmed)
SAS: pesos received, 5,000 × 1,530.00	at settlement	7,650,000.00 received	4,891.62 at MEP
SAS: shortfall versus MEP value (7,819,500.00)	per month	169,500.00	108.38
SAS: shortfall over 12 months	per year	2,034,000.00	1,300.59
Individual: credited to own local dollar account	within term	0 commission (point 2.8)	keeps 5,000.00

Step by step.

Deadline: 20 weekdays from 2 Nov 2026 is 30 Nov 2026; holidays move it later (unconfirmed).
SAS: USD 5,000 × ARS 1,530.00 = ARS 7,650,000.00. At MEP that is 7,650,000.00 ÷ 1,563.90 = USD 4,891.62.
Individual: USD 5,000 stays in dollars. Its peso value at MEP is 5,000 × 1,563.90 = ARS 7,819,500.00.
Gap: 7,819,500.00 − 7,650,000.00 = ARS 169,500.00 a month (USD 108.38), 2.22% at these assumed rates; ARS 2,034,000.00 (USD 1,300.59) a year. Measure the real gap on each settlement date.

Cost to do it: no BCRA fee found. SAS: the bank's FX spread and fees (unconfirmed). Individual: no commission allowed, foreign charges at cost (point 2.8). Capital: none required by the FX rules. Time: up to 20 business days per collection.

Practical traps

Keeping the dollars abroad or on a foreign platform. Credit to an account abroad starts the 20 business day clock (point 2.2.1). The individuals' exception requires an account at a local financial entity, so a foreign account, or a local payment service provider account, does not meet it on the text (unconfirmed).
"Fiscally neutral" is not tax free. Income tax, social security and monotributo apply in full. The exception only removes the forced sale.
Settling late. Late settlement is still a breach. How the BCRA enforces late but completed settlements is not in the sources (unconfirmed).

FAQ

Is there a minimum amount below which a company need not settle? No. Point 2.2.1 sets no threshold. The only threshold was the USD 36,000 cap on the individuals' exception, removed by Com. A 8330.

Can a freelancer keep all their dollars? Yes, if they arrive within the term in their own dollar account at a local bank and the result is fiscally neutral (point 2.2.2.1). There is no cap since 18 Sep 2025, and all service concepts qualify since 9 Apr 2026.

Can a company sell its export dollars through MEP instead? No. The blend scheme that allowed 20% through securities ended on 14 Apr 2025 (DNU 269/2025, arts. 1 and 2). A company that sells securities for dollars also loses MLC access for 90 days (points 3.16.3.1 and 3.16.3.2).

Published 27 Oct 2026 from our research draft. Points marked (unconfirmed) have not yet been checked against the official text; rely on the primary sources linked below.