TL;DR: Yes, but the annual holding taxes are modest. A foreign owner of a Buenos Aires apartment pays the ABL (the city property and services tax) and, depending on the total value of their Argentine assets, may owe Bienes Personales (a personal-assets / wealth tax) above an exemption threshold. These are separate from the one-time closing costs and the taxes you pay when you sell.
| Tax | What it is | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| ABL | City property and services tax (CABA) | Every owner of city property |
| Bienes Personales | Personal-assets (wealth) tax | Owners whose taxable assets exceed the threshold |
ABL is the routine, recurring city tax on a Buenos Aires property, comparable to municipal property tax elsewhere. It is modest and billed by the city. A well-managed property keeps it current; arrears are a red flag at resale.
Bienes Personales is a national personal-assets tax. It applies to assets above an annual exemption threshold, and many smaller holdings fall below it. Whether a foreign owner owes it depends on the value of their Argentine assets and that year's threshold and rates, which change. An accountant calculates it.
These annual taxes are separate from two other things foreign owners sometimes confuse them with:
Keeping the three categories distinct, buy, hold, sell, is the key to understanding your true cost of ownership.
For most foreign owners of a single Buenos Aires apartment, the annual holding-tax burden is light: ABL on the property, and Bienes Personales only if total Argentine assets clear the threshold. A local accountant handles the filings, and a competent manager keeps the ABL current so the property never falls into arrears.
Yes. A foreign owner of a Buenos Aires apartment pays the annual ABL city property tax, and may owe Bienes Personales (personal-assets tax) if their Argentine assets exceed the exemption threshold.
ABL is the City of Buenos Aires property and services tax, a modest recurring municipal charge paid by every owner of city property.
Bienes Personales is a national personal-assets (wealth) tax applied to assets above an annual exemption threshold. Smaller holdings often fall below it; an accountant calculates any liability.
Yes. Annual holding taxes (ABL, Bienes Personales) are separate from one-time closing costs paid when you buy and from the ITI or capital gains tax paid when you sell.
The annual burden is light, but keeping it clean protects your resale. To understand the full cost of owning a specific apartment, book a call.
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