RIGI gives US$200-million projects a 25% tax and 30 years of stability, and 23 projects worth US$49.7 billion have signed up. Here is who qualifies, what it really gives, the deadline — and the smaller RIMI that most foreign companies should look at instead.
The RIGI (Large Investment Incentive Regime), created by the 2024 Ley Bases, offers projects of US$200 million or more a 25% income tax, duty and FX relief, and 30 years of guaranteed stability enforceable through international arbitration. It has worked: by early October 2026, 23 projects worth US$49.7 billion had been approved, mostly in mining and oil and gas, with 24 more under review.
Most foreign companies are nowhere near US$200 million. For them the more relevant news is the RIMI, a regime for small and medium investments that became law with the 2026 labour reform. This guide covers both, plus the “Super RIGI” bill still in the Senate.
Law and practice: Law 27,742, Title VII; Decree 749/2024 as amended by Decree 105/2026; Ministry of Economy figures reported on 2 October 2026.
| Project | Minimum investment |
|---|---|
| General (forestry, tourism, infrastructure, mining, technology, steel, energy) | US$200 million |
| Offshore oil and gas | US$200 million (cut from US$600 million in February 2026) |
| New onshore oil and gas in undeveloped areas | US$600 million |
| Oil and gas transport and storage | US$300 million |
| Technology expansion into a new product | US$250 million |
| Strategic long-term export project | US$2 billion (at least US$1 billion per stage) |
At least 40% of the minimum must be invested within two years (20% for strategic export projects), and at least 20% of total capex should go to local suppliers. The project must sit in a single-purpose vehicle (a company, a dedicated branch of a foreign company, or a joint venture) with its own tax number. Applications close on 8 July 2027, after the one extension the law allows.
Law and practice: Decree 105/2026 (Boletín Oficial 19 February 2026) used the one-year extension and changed the oil and gas and technology minimums.
| Benefit | RIGI | General regime |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 25% | 25–35% |
| Dividends and branch remittances | 7%, falling to 3.5% after 7 years | 7% |
| Depreciation | Accelerated (movables in 2 years) | Normal |
| Tax losses | No time limit; transferable after 5 years | 5 years |
| Import duties on capital goods and inputs | Exempt | Payable |
| Export duties | Exempt after 3 years (2 for strategic exports) | Payable |
| Export proceeds kept abroad | 0% for 2 years; 20% after 2, 40% after 3, 100% after 4 years | Must be sold locally |
| Stability | 30 years: tax, customs and FX | None |
| Disputes | International arbitration (ICC, PCA, ICSID) | Argentine courts |
The FX schedule is often misreported. For a standard RIGI project, the share of export proceeds that need not be sold in Argentina is 0% for the first two years after start-up, 20% after two years, 40% after three and 100% after four. The faster 20/40/100 schedule applies to strategic export projects and to the Super RIGI bill.
Law and practice: BCRA Communication A 8099/2024. Provinces that adhere to RIGI may not create new local taxes on a RIGI vehicle.
Southern Energy LNG
Río Negro, about US$15.2 billion.
Vicuña copper (BHP, Lundin)
San Juan, about US$9.7 billion.
Oil and gas in Vaca Muerta
Tecpetrol, Pampa, YPF’s VMOS pipeline.
Lithium and copper
Rio Tinto’s Rincón (Salta), Glencore’s MARA (Catamarca), McEwen’s Los Azules (San Juan).
Industry
Pampa’s urea and ammonia plant in Buenos Aires.
The pattern is clear: energy and mining, with sponsors big enough to negotiate with ministries and provinces. Approved totals are commitments, not money already spent.
| Regime | Size | Status, October 2026 | Main benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| RIGI | From US$200 million | Applications until 8 July 2027 | 25% tax, 30-year stability, FX and duty relief |
| Super RIGI (new industries) | From US$1 billion | Passed by Deputies June 2026; in Senate committee | 15% tax; AI, semiconductors, data centres, batteries, hydrogen |
| RIMI (mid-size investments) | From US$150,000 (micro) to US$9 million (medium) | Law since March 2026; regulated May 2026 | Accelerated depreciation, early VAT refunds |
RIMI is the one to watch for smaller foreign investors: a micro company qualifies from US$150,000 and a medium one from US$3.5–9 million, with accelerated depreciation and VAT refunds from the third period. It runs for two years from May 2026, but the ARCA system for applications was slow to start; check it is open before you plan around it.
Law and practice: RIMI: Law 27,802, Decree 242/2026, joint resolution ARCA–Industry Secretariat RG 5849/2026. Super RIGI: bill passed by the Chamber of Deputies on 24 June 2026.
Under US$200 million, RIGI is out; look at RIMI.
FX freedom and zero export duties are worth most to exporters.
30-year stability matters for mines and plants, not for trading companies.
After that, only a new law can reopen the window.
For regional services or trading, a Paraguayan company at 10% may beat any Argentine incentive.
The Large Investment Incentive Regime under Law 27,742: a 25% income tax, duty and FX relief and 30-year stability for projects of at least US$200 million.
US$200 million in most sectors; US$300–600 million for some oil and gas activities, and US$2 billion for strategic long-term export projects.
8 July 2027, after the one-year extension made by Decree 105/2026.
23 projects worth about US$49.7 billion as of early October 2026, with 24 more under review.
Yes. RIMI, created by Law 27,802 in 2026, offers accelerated depreciation and early VAT refunds from US$150,000 for micro companies up to US$9 million for medium ones.
A bill for investments of US$1 billion or more in new industries such as AI, semiconductors and batteries, with a 15% tax rate. It passed the Chamber of Deputies in June 2026 and awaits the Senate.
The FX rules RIGI projects are partly freed from.
Contracts and free zones on the Pacific side.
Tell us the size, sector and timing of your Argentine project. We test RIGI, RIMI and a Paraguayan alternative — fixed quote within one business day.
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