The removal of the currency exchange restriction, which occurred on Monday, April 14, 2025, led to changes in the prices of digital services like video games on the Steam platform. Additionally, according to what was reported by the media outlet TN, Javier Milei's government will eliminate the taxes applied to this platform, which could translate into a reduction in the final price for users in Argentina.
Steam is one of the most chosen platforms by gamers, as it allows them to acquire and enjoy a huge variety of titles. It also offers social features, cloud storage, mod compatibility, and access from multiple devices.
However, for many Argentine players, calculating how much a game will cost at the end of the purchase can be complicated, given that payments are made in dollars and various taxes are applied.
Javier Milei, presidente de Argentina.
Taxes on Steam
Currently, the prices of video games on Steam are expressed in dollars, which means that at the time of purchase, several tax charges and withholdings are added, including:
Value Added Tax (VAT): 21% on the price of the digital product or service.
Withholding for Income and Personal Property Taxes: an additional 30% on the total amount of the transaction.
In addition to the taxes established at the national level, some provinces apply additional tax charges depending on the payment method used. The most common are:
Stamp Tax (1.2%): This tax is applied in certain provinces to purchases made with a credit card.
Gross Income Withholding (variable percentage): Some jurisdictions impose a withholding on foreign currency transactions or digital services. On your card statement, it may appear as "Gross Income Withholding," "IIBB," or a similar denomination. The percentage varies by province: for example, in CABA and Buenos Aires, it is 2%, but in others, it can reach up to 5.5%.
Javier Milei y un chico.
Therefore, when calculating how much you will pay for a game on Steam from Argentina, it is essential to consider several factors: the price in dollars of the video game, provincial and national taxes, the dollar exchange rate at the time of purchase, and the type of card or payment method chosen.
Eliminating the taxes applied to the purchase of video games on Steam would represent a great benefit for users in Argentina, as removing or reducing these charges would facilitate access to these digital products. This, in turn, could encourage an increase in sales and generate greater interest from the local audience.
More specifically, for every dollar a title costs on Steam, players in Argentina must pay $1,233 (value as of Wednesday, April 16), plus a 30% withholding for Income Tax, 21% corresponding to VAT, and 2% for Gross Income. In total, a one-dollar video game ends up costing $1,869, while without the tax surcharges, it would only cost $1,233.
