Buying Florida Property from Argentina: Currency Rules, Reporting and Financing

Can I buy dollars in Argentina to pay for a Florida purchase?

That depends on rules set by the Banco Central de la República Argentina (BCRA), not by a US lender. The BCRA's consolidated text on "Exterior y Cambios" (updated to 14 September 2026, last communication incorporated: A 8481) says local entities may give resident individuals access to the foreign exchange market to form external assets only when a list of conditions is met ^[1].

For buying foreign-currency bills or making deposits, the conditions include that the purchase is debited from the client's account at a local financial institution, that the institution has evidence the client has income or assets consistent with saving in foreign currency, and that the client signs a sworn statement not to buy securities settled in foreign currency for the following 90 days ^[1]. A separate provision covers other forms of external asset formation, family remittances and derivatives; it conditions access without prior BCRA approval on, among other requirements, the client not exceeding the equivalent of USD 200 in a calendar month across all institutions ^[1].

The passages we read do not say which category a home purchase abroad falls under, and we are not going to guess. Ask an Argentine lawyer or accountant, and ask your bank which concept code it would apply, before you plan the source of your down payment.

Who counts as a resident under the BCRA text?

The BCRA text says an individual is considered a resident of the country within whose borders they have their center of economic interest or main activity, and presumes residence in a country for a person who stays or intends to stay there at least one year ^[1].

This is the BCRA's definition for its foreign-exchange rules. Tax residence for ARCA purposes is a separate question, and we have not read ARCA's residence criteria. If your situation is mixed (for example, a family that splits time between countries), have an Argentine lawyer or accountant confirm your status under each set of rules.

Do I have to report a US property to Argentina's tax agency?

ARCA (Agencia de Recaudación y Control Aduanero, the agency formerly called AFIP) describes the Bienes Personales tax as applying to individuals resident in Argentina for assets located in the country and abroad, while individuals resident abroad are covered only for assets in the country ^[2].

The same ARCA page states a total-asset threshold above which filing is required and says the amount is updated each year; for 2025 it lists ARS 384,728,044.57 ^[2]. Because that number and the treatment of each asset type change, we cite it only as what the page said on 30 September 2026. A local accountant should tell you how a Florida property is valued and declared for you.

Is there an income tax treaty between Argentina and the United States?

The IRS page "United States Income Tax Treaties - A to Z" did not list Argentina when we read it on 30 September 2026; countries beginning with A were Armenia, Australia, Austria and Azerbaijan ^[3]. We read that as no treaty listed, not as a legal opinion.

The IRS states that income from US real property owned by a nonresident alien is taxed at 30 percent (or a lower treaty rate), and that a nonresident who holds the property to earn rent may elect to treat it as income effectively connected with a US trade or business so that deductions are allowed and net income is taxed at graduated rates ^[4]. Without a treaty, the treaty rate is not an option, so a US tax professional should weigh the election for your case.

How does US financing work for someone living in Argentina?

Financing for buyers who are not US citizens and have no Social Security number is covered on our foreign national loans page. Those loans are lender-specific, so we do not quote ratios, minimum down payments or rates here; we tell you what our lending partners require once we have your details.

What we can source is the general contrast: for consumer-purpose mortgages secured by a dwelling the lender must make a reasonable, good-faith determination that you can repay, considering factors such as current or expected income or assets and credit history, and must verify what it relies on using reasonably reliable third-party records ^[5]. That rule, 12 CFR 1026.43, applies to consumer credit secured by a dwelling ^[5]; Regulation Z does not apply to credit extended primarily for a business, commercial or agricultural purpose, so a business-purpose investment loan, such as a DSCR loan, can fall outside it ^[9]. Expect to be asked to document where your money comes from, in Spanish-language records too, with translations where needed. Global G Home Loans is a mortgage broker; we do not give tax, legal or foreign-exchange advice.

What should I know about moving funds and closing taxes?

FinCEN's Residential Real Estate Rule page said, when we read it, that on March 19, 2026 a federal court vacated the rule, so it is not in effect ^[7]. Title companies and lenders still follow their own anti-money-laundering and identity procedures, so plan for questions about the source of funds.

If you later sell, FIRPTA withholding applies when a foreign person disposes of a US real property interest: the buyer is generally the withholding agent, the general rate is 15 percent of the amount realized, and a reduced or no-withholding exception exists for buyers who will use a home as a residence under stated price levels ^[6]. The IRS also says individuals who cannot get a Social Security number can use an ITIN to provide a taxpayer ID for these transactions ^[8].