🇺🇾 Annual Compliance — Uruguay

Assuming Free Trade Zone benefits apply to domestic sales

Fix: Free zone companies are exempt from all national taxes — but only on activities conducted within the zone and sold outside Uruguay. Sales to the Uruguayan domestic market from a free zone are treated as imports and subject to standard duties and taxes. If you need to serve the local market, you may need a separate onshore entity.

Overlooking the territorial system's documentation requirements

Fix: While Uruguay's territorial system exempts foreign-source income, you must be able to demonstrate that income is genuinely foreign-sourced. Maintain clear documentation of where services are performed, where clients are located, and where value is created. The DGI can challenge the foreign-source characterisation if documentation is insufficient.

Underestimating Uruguay's high cost of living and operations

Fix: Uruguay has the highest per-capita income in South America outside certain Argentine metrics. Salaries, rent, and professional services are significantly more expensive than in Colombia, Peru, or even parts of Brazil. Budget accordingly — especially for staffing costs in Montevideo.