Free trade zones in Uruguay in 2024

• The Uruguay government currently operates twelve Free Trade Zones: i) Nueva Palmira ii) Fray Bentos (UPM) iii) Libertada iv) Punta Pereira (Montes del Plata) v) Colonia vi) Colonia Suiza vii) Floridasur viii) Rivera (state controlled) ix) Zonamerica x) WTC xi) Praque de las Ciencias and xii) Aguada Park;
• The Uruguay Free Trade Zones provide businesses with advantages including: i) corporate income tax (IRAE), wealth tax and all other national tax exemptions ii) exemptions from taxes on dividends paid to non-residents iii) VAT exemptions on foreign sales and purchase of goods and services as well as sales and services rendered within the Free Zones and iv) customs duties exemptions on goods traded by Free Zones with the rest of the world;
• In order to conduct operations in the Uruguay FTZs, a company must i) submit an agreement with the free zone operator together with a business plan to the National Office of Free Zones for approval and ii) ensure that 75% of its employees are Uruguayan Nationals (there are exceptions to this rule that may lower the requirement).

Table of comparison – Uruguay free trade zones (1)

Table of comparison – Uruguay free trade zones (2)