'Save 9% on your travel in Uruguay' Travel

Ed (200.172.107.160) - 03/26/06 15:53

The sales tax in Uruguay seems a bit excessive at 23%. However you can get a break on it for many items you purchase during your trip there.

It's easy. Just pay with your credit card. The refund applies to purchases at restaurants, hotels, car rentals and a few other items. Your credit card will be charged for the full amount and a refund will appear for the 9%.

Now that means a great meal which is already inexpensive an unbeatable bargain. It's not just for tourists either. The only require is that your purchase is made with a credit card.

Comment #1 RiverQueen from EARTH, MILKYWAY - 03/26/07 19:14

That's very interesting but how does that work? Is it only for traveller's or is there a way for residents to get some kind of a break as well?

I made the comment in another part of the forum about how excessive the 23% tax is. Why is it that high and how do the poorer people of Uruguay cope with that kind of tax?

I'm very surprised that a country that offers so much for the retirees it wouldn't take a look at how that would throw people off the incentive to move there.

I mean if you buy a $50, 000.00 house and have to spend another 23% on taxes that's almost one quarter of the cost of the house on top again.

Also do they charge taxes on rentals? If so is it the same tax?

Comment #2 Lee from Pocitos - 03/26/07 20:41

The 23% tax is for stuff you buy in stores (there are some reduced levels for some products like food). For the rebate on that just use your credit card.

All the prices you see in stores, on menus, etc INCLUDE the tax. It is usually, but not always, seperated out on the receipt.

For buying real estate there are transfer taxes similar to the US. The property taxes are much less. When you rent a property there is no tax charged.

Some of that will change with the new tax laws they are working on implementing.

Comment #3 PokerPrincess from Canada, Earth - 03/28/07 23:32

That's quite interesting. You say that these will change when the new taxes are implemented. Does that mean it will change for the better or the worse.

What is coming down the pipeline as far as information on this new tax goes.

Are they giving you any indications of whether it is going up, going down or are they adding new items to be taxed or taking some of the taxed items off?

Comment #4 lily from valley - 04/04/07 16:03

23%! Wow I do hope that it changes for the better and not the worse. It is interesting that only certain things get taxed especially when it seems like it is more of the necessity type items like food. What if you don't use a credit card? Is refund just lost?

Comment #5 Sweet Angel from cloud nine - 04/04/07 22:22

Lily, my understanding from reading other things Lee has posted is that 23% sounds a lot worse than it is. There is no income tax so essentially it's just a use tax.

Comment #6 Alexandra Popescu from Bucharest - 10/15/08 02:49

The 23 tax is as you talked about. However if you want to save money why not choosing cheaper accommodation?

• My website

Comment #7 Lee from Pocitos - 10/15/08 05:19

In July 2007, the 23% tax was reduced to 22% and an income tax put in place.

The Pocitos Plaza Hotel lists a double as US$140 (in June of 2005 we paid US$65... so you can see how inflation is). They do offer a nice in room wifi service.

I notice on your website, Alexandra that you mention "High speed Internet connection" for the Pocitos Plaza Hotel. It is a great disservice not to mention that it is in room wifi.

I tried to check your price for this hotel to see how much I can save... but after waiting for ever for it to load results from 100 vendors there is just a screen with nothing. Well, the second time it showed some results.

All priced on pounds... what a fricken waste for promoting on an ENGLISH website!

Now you if wait through all the enormous delays your website has and want to make a reservation at the Pocitos Plaza Hotel, you end up at "www.skoosh.com". And it says:

"The Pocitos Plaza Hotel has consistently received low ratings from previous travellers and has an unapproved status."

I would not agree with that based on having stayed there and comments from others that have. It is also a really strange thing to say when you are trying to get hotel reservations!

Skoosh, continues: "Hotel is nearby Carrasco beach, MVD art Gallery, El Sotano, Latu, Portones de Carrasco."

Note, this hotel is in POCITOS. It is NOT near Carrasco beach! You can easily walk to the beach in Pocitos from this hotel, 2 blocks. Carrasco will be a long ride in a taxi! The same for Portones, though you can easily walk to Punta Carettas Shopping.

Also, why one earth do you include this photo with the Pocitos Plaza Hotel listing?

http://images. travelnow. com/hotelimages/ s/015000/015432A.jpg

You need to do a wheee bit more work on your website before you start promoting it here!

Comment #8 ivan (109.111.97.22) - 07/04/10 19:09

Saving any amount of money when traveling is most certainly well worth it. I really must say so, indeed.

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