Bolivia's National Assembly enacted the Tax Transparency and Amnesty Law 1733 on 28 May 2026, granting amnesty for pre-2018 and 2020 debts. The law provides a 120-day window to regularise 2018–2025 balances with reduced penalties and interest, while introducing structural reforms including a four-year statute of limitations for tax audits and updated VAT and gaming regulations.

RF Report

Bolivia’s National Assembly has enacted the Tax Transparency and Amnesty Law 1733 (Ley No. 1733), which was published in the Official Gazette on 28 May 2026.

Law 1733 introduces broad tax administration and procedural measures aimed at waiving taxes, interest, and penalties for both corporations and individuals.

The legislation grants a one-time debt amnesty for liabilities incurred before 2018 and during the 2020 fiscal year, provided the debts do not exceed specific monetary thresholds. Taxpayers with outstanding balances from 2018 through 2025 are permitted to settle their obligations with significant reductions in penalties, interest, and maintenance value.

Beyond immediate relief, the law introduces structural reforms by shortening the statute of limitations for tax audits and collections to four years. It also updates the legal framework for value-added tax calculations and the regulation of gaming and lottery activities. By implementing these measures, the state aims to encourage voluntary compliance and modernise the national tax system.

The key measures of Law No. 1733 are as follows:

Tax Amnesty and special forgiveness

  • Pre-2018 liabilities: The law grants a one-time condonation of tax debts, interests, and penalties for fiscal periods before January 2018 for taxpayers of the National Tax Service (SIN) and National Customs (AN). However, this amnesty does not apply to taxpayers whose accumulated omitted tax as of 31 December 2017 is equal to or greater than Bs10,000,000.
  • Special forgiveness for 2020: Debts and penalties for the 2020 fiscal year are fully condoned, regardless of the amount of the omitted tax.
  • Condonation for existing payments: Taxpayers who have already paid the principal tax and interest but still owe penalties as of the law’s publication date are granted full condonation of those penalties. This also includes a full condonation of penalties for contraband contravencional committed until 31 December 2025.

Regularisation regime (2018–2025)

Taxpayers with debts from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2025 (excluding those covered by the 2020 amnesty) can regularise their status within 120 calendar days of the law’s enactment (with a possible extension by the Executive Branch until 31 December 2026).

  • Cash payment: Regularisation via a single cash payment requires paying the omitted tax updated with only 50% of the value maintenance; the remaining 50% of the maintenance, plus all interests and penalties (for fraud, omission of payment, or breach of formal duties), are condoned.
  • Instalment agreements: Alternatively, taxpayers can enter into payment plans of up to 36 monthly instalments. Under this option, the omitted tax is updated to the date of the law’s publication, and all interests and penalties are condoned.
  • Eligibility: This regime applies to debts in various stages, including those under official determination, pending tax returns, incorrect returns (requiring rectification), or those currently in administrative or judicial appeal (provided the taxpayer withdraws the appeal).

Reduction of statute of limitations

The law modifies the Bolivian Tax Code to reduce the prescription periods for Tax Administration powers:

  • Assessment and collection: The power to control, investigate, determine debt, impose sanctions, and execute determined debt now prescribes in 4 years (previously 8 years in earlier legislation). This period is extended by 2 years if the taxpayer is not properly registered.
  • Administrative processes: The power to execute imposed sanctions now prescribes in 2 years.

Modifications to VAT rules

The law amends the calculation of the Value Added Tax (VAT) base to ensure the effective rate aligns with the statutory rate:

  • Net sale price: The taxable base is defined as the net sale price, which is the real value of the product or service before taxes.
  • Separation of tax: Explicitly, the VAT does not form part of the net sale price and must be shown separately on the invoice. This modification aims to eliminate differences between statutory and effective rates. This specific change takes effect on the first day of the month following the publication of its regulatory Supreme Decree.

Gaming and promotional activities

The amendments to Law No. 060 significantly revise the legal framework for lotteries and games of chance by expanding its scope to cover all forms of gaming activities, including digital and mechanical formats. The changes also redefine the “Impuesto al Juego” (IJ) to apply to the conduct of games of chance and raffles nationwide, with taxpayers including all individuals and entities engaged in such activities. In addition, several provisions of the original law, including certain tax exclusions and definitions, have been repealed.

Law No. 1733 entered into force on the same date, except for the second transitional provision, which will take effect upon publication of its implementing regulations.