📊 E-commerce Profitability Calculator

Calculate the real profitability of your product starting from the retail price. Includes Argentine VAT, gross revenue tax (IIBB) and income tax.

Registered Taxpayers (RI) Tienda Nube MercadoLibre Free
Preset:
Selling price
$
Costs and expenses
Item Type Value (incl. VAT, or %) Purchase VAT Net Input VAT
Cost subtotal — —
Gross revenue tax (IIBB)
4.0%
Tax base: net income excluding VAT — the correct basis for a Registered Taxpayer.
⚠️ Reference rate — rough average 4%. IIBB is a provincial tax; the actual rate varies by province and activity, typically between 2% and 7% or more. Check the tax rules of the province where you sell.
Income tax (Ganancias)
Estimated base: —  ›  Income tax: —
⚠️ Estimate based on the profit of the transaction. Individuals pay on a progressive 5%–35% scale; companies on a 25%–35% scale. Personal allowances, deductions and fixed annual costs are not considered — the actual tax will always be lower. Useful as a reference for the marginal tax impact per product.
Withholdings, perceptions and other collection regimes

This calculator does not include withholdings or perceptions of VAT, IIBB, income tax or other collection regimes (SIRCREB, SIRCAR, RG 2408, platform withholdings, etc.).

The reason is that they are not an additional cost: they are tax prepayments already reflected in the analysis. Including them would count the same tax twice.

They do, however, have a real cash-flow impact: when the amounts withheld exceed the tax actually owed, a credit balance in the taxpayer's favor builds up and stays locked until it is offset or refunded.

💼 Mercado Contable actively works to avoid these effects: we monitor credit balances and handle refund and exclusion requests before ARCA, AGIP and provincial tax authorities. Contact us free of charge →
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Net profitability on retail price
0%10%20%30%+
Income statement
Net retail price (excl. VAT)
—
Total net costs
—
Gross result
—
IIBB
—
Income tax (estimate)
—
Net profitexcluding VAT position
—
VAT position
Output VAT (sales)—
Input VAT (purchases)—
VAT payable to ARCA—
Total tax burden
IIBB
—
Net VAT to ARCA
—
Income tax (est.)
—
Total taxes
—
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What is this calculator for?

It is designed for Registered Taxpayers (Responsables Inscriptos) selling products on e-commerce platforms such as Tienda Nube or MercadoLibre in Argentina. Starting from the retail price (VAT included), it calculates how much net profit is really left after all costs, fees and taxes.

Unlike the platforms' own simulators, this calculator includes the VAT position (output minus input VAT), gross revenue tax (IIBB) with a configurable provincial rate, and an estimate of income tax at the taxpayer's marginal rate.

How to use it, step by step

  1. Enter the retail price — what the buyer pays, VAT included.
  2. Choose a preset (Tienda Nube or MercadoLibre) to load a typical cost structure.
  3. Fill in each item. For MercadoLibre, use the official ML simulator to get the exact percentage.
  4. Adjust the IIBB rate for your province.
  5. Select your income tax rate based on your annual bracket.
  6. Read the results panel — it shows your net profitability, VAT position and total tax burden.

Frequently asked questions

How is e-commerce profitability calculated for a Registered Taxpayer?

Start from the retail price including VAT. Separate the output VAT and work with the net amount. Subtract all net costs, then IIBB on net income, and finally the estimated income tax at the taxpayer's marginal rate.

How much IIBB applies to e-commerce in Argentina?

It varies by province. A rough average is 4%, but it can range from 2% to 7% or more. Since 2025 MercadoLibre also applies province-based adjustments to its fees to reflect these differences.

What commission does MercadoLibre charge in Argentina?

Commissions range roughly from 11% to 17% depending on category and province. For the exact percentage, use the official MercadoLibre simulator.

Is VAT a cost for the seller?

VAT is charged to the customer (output VAT) and paid on purchases (input VAT). The difference is what the Registered Taxpayer pays to ARCA. The calculator shows this position separately.

How does profitability differ between Tienda Nube and MercadoLibre?

On Tienda Nube the platform fee is low (~2%) but the seller pays for its own traffic. On MercadoLibre the fee is higher (11–17%) but includes access to millions of buyers. This calculator lets you compare both scenarios under the same tax assumptions.

Why are withholdings and perceptions not included?

They are not an additional cost: they are tax prepayments already considered in the analysis. Including them would double-count the same tax. They do, however, affect cash flow when the amounts withheld exceed the tax owed.

Informational tool for guidance only. It does not replace professional advice. Talk to an accountant for a definitive analysis.