Articles
Business intelligence and analysis on Ecuador
SRI Limits Credit Note Use to 60% of Tax Obligations — 40% Cash Requirement Takes Effect May 1
Ecuador's tax authority has imposed a 60% cap on the use of credit notes to satisfy tax obligations, effective May 1. The remaining 40% — including any fines and interest — must be paid in cash through approved channels. Tax specialists argue the restriction exceeds the SRI's administrative authority and conflicts with the Tax Code.
Ecuador Cuts Tourism IVA to 8% for May Day Weekend via Decree 368 — Fiscal Stimulus for $2.3B Sector
President Noboa signed Executive Decree 368 on April 27, temporarily reducing the IVA from 15% to 8% on tourism services for the May Day long weekend (April 30–May 3). The measure covers accommodation, dining, tourist transport, vehicle rental, travel agencies, and events. The SRI is responsible for implementation.
Ecuador Average Worker Income Falls USD 46.60 Year-Over-Year to $429.50 — Below 2026 Minimum Wage
INEC's March 2026 labor survey shows average worker income dropped to USD 429.50 — below the USD 482 minimum wage and down USD 46.60 year-over-year. Precarious employment rose to 34.8%, while informal employment hit 56.3%.
Ecuador Expands 15% IVA to 60+ Food Products Under IMF Revenue Commitment — $1.5 Billion Target for 2026
An SRI circular dated March 26 applied Ecuador's 15% IVA to over 60 previously exempt food products, including imported lactose-free milk and fortified dairy. The measure is part of a $1.5 billion revenue increase committed to the IMF under Ecuador's $5 billion credit facility.
Two ADN Bills Propose Redirecting 0.5% Employer IESS Contribution to Secap — USD 100–120M Annually at Stake
Two Asamblea Nacional bills would restore Secap's pre-2015 dedicated funding by routing a 0.5% employer payroll contribution through IESS to the professional training agency. Historical throughput: USD 100–120 million annually. Status: both in committee review.
Nine-Province Curfew May 3-18 Imposes Overnight Operations Restructuring on Banana, Logistics, Manufacturing
Ecuador's May 3-18 curfew in nine provinces and four cantones — announced April 20 — will not allow sector-specific exemptions. Interior Minister John Reimberg publicly rejected a request from the Clúster Bananero del Ecuador for overnight operations carve-outs. Exporters, logistics operators, and manufacturers face 15 nights of forced restructuring.
Labor Ministry Targets May 1 Cut of "Visto Bueno" Dismissal Process from 120 Days to 30-45
Ecuador's Labor Ministry plans to reduce the "visto bueno" dismissal process from the current 80-120 day window to 30-45 days, effective May 1, 2026. The reform was originally proposed in December 2025 in consultation with both labor and employer groups. Employer dismissal timing and indemnification certainty improve materially.
Government Weighs 1-2 Month Extension of $177.5M Transport Fuel Compensation Program
Ecuador's government is evaluating a one- to two-month extension of the Decreto 306 fuel-subsidy compensation to roughly 57,000 transporters beyond April. Minister of Government Nataly Morillo confirmed $177.5 million has been allocated so far. Tariff-setting authority remains with municipal GADs, not the national government.
SRI Extends Tax Deadline to April 23 for RUC Digits 5/6 After April 20 System Failure — 283,413 Still Unfiled
Ecuador's tax authority SRI extended the April 20 filing deadline to April 23 for taxpayers whose RUC ninth digit is 5 or 6, citing platform intermittencies under peak load. The extension covers corporate income tax, monthly VAT, and currency-outflow tax. SRI separately reports 283,413 taxpayers nationally have not filed their 2025 income tax returns.
SRI Mandates Single-Step IVA Declaration + Payment Effective June 1, 2026
SRI announces VAT (IVA) declarations effective June 1, 2026 are valid only when filed simultaneously with full tax payment. Partial payment via credit notes invalidates the declaration. Exemptions limited to fiscal compensation system participants and qualifying direct exporters. Compliance and corporate treasury workflow change material for all RUC-registered taxpayers.
SRI Reports $267.2B in 2025 Sales (+9%), $21.5B in Tax Collection (+6.8%)
Ecuador's tax authority SRI reported 2025 economy-wide reported sales of $267.2 billion (+9% YoY) and tax collection of $21.5 billion (+6.8% YoY). Enforcement-generated revenue totaled $578.6 million, roughly 2.7% of collections. Digital channel usage hit 167 million portal visits and 3.5 million credentialed transactions.
Ecuador Finance Ministry Issues Directive for Debt Settlement Using Unproductive State Real Estate
Ecuador's Finance Ministry has published an operational directive allowing government debts to public and private creditors — including GADs and suppliers — to be settled using unproductive state real estate. The protocol requires signed dación de pago agreements, technical reports, and cadastral verification. Inmobiliar held 469 state properties as of December 2024.