Bolivia Airport Tax: What You Need To Know

Bolivia's airport tax situation is complex, with various taxes and fees levied on passengers depending on their nationality, residency status, and flight destination. For example, an airport exit tax called the ISAE is charged on international flights when departing Bolivia, while an airport usage fee of Bs.15 is assessed on all flights, regardless of origin or destination. Additionally, foreign residents of Bolivia may be subject to an additional exit tax. These taxes and fees are typically included in ticket prices, but some smaller airlines or airports may require separate payment at the airport. It is always recommended to consult a travel advisor or the airline directly to understand the specific taxes and fees that may apply to your travel itinerary.

Domestic and international airport tax

When departing from Bolivia, travellers are required to pay an airport tax. The amount of tax payable depends on whether the flight is domestic or international.

Domestic Airport Tax

For domestic flights within Bolivia, the airport tax is Bs.15. This is payable at SABSA's Collection Windows.

International Airport Tax

For international flights, the airport tax is $25 USD. This is payable at SABSA's Collection Office. $5 of this payment is destined for the DGAC for aeronautical improvement in Bolivia.

Exit Tax

In addition to the airport tax, there is also an exit tax levied on citizens and residents of Bolivia, as well as visitors who have stayed for more than 90 days. This exit tax is BOB 190 and must be paid at the airport of departure. Children under 2 years of age are exempt from this tax.

It is important to note that departure taxes may vary depending on the airport and destination, and some may need to be paid directly at the airport. It is recommended to consult a travel advisor to know the exact amount of airport tax to be paid.

ISAE exit tax

An airport exit tax called the ISAE (Impuesto a las Salidas Aéreas al Exterior) is levied on international flights departing from Bolivia. This tax is only charged at international airports and must be included in the ticket price. As of 2015, the ISAE tax is Bs. 296 (approximately $43).

Prior to March 3, 2014, the ISAE tax was paid at the airports. However, on this date, the Bolivian National Tax Service passed Resolution No. 10-0037-13, ordering that the ISAE tax be included in the price of all tickets purchased electronically or from travel agencies. This change ensured that travellers would no longer need to pay this tax at the airports.

In addition to the ISAE exit tax, there is also a standard airport usage fee of Bs. 15 assessed on all flights, regardless of whether they are domestic or international. This fee is collected at all airports.

It is important to note that foreigners with residency in Bolivia are subject to additional taxes when departing the country. Specifically, there is an additional foreign resident exit tax of approximately Bs.100-150 ($15). This tax is collected by Bolivian customs agents as residents pass through the security section on their way to the departure gates. The exact amount of this tax may vary, and it is advised to contact a travel advisor for more information.

SABSA collection offices

Yes, there is an airport tax in Bolivia. An airport exit tax called the ISAE (Impuesto a las Salidas Aéreas al Exterior) is assessed on international flights when leaving Bolivia. This tax is only charged at international airports and, as of 2015, costs Bs. 296 (approximately $43). Since 2014, this tax has been included in the price of all tickets purchased electronically or from travel agencies, rather than being paid at the airport.

In addition to the ISAE tax, there is also an airport usage fee of Bs. 15 on all flights, regardless of whether they are domestic or international. This fee is also collected by SABSA.

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In the context of the airport tax in Bolivia, SABSA operates collection windows and offices at Bolivian airports where travellers can pay their airport taxes. For domestic flights within Bolivia, a Bs. 15 tax is paid at SABSA's Collection Windows, while for international flights, a $25 tax is paid at SABSA's Collection Office. Out of the total payment for international flights, $5 is allocated to the DGAC for aeronautical improvement in Bolivia.

Exemptions from airport tax

There are a number of exemptions from airport tax in Bolivia. Firstly, children under the age of two are exempt from paying the exit tax. Travellers transiting through Bolivia for less than eight hours are also exempt from paying the airport tax. Additionally, there is no airport tax for domestic flights within Bolivia, only for international flights departing the country.

It is important to note that the airport tax in Bolivia is included in the price of the ticket for international flights and does not need to be paid separately at the airport. This tax is called the ISAE (Impuesto a las Salidas Aéreas al Exterior) and is assessed on international flights when departing Bolivia. The ISAE tax amount for 2015 was Bs. 296, which is approximately $43.

In addition to the ISAE tax, there is also an airport usage fee of Bs. 15 assessed on all flights, regardless of whether they are domestic or international. This fee is paid at the airport for both incoming and outgoing flights.

For foreign residents of Bolivia, there may be an additional foreign resident exit tax of approximately Bs.100, which is collected by customs agents at the security section before reaching the departure gates. However, it is important to note that there are varying reports of the amount and applicability of this tax.

Additional taxes for foreign residents

Bolivia has a tax system that is made up of national, departmental, and municipal taxes. National taxes are collected by the National Tax Service (SIN), departmental taxes are collected by the governors of each department, and municipal taxes are collected by the mayors of each municipality.

Foreigners with residency in Bolivia are assessed an additional foreign resident exit tax of about Bs.100 (approximately $15). This tax is collected by Bolivian customs agents as you pass through the security section on the way to the departure gates. The price of this tax seems to vary between Bs. 100 and Bs. 150, and it is unclear which Bolivian law or resolution covers this tax.

In addition to the exit tax, foreign residents of Bolivia may be subject to other taxes when travelling. For example, there is an airport exit tax called the ISAE (Impuesto a las Salidas Aéreas al Exterior) on international flights when leaving Bolivia. This tax is included in the price of all tickets purchased electronically or from travel agencies. As of 2015, the ISAE tax was Bs. 296 (approximately $43). There is also an airport usage fee of Bs. 15 on all flights, incoming and outgoing, national and international, and at all airports.

When entering the country, travellers are allowed to bring in certain items tax-free as personal items. These include one camera, one laptop computer, one video camera and accessories, one recorder, radio recorder, or radio receiver, one mobile phone, athletic equipment, one portable musical instrument, and carriages for children or babies, wheelchairs, and other items necessary for personal orthopedic use. Travellers may also bring in new items strictly for personal use or consumption, with a total value not exceeding $1000. When the value of new articles brought into the country exceeds $1000, travellers must pay customs taxes on the remaining value. It is important to note that gift items do not count as 'items for personal use' and will be taxed.

In terms of other taxes that foreign residents may encounter, Bolivia has a Value-Added Tax (VAT) of 13% on the net sale price of regular sales of private property, rental of movable and/or real estate property, general services, and construction contracts. There is also a Transactions Tax (TT) of 3% on gross income earned from rental of goods, contracting of works, provision of services, free transfer of private property, and other activities. Foreign residents may also be subject to taxes on personal income, such as the Personal Income Tax (PIT) and the Regimen Complementario del Impuesto al Valor Agregado (RC-IVA), which is also 13%.

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