El Salvador vs Nicaragua
Tax Rate Comparison
Enter your income below for a personal tax estimate, then scroll down for full rate breakdowns.
💰 Personal Income Tax Calculator
Enter your income to see your estimated annual tax liability in each country — side by side.
Individual Income Tax (Top Marginal Rate)
VAT / GST / Sales Tax
Corporate Tax Rate
Capital Gains Tax
Social Security & Payroll
🇸🇻 El Salvador — Municipal Taxes
El Salvador's 262 municipalities levy local taxes including the impuesto municipal de activo empresarial (business assets tax at 0.1%–1% of net assets), commercial licence fees, and property registration fees. San Salvador municipality has the highest rates. The Ministry of Finance (MH) administers national taxes. El Salvador adopted Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021 (alongside USD), creating unique crypto tax considerations, though the Bitcoin Law was modified in 2025. The country has attracted significant nearshoring and blockchain sector investment.
🇳🇮 Nicaragua — Municipal Taxes
Nicaragua's 153 municipalities levy the Impuesto de Matrícula (2% of prior revenues), Impuesto Municipal sobre Ingresos (IMI at 1% of monthly revenues), property tax (IBI at 1%), and service fees. Nicaragua under Ortega government has faced significant economic disruption from 2018 protests and subsequent international isolation. The economy has stabilized somewhat but remains one of the poorest in Central America. Tax administration reform has been ongoing with support from international institutions.
El Salvador vs Nicaragua: Key Tax Differences (2026)
💰 Income Tax: El Salvador and Nicaragua have similar top income tax rates (0–30% vs 0–30%).
🛒 VAT/Sales Tax: Nicaragua has a higher consumption tax (13% vs 15%).
🏢 Corporate Tax: Corporate rates are similar in both countries (30% vs 30%).
📈 Capital Gains: 🇸🇻 El Salvador taxes investment gains at a lower rate (10% vs 15%), benefiting investors.