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How to reduce the cost of Netflix in Argentina with a digital wallet
Paying for Netflix with an Argentine credit card means paying significantly more than the price Netflix advertises, even though this is not mentioned anywhere during the subscription process.
Here we tell you why this happens and how a virtual dollar card can help you pay a price closer to the original.
Download the belo app and check how to request your LUX card according to your account and current conditions.
The math that never adds up
Netflix shows a price in dollars at the time of subscription, but the amount that appears on the Argentine credit card statement can be up to 60% higher. That difference has a name and a logic, although the logic doesn't make it any less expensive.
When you pay for an international subscription with a credit card issued in Argentina, the dollar consumption is settled at the official exchange rate of the Banco Nación on the closing date of the statement.
On top of that amount, tax perceptions established by AFIP are applied, which include a percentage for Income Tax (Ganancias) and another for Personal Assets Tax (Bienes Personales).
These percentages, added to the official exchange rate, generate what is known as the "card dollar" (dólar tarjeta), a resulting value that ends up being significantly higher than the original price of the subscription.
These percentages can change according to current regulations, so it is advisable to check them at the time of payment. You can review how the card dollar works before deciding on your payment method.
Since the exchange rate is defined on the statement closing date and not at the time of consumption, the final amount in pesos is subject to dollar fluctuations between those two dates.
This means you cannot accurately anticipate how much Netflix is going to cost you until the billing statement arrives.
When you add Spotify, cloud storage, and work tools, the accumulated extra cost for international digital subscriptions becomes significant.
How a virtual card changes the equation
The card dollar tax perceptions are applied because the consumption goes through the payment processing circuit of a credit card issued in Argentina.
The most direct alternative to avoid them is to use a payment method that operates outside that circuit, and that is where international virtual cards designed for foreign currency payments come in.
With an international virtual card, the subscription payment is processed directly in the currency of the service without going through the statement close or the settlement in pesos that triggers the tax perceptions.
The amount is deducted from the available balance at the time of payment, at the exchange rate you see before confirming.
Comparison of costs by payment method
Payment method · How cost is calculated · Do AFIP tax perceptions apply?
Argentine credit card · Price in dollars multiplied by the official exchange rate of Banco Nación, plus AFIP perceptions on that amount · Yes
International virtual card (belo LUX) · Price in dollars multiplied by the exchange rate at which you funded your wallet, without additional perceptions · No
belo LUX is a virtual Visa card that we designed at belo to pay for international subscriptions, online purchases from abroad, and any foreign currency consumption.
It is requested from the belo app, and once active, the card details are immediately available to be entered on Netflix or any other platform.
It is good to keep this clear from the start: belo also offers a Mastercard card, but that card is geared towards daily use in pesos within Argentina.
For payments in foreign currency, transactions with the Mastercard are converted to Argentine pesos at the official exchange rate of Banco Nación plus additional costs, meaning it does not offer the advantage sought in this case.
The card that solves the problem of tax perceptions on digital subscriptions is belo LUX.
How to set up your Netflix payment step-by-step
The process has two stages that are best separated: first, getting the card ready and, then, changing the payment method on Netflix.
How to get and activate belo LUX
Download the belo app and complete registration along with identity verification
Go to the cards section within the app and request the LUX card
The details (number, expiration date, and security code) appear in the app as soon as it is activated, with no physical shipping wait
Before heading to Netflix, make sure you have enough balance in your account to cover the cost of the subscription
How to change your payment method on Netflix
Log into your Netflix account from a browser, not from the app
Go to the "Manage payment methods" section within your profile
Enter the card details of your virtual Visa belo LUX card
Netflix accepts Visa as a payment method, so the process is the same as with any other card. Your account, your history, your profiles, and your preferences remain intact when you change your payment method.
Common mistakes to avoid
Using the belo Mastercard instead of LUX for the Netflix payment, which voids the benefit because the transaction is converted to pesos under standard tax treatment
Forgetting to load balance before Netflix attempts to charge, which can lead to a declined payment and temporary suspension of the service
Not verifying that the Netflix account bills in dollars, because if the account is billed in Argentine pesos, changing the card alone does not modify the billing currency
Beyond Netflix and within the law
The same logic that works for Netflix applies to any international subscription that accepts Visa as a payment method.
Spotify, cloud storage platforms, productivity tools, and other streaming services can be paid without tax perceptions using this scheme.
The more subscriptions you migrate, the more noticeable the accumulated savings, since the perceptions are applied on each individual transaction on your credit card statement.
Using an international virtual wallet to pay for services in foreign currency is legal in Argentina.
The AFIP perceptions on the card dollar act as tax prepayments applied within the Argentine credit card system.
When the payment is made outside of that circuit, those tax perceptions simply do not apply because the transaction is of a different nature.
This does not exempt you from general tax obligations that each taxpayer has according to their situation with AFIP, but the payment mechanism operates within the current legal framework. You also do not need physical dollars to use this method.
You can load balance into your wallet and the conversion is done within the app, allowing you to manage everything from your phone without visiting an exchange office or relying on the traditional banking system to access foreign currency.
Frequently asked questions on how to reduce Netflix costs in Argentina with a digital wallet
Can I refund the tax perceptions already charged to me for Netflix on an Argentine credit card?
The Income and Personal Assets tax perceptions applied to the card dollar function as prepayments, meaning you can file them at the time of submitting your tax return to AFIP. To know if you are eligible for a refund, it is best to consult with an accountant based on your specific tax situation.
Is there a limit on how much balance I can load onto my belo LUX card?
The balance and transaction limits depend on the current terms of the platform and the completed level of identity verification. The most up-to-date information regarding these limits is available directly in the belo app.
What happens if Netflix declines the virtual card when trying to register it?
The most common declines are due to insufficient balance at the time of the verification attempt or incorrectly entered details. Verify that your balance covers at least the cost of one subscription period and that the number, expiration date, and security code are entered exactly as they appear in the app.
Does this method also work for non-streaming subscriptions, like work tools or cloud storage?
Yes, as long as the service accepts Visa as a payment method and bills in foreign currency. Design platforms, productivity tools, and cloud storage services usually meet both criteria.
Does changing my payment method on Netflix affect my current plan or history?
No, changing the payment method does not modify your contracted plan or your viewing history. Your account remains exactly the same, with all your profiles and preferences intact.
