The norm, in detail
The map of the 7 regions: the territorial substrate on which Neuquén's tax benefits run
Provincial Law 3480 (2024) + Decree 1581/2024
in forcePROVINCIAL
State, institutions and security
What changed and who it applies to
What changed
Law 3480 creates the Provincial Regionalization Plan (Art. 1) and divides Neuquén territory into 7 strategic regions with a closed municipal composition (Art. 4): Region 1 Alto Neuquén (Chos Malal, Andacollo, Las Ovejas, Loncopué, Caviahue-Copahue, among others); Region 2 del Pehuén (Zapala, Aluminé, Las Lajas, Mariano Moreno, Villa Pehuenia-Moquehue, Bajada del Agrio, Las Coloradas); Region 3 de los Lagos del Sur (Junín de los Andes, San Martín de los Andes, Villa La Angostura, Villa Traful, Pilo Lil); Region 4 del Limay (Picún Leufú, Piedra del Águila, El Sauce, Paso Aguerre, Santo Tomás); Region 5 de la Comarca (Cutral Có, Plaza Huincul, Sauzal Bonito); Region 6 Confluencia (Neuquén, Plottier, Centenario, Senillosa, Vista Alegre, Villa El Chocón); Region 7 Vaca Muerta (San Patricio del Chañar, Rincón de los Sauces, Añelo, Buta Ranquil, Barrancas, Aguada San Roque, Los Chihuidos, Octavio Pico). The law sets objectives of administrative deconcentration, regional integration, development planning and, among them, 'promoting regulatory and tax harmonization' (Art. 3.j) — but it does NOT establish in its text differential rates or tax benefits by region. It empowers the Executive to create new regions or reorganize existing ones, without altering the departmental division. It requires provincial offices to adapt plans and budgets with a 'regionalization perspective' and to file semiannual reports to the Cabinet Ministry (Art. 5). The value for the investor: this law is the official map of zones on which the tax benefits then operate — the regionalization of Law 3502 ('Invest in Neuquén') and the 0% Turnover Tax for tourism of Res. DPR 72/2026 are anchored to these 7 regions. verif · Dec 3, 2024 ↗
In force
In force from its publication in the Official Gazette (Art. 9). Enacted on 11/21/2024 and promulgated on 12/03/2024 by Decree 1581/2024. prob · Dec 3, 2024 ↗
Who it affects
The entire provincial public administration (centralized, decentralized, autonomous entities and public companies), required to adapt plans and budgets by region. For the investor/company, its relevance is indirect but structural: it defines the territorial unit (region) that the promotion regimes then use to graduate benefits. Whoever assesses settling in Neuquén needs to know which region their town belongs to — e.g. a Vaca Muerta satellite supplier falls in Region 7 (Añelo, Rincón de los Sauces, San Patricio del Chañar), while the tourism promoted at 0% Turnover Tax falls in the southern/mountain regions. prob · Dec 3, 2024 ↗
The norm
Provincial Ley 3480, 'Plan Provincial de Regionalización' (Provincial Regionalization Plan), passed by the Neuquén Legislature on Nov 21, 2024 (registered under number 3480), promulgated by provincial Decreto 1581/2024 (DECTO-2024-1581-E-NEU-GPN) of Dec 3, 2024, signed by Governor Rolando Figueroa and Cabinet Chief Minister Juan Luis Ousset. It takes effect on publication in the Boletín Oficial (Art. 9): Dec 3, 2024 is the date of the promulgating decree, and the promulgated text does not state the day of publication. Enforcement authority: Ministerio de Jefatura de Gabinete, the Cabinet Chief's office (Art. 6). The law lists the municipalities by institutional category —first, second and third class— and does not designate regional capitals. verif · Dec 3, 2024 ↗
Our reading
Neuquén organized its territory into 7 strategic regions and with that gave the investor something that previously had to be reconstructed by hand: the official map of zones on which the tax benefits then run. Knowing that your town is in the Vaca Muerta Region or the Limay one stops being trivia: it is the coordinate that defines which promotion you hook into. thesis
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Ignacio Aredez· Chief analyst
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