Ecuador tax agency speeds up VAT refunds, credits $86.3 million in August

Ecuador's Internal Revenue Service credited $86.3 million in VAT refunds during August to 602,679 older adults and people with disabilities, bringing favorable cases up to date.

Older adults received $77.3 million, while people with disabilities received $9 million. The refunds return part of the tax paid on eligible essential purchases and directly affect beneficiaries' household budgets.

Total credits from January through August reached $321 million. Of that amount, $272.6 million went to older adults and $48.4 million to people with disabilities. The figure exceeded the $225.1 million paid during the same period of 2025 by $95.9 million, an increase of about 43 percent.

The SRI said it had credited approved applications submitted by older adults through Aug. 17, 2026, and applications from people with disabilities through Aug. 26. Being up to date does not mean every purchase made by August has already been refunded. Processing depends on when the beneficiary submitted an application and received a favorable resolution.

An older adult can recover up to $144.60 per month in VAT during 2026, although the amount is a ceiling rather than a fixed payment. Eligible categories include food, health, clothing, housing and education. Transport, mobility and communications are excluded this year.