# Milei retreats on bank account freezes

> Milei pauses bank account freezes after small businesses face tax enforcement chaos.
- Title: Milei retreats on bank account freezes · Buenos Aires Times
- Summary: Milei pauses bank account freezes after small businesses face tax enforcement chaos.
- Keywords: argentina, president javier milei, small businesses, tax enforcement, bank account freezes, economy minister luis caputo, arca tax authority, presidential election, tax repayment plans, economic recession, Buenos Aires Times
- Source: Buenos Aires Times — https://batimes.com.ar/news/economy/milei-retreats-on-bank-account-freezes-that-crushed-businesses.phtml
- Author: Ignacio Olivera Doll, Bloomberg
- Published: 2026-11-05T15:29:59+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: argentina, president javier milei, small businesses, tax enforcement, bank account freezes, economy minister luis caputo, arca tax authority, presidential election, tax repayment plans, economic recession, news, politics
## Tax enforcement crisis
Aggressive tax enforcement tactics have caused small businesses to face bank account freezes and asset seizures.
## Account freezes surge
Bank account freezes jumped 52 percent this year through August, totaling 135,744 instances.
## Vanesa Camiscia's story
Vanesa Camiscia, a wholesale produce vendor, had her company's bank account frozen after missing tax payments.

> I remember Milei telling us to get ready because we were going to make a fortune
## Economy minister's move
Economy Minister Luis Caputo announced ARCA would suspend bank account freezes for small businesses until May.
## Business impact
15 percent of small businesses faced asset seizures or account freezes by ARCA over unpaid obligations.
## Economic consequences
Argentina's economy expanded just 1.5 percent this year, below Milei's promised five percent growth.
## Business owner struggles
Martín Blust's music string business saw sales drop 40 percent since Milei took office.
## Tax burden impact
Payroll taxes and social security now take up to 30 percent of revenue, double the pre-Milei rate.
## Voter backlash
Small businesses are reconsidering support for Milei ahead of next year's presidential election.
## Key takeaway

Argentina's president eased bank account freezes for small businesses after they caused widespread business closures and voter backlash.