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The Central Government of El Salvador’s current revenue and taxes grew by 12.4% as of the end of september 2026, compared to the same period the previous year, according to data from the Ministry of Finance. The increase represents an additional US$791.5 million in revenue, bringing cumulative revenue to US$7,173 million, compared to the US$6,381.5 million recorded through september 2025.
The Ministry of Finance’s report indicates that the increase in revenue was driven primarily by tax collections, which continue to be the main component of the government’s current resources. This category totaled US$6,912.7 million during the first nine months of 2026, representing a 12.4% increase over the US$6,148.5 million reported in the same period last year.
Tax revenue also exceeded the budgeted target for the period. According to the Ministry of Finance’s comparison, tax revenues and contributions exceeded the 2026 budget forecast by US$433.6 million, equivalent to a 6.7% increase. Overall, current revenues and contributions exceeded the budget target by US$240.3 million, 3.5% more than projected.
Among the main taxes driving revenue growth, Value-Added Tax (VAT) stands out, having totaled US$3,235.3 million as of september 2026. This figure represents an increase of US$394 million, or 13.9 percent, compared to the US$2,841.3 million collected during the same period in 2025. This tax remains the central government’s primary source of tax revenue.
The report details that VAT revenue from tax returns totaled US$1,487 million, a 15.2% increase, while VAT on imports reached US$1,748.4 million, 12.7% more than in the comparable period. Both components recorded increases, contributing to the tax’s positive performance.
Income tax (ISR) also showed an upward trend. The Ministry of Finance reported cumulative revenue of US$2,993.6 million, US$306.1 million higher than the US$2,687.5 million collected through september 2025. Year-over-year growth was 11.4%, while the amount collected exceeded the budgeted target for the period by US$165.8 million, equivalent to an additional 5.9%.
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Within the income tax (ISR) category, revenue from tax returns totaled US$1,036.3 million, representing a 15.2% increase, while withholding taxes reached US$1,290.9 million, up 7.3%. Meanwhile, estimated tax payments totaled US$666.3 million, representing a 14% increase compared to the figure recorded in the first nine months of 2025.
Other tax categories also reported increases. Import tariffs totaled US$305.1 million, up 8.7%, while excise taxes reached US$195.2 million, 7.7% higher than in 2025. Likewise, other taxes and miscellaneous levies totaled US$116 million, a 21.9% increase.
As for non-tax revenue, the Ministry of Finance reported US$260.2 million as of the end of september, representing an 11.7% increase over the US$233 million recorded in the same period of 2025. Within this category, social security contributions reached US$45.6 million, up 12.1%, while sales of goods and services totaled US$15.8 million, a 33.3% increase.
Financial and other revenues totaled US$97.1 million, a 21.2% increase, while current transfers decreased by 25.9%, falling from US$15.4 million to US$11.4 million. Meanwhile, revenue classified as “other”, which includes the Fondo de Estabilización y Fomento Económico (FEFE), totaled US$43.7 million, representing a 7.3% increase.
The Ministry of Finance’s report covers the operations of the central government and is based on final reports from the General Directorate of the Treasury, according to records from the Department of Bank Revenue. The results show that, as of the end of september 2026, current revenues and tax contributions not only grew by 12.4% compared to the previous year but also exceeded the budget projections for that period.
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