Juan Alberto Pazo has resigned from his position as head of the Customs Collection and Control Agency (ARCA). The news came to light through a statement from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and eventually became effective with the publication of the changes in the Official Gazette. In this way, the government appointed Andrés Vázquez, who previously headed the General Directorate of Taxes (DGI).
“The Managing Director of ARCA, Juan Pazo, informed the Minister of Economy Luis Caputo of his decision to resign from his position,” the portfolio announced via its X account (Twitter).
Then the decision was formalized by Decree 890/2025: “With effect from December 18, 2025, the resignation submitted by lawyer Juan Alberto Pazo from the position of Executive Director of the Customs Collection and Control Agency (ARCA), an autonomous body within the sphere of influence of the Ministry of Economy, is accepted.”
As the Ministry of Economy explained, these changes correspond to Pazo’s desire to return to the private sector, although he will continue to work with Minister Luis Caputo to strengthen private activity and economic growth in the country.
The decree signed by President Javier Milei and Minister Caputo also accepts the resignation of Vázquez from his previous position as Director General of the General Tax Directorate of the ARCA to allow his appointment as head of the organization.
The fourth article of the decree states: “With effect from December 18, 2025, Mr. Andrés Edgardo Vázquez is appointed Executive Director of the Customs Agency for Collection and Control (ARCA), an autonomous body within the sphere of influence of the Ministry of Economy, to complete a term of office.”
In the decree, the government expressly thanks him for the services rendered by both officials during his term of office.
The Ministry of Economy emphasized that Juan Pazo’s leadership was marked by “major and profound changes” in the ARCA, including, among others, the simplification of information systems, the introduction of the simple VAT, the simplified profit regime and the promotion of the Tax Innocence Bill.
The official statement highlights that Pazo took over the management on December 11, 2024, when he took the place of Florencia Misrahi, who was ousted by the decision of President Milei. His departure does not mean a complete resignation, as he will continue to bring his experience and vision to Argentina’s economic development.
The appointment of Andrés Vázquez as head of ARCA is presented as a sign of continuity in the tax and customs policies promoted by President Milei and Minister Caputo.
Who is Andrés Vázquez, the new government-appointed head of ARCA?
Vázquez has an extensive career in the tax sector and a technical profile that, given the role he has held to date, underlines the government’s objectives in terms of control and supervision.
Throughout his career, the new director of ARCA has stood out for his academic training, with degrees in administration and auditing from the Universidad Argentina de la Empresa (UADE), as well as his participation in numerous courses and seminars on financial control and money laundering prevention.
In addition, Vázquez has a solid international background and has attended several training courses in the United States, including the United States Department of the Treasury’s International Seminar on Money Laundering in 1997, the Airport Interdiction Course, and the Basic Chemical Precursor Investigation Course, both offered by the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in 1999. This will be crucial in his new role at ARCA.
With more than 30 years of experience, Vázquez has held relevant positions both in the Federal Public Revenue Administration and in other areas of the state related to financial supervision.
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