To send money from Ecuador to the USA, you initiate a transfer through an Ecuadorian bank, a money transfer operator like Western Union, or a digital platform, using the recipient’s U.S. account number, the bank’s 9-digit ABA routing number, and, for wires, a SWIFT/BIC code. Both countries use the U.S. dollar, so no currency conversion is involved. What you will pay on top of the amount sent is Ecuador’s 5% Impuesto a la Salida de Divisas (ISD) plus the provider’s fees.
What You Need Before You Send
Ecuadorian banks and money transfer operators ask for a specific set of information before they will process an outbound transfer. Getting these details right the first time is the difference between a same-day dispatch and a rejected transaction.
- Your identification. Ecuadorian residents present a Cédula de Identidad; foreign nationals present a valid passport. If you are sending on behalf of a business, bring your Registro Único de Contribuyentes (RUC).
- The recipient’s full legal name, spelled exactly as it appears on the U.S. bank account.
- The recipient’s U.S. bank name and address, the account number, and the 9-digit ABA routing number that identifies the specific branch. Wire transfers also require the receiving bank’s SWIFT or BIC code.1American Bankers Association. ABA Routing Number
For transfers above certain regulatory thresholds, Ecuadorian banks also require a Formulario de Origen de Fondos, or Source of Funds Form. This is an anti-money-laundering document that asks where the money came from (salary savings, an inheritance, the sale of property) and why you are sending it (family support, a trade payment, and so on). The form is available at branches and on most bank websites.
Answer it accurately. Incomplete or misleading responses can freeze your account or prompt an inquiry from the Unidad de Análisis Financiero y Económico (UAFE), Ecuador’s financial intelligence unit.
The 5% ISD Tax on Money Leaving Ecuador
Ecuador applies the Impuesto a la Salida de Divisas to money moving out of the country. The general rate is 5%, calculated on the full amount of the outbound transfer and withheld the moment the transaction is processed. The tax is separate from, and in addition to, any fee your bank or transfer operator charges.
Not every transfer triggers it. Bank transfers equal to or less than three times the Salario Básico Unificado (SBU) are generally exempt. With the 2026 SBU set at $482, that exemption covers transfers up to $1,446 per biweekly period.2Ministerio del Trabajo. Salario Básico Unificado de 2026 en USD 482 Additional exemptions may apply to transfers used for catastrophic illness treatment or certain educational expenses, but you have to submit supporting documentation to the Servicio de Rentas Internas (SRI) to claim them. As of January 2025, the ISD is no longer available as a tax credit; it can only be treated as a deductible expense on your Ecuadorian tax return.
Splitting a large transfer into smaller amounts to sit below thresholds, or moving cash through undeclared channels, is not a workaround. The SRI can impose substantial fines, and systematic evasion can bring criminal charges under Ecuador’s Código Orgánico Integral Penal. If you send money out of Ecuador regularly, keep records of every transfer and every tax payment for at least five years in case the SRI reviews your foreign financial activity.
Ways to Send the Money
Three main channels connect an Ecuadorian sender to a U.S. recipient. They differ in cost, speed, and what the recipient needs on their end.
Bank Wire Transfers
Bank-to-bank wires move through the SWIFT network. You need an active Ecuadorian account, and the recipient needs a U.S. account. The sending bank debits your balance, funds pass through one or more intermediary (correspondent) banks, and the recipient’s bank credits the final amount. Major Ecuadorian banks, including Banco Pichincha and Banco Guayaquil, offer wires at branches and through online banking.
Wires are reliable but layered on fees. Your Ecuadorian bank charges an outgoing fee, each intermediary bank in the SWIFT chain may deduct $15 to $30, and the recipient’s U.S. bank commonly adds an incoming wire fee of roughly $0 to $25. All of that sits on top of the 5% ISD.
Money Transfer Operators
Operators such as Western Union work well when the sender or recipient prefers not to use a bank. You can hand cash to a local agent in Ecuador, and the recipient picks it up at a U.S. location, deposits it into a bank account, or loads it onto a prepaid debit card. These operators run their own settlement networks, which sometimes delivers funds faster than a SWIFT wire. Fees vary by provider and transfer size, and the operator usually shows the full cost, including the ISD, before you confirm.
Digital Platforms
Online platforms and mobile apps link your Ecuadorian bank account or card to a U.S. destination through their own software. You enter the recipient’s details, confirm the amount, and complete the transaction from a phone or browser. Fees on these platforms tend to run lower than traditional bank wires, but transfer limits and processing times differ, so compare a few before committing.
How to Complete and Track the Transfer
You can start a transfer at a branch or through your bank’s online portal. In the online interface, look for the international transfer section, often labeled “Transferencias al Exterior,” enter the recipient’s banking details and the amount, and confirm. Most banks require multi-factor authentication (a code sent to your phone) before finalizing. At a branch, a teller processes the request and prints a summary.
Once the transaction is registered, you receive a confirmation with a reference number. For money transfer operators, this is often called a Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN). Pass it to the recipient so they can track the funds. The confirmation also serves as your proof that the transfer was dispatched and that any applicable taxes were withheld.
Banks typically send email or text notifications when the money leaves your account and again when it arrives. If an intermediary bank flags the transfer for extra verification, those alerts let you respond quickly. Once the recipient confirms the deposit, file the receipt and any tax documentation somewhere safe.
What the U.S. Recipient Should Know
For the person receiving the money in the United States, the transfer itself is generally not taxable income. Gifts and bequests from foreign individuals are excluded from gross income under U.S. tax law.3Internal Revenue Service. Gifts from Foreign Person Reporting obligations can still apply even when no tax is owed.
The main one is IRS Form 3520. If you receive more than $100,000 in total gifts or bequests from a nonresident alien individual or a foreign estate during a single tax year, you must report them on Part IV of Form 3520, and identify each individual gift over $5,000 separately.4Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form 35203Internal Revenue Service. Gifts from Foreign Person The form is due by April 15 of the following year, subject to any extension you have in place. Late or incomplete filing can bring penalties.
A separate set of rules covers foreign accounts, not incoming transfers. If the U.S. recipient also holds an Ecuadorian bank account, FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) and IRS Form 8938 filings may apply based on the balances in those foreign accounts. Receiving a wire into a U.S. account, on its own, does not trigger either filing.
U.S. banks are required to monitor incoming international transfers for potential money laundering. A Currency Transaction Report (CTR) is filed automatically when a bank handles a cash transaction exceeding $10,000 in a single day; CTRs apply to physical cash movements rather than the wire itself, so the trigger would be a large cash withdrawal of the funds after they arrive.5FinCEN.gov. Notice to Customers: A CTR Reference Guide Deliberately breaking a transaction into smaller amounts to stay under $10,000, known as structuring, is a federal crime carrying up to five years in prison. Banks must also file a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) for any transaction of $5,000 or more that appears unusual or seems designed to evade reporting requirements.6FFIEC BSA/AML InfoBase. Assessing Compliance with BSA Regulatory Requirements – Suspicious Activity Reporting Consistent, well-documented transfers that match the stated purpose of the account rarely cause problems.