Tax Guide for Americans in Mexico

Wherever you live in the world, you are obligated to file a tax return with the IRS, reporting your worldwide income. Along with the regular tax return for income, many individuals are also required to submit a report disclosing assets in foreign bank and financial accounts by using FinCEN Form 114 (FBAR).

• Tax returns for Americans who reside within Mexico
• Mexico's Tax System
• Personal income tax rates
• Who is Required to File a Tax Return in Mexico?
• Mexico Resident Qualifications
• Mexico Resident" href="#mexicosourcedincome" rel="dofollow">Mexican-sourced income but not a Mexico Resident
• When are tax returns due?
• Mexico's Social Security
• Tax Treaty between the US and Mexico
• Are You A US Expat in Mexico With Questions?

Tax returns for Americans who reside within Mexico

As a US expat in Mexico, you may need to file a Mexican return, and perhaps pay taxes, on your income to the Mexico Government. Here are some simple guidelines on dealing with, and the obligations for filing Mexico taxes.

The US and Mexico have a tax treaty that can offer taxpayers additional benefits.

Mexico's Tax System

Resident individuals are subject to Mexican income tax on their worldwide income, regardless of their nationality. Non-residents, including Mexican citizens who can prove residence for tax purposes in a foreign country, are taxed solely on their Mexican-source income.

Personal income tax rates

The following tax rates are effective for resident individuals for calendar year 2019:

Annual Tax Rates for Resident Individuals - Vary from 1.92% to 30%
from MXN 1 to 6,942.35- 1.92%
from MXN 6,942.36 to 58,922.27 - 6.4 %
from MXN 58,922.28 to 103,550.51 - 10.88%
from MXN 103,550.52 to 120,372.95 - 16%
from MXN 120,372.96 to 144,119.39 - 17.92%
from MXN 144,119.40 to 290,667.83 - 21.36%
from MXN 290,667.84 to 458,132.39 - 23.52%
from MXN 458,132.40 to 874,650.11 - 30%
from MXN 874,650.12 to 1,166,200.07 - 32%
from MXN 1,166,200.08 to 3,498,600.11 - 34%
over MXN 3,498,600.11 - 35%

While 35% may sound attractive on the surface, you reach the 35% bracket when income reaches $3.5 million pesos, which, at current exchange rates, is about $182,000 USD.

As a Mexican tax resident, what income taxes are you subject to? Income subject to this tax would include interest, dividends, rental income, capital gains, foreign social security payments, etc. It is important to note that Mexican taxes are not calculated the same way they are in the U.S. or Canada. For example, what is tax qualified in the U.S. or Canada is not tax qualified in Mexico. How cost basis and depreciation are calculated are different too. Exemptions, deductions, tax rates, filing deadlines, and estimated payments are all established by Mexican law and are not the same as our neighbor's rules to the "Norte."

Who is Required to File a Tax Return in Mexico?

A person's liability for Mexican tax is determined by the residence status for taxation purposes, and the source of income derived by the individual. There is no minimum number of days of residency that exempts the employee from filing and paying taxes in Mexico. A person's liability to Mexican tax is determined by residence status. Once it is determined that the individual is a nonresident for Mexican tax purposes, however, the individual could be fully exempt from Mexican taxation as long as:

• A nonresident who does not have a permanent establishment in Mexico pays the salary or a permanent establishment does exist, but the service is not related to the permanent establishment.
• The employee is present in Mexico for less than 183 calendar days, whether consecutive or not, in a period of 12 months
• The employer paying the salary does not have an establishment within Mexican territory to which the service is related. The exemption will not be applicable if the employer has an establishment in Mexico, even if such establishment does not constitute a permanent establishment for Mexican tax purposes.

The nonresident employee does not receive complementary payments from nonresidents in consideration of services rendered for which salary income was obtained.

Additionally, to the extent that the individual qualifies for relief in terms of the dependent personal services article of the applicable double tax treaty, there will be no tax liability. The treaty exemption will not apply if the Mexican entity is the individual's economic employer and, as such, bears the cost of the individual's compensation.

Resident individuals are taxed on worldwide income and non-residents on Mexican sourced income. Salary income is considered Mexican sourced income when the services are rendered in Mexico.

• Reimbursement of foreign and/or home country taxes. Hypothetical taxes charged to the employee would be offset against this income to determine the net taxable income.
• School tuition reimbursements are taxable.
• Cost-of-living allowances and expatriation premiums for working in Mexico are taxable.
• The employer contribution to rent is taxable. The imputed value of housing provided directly by the employer is also taxable. Hypothetical housing charged to the employee would be offset against this income to determine the net taxable income.
• A car allowance is taxable. An automobile granted by a Mexican company is not taxable and deductible for the Mexican company under certain limitations
• Stock options are taxable at exercise for the difference between the fair market value of the stock at the time of exercise and the exercise price.
• Contributions up to certain caps made by employers to employees' savings funds qualify as a social welfare benefit when granted to all employees. The income from the funds is not taxable provided a number of requirements are complied with. Special rules also apply to thrift/savings plans and retirement plans.

Mexico Resident Qualifications

According to the Mexican Tax Code, an individual should be considered resident for Mexican tax purposes if he/she establishes his/her place of abode in Mexico. In case the individual also has a place of residence in another country, the individual will be taxed resident in Mexico if his/her center of vital interests is in Mexico. It is considered that the individual has his/her center of vital interests in Mexico in either of the following cases, among others.

• When more than 50 percent of the individual's total income received during the calendar year is derived from Mexican sources.
• When the individual's main center of professional activities is located in Mexico. On the other hand, the Mexican Tax Code states that in the absence of proof of the contrary, individuals of Mexican nationality are presumed to be residents of Mexico.

Additionally, individuals of Mexican nationality should retain their status as tax residents of Mexico when proving their tax residency in a country with a preferential tax regime for the year in which the notice of termination of tax residence is filed and for the following three years. It is important to mention that this provision is not applicable in those instances where Mexico has executed an unlimited exchange of information agreement with such preferential tax regime country.

Mexican-sourced income but not a Mexico Resident

Individuals considered non-residents are taxed on their Mexican-sourced income only and are not subject to file a Mexican annual income tax return, as monthly tax payments/withholdings are considered as final or definitive.

Non-residents are allowed to have an exempt income on the first MXP125,900 wages earned, an income tax rate of 15 percent is applied when income exceeds MXP125,900 and 30 percent on income that exceeds MXP1,000,000 within a 12-month period. Individuals should accumulate the income received every month to determine the tax rate to be used to calculate the corresponding income tax.

When are tax returns due?

The tax year in Mexico is, like the US, from January 1 to December 31. Annual tax returns are due by April 30 following the tax year-end, which is December 31. Extensions are not permitted. Nonresidents are not obligated to file a Mexican annual tax return since the payments made are considered as final or definitive.

Mexico's Social Security

Mexican employers who have employees on payroll in Mexico pay Social Security taxes. The responsibility to pay these taxes falls on the employer. Foreigners who work for Mexican employers are subject to Mexican social security contributions when an employment relationship is deemed to exist in Mexico. Such relationship is deemed to exist in Mexico when the employee's activities are supervised, controlled, or governed by a Mexican employer. These are based on several components where the capped salary is 25 times the minimum wage of Mexico City (for 2016 the minimum wage is MXN 73.04 per day).

Tax Treaty between the US and Mexico

In addition to Mexico's domestic arrangements that provide relief from international double taxation, Mexico has entered into double taxation treaties with approximately 54 countries to prevent double taxation and allow cooperation between Mexico and overseas tax authorities in enforcing their respective tax laws. Mexican tax residents are entitled to credit income tax paid abroad on foreign-sourced income, subject to certain limitations, provided this income is subject to Mexican income tax.

Are You A US Expat in Mexico With Questions?

Contact us today to learn more from our expat CPAs and IRA Enrolled Agents. We can answer your questions and get started on your US expat taxes.