Foreign e-commerce companies such as Amazon and Temu will now have to pay Mexico’s 16% value-added tax (IVA) on products they export to and sell in Mexico.
The requirement is outlined in the Resolución Miscelánea Fiscal 2025 (2025 Miscellaneous Tax Resolution), which Mexico’s Finance Ministry published in the federal government’s official gazette on Monday.
In accordance with the new rule, digital platforms including Amazon and the Chinese companies Temu, Shein and Alibaba will have to pay the IVA to federal tax agency SAT even when payment for products is deposited into foreign accounts. IVA payments must be made on a monthly basis before the 17th of any given month.
E-commerce companies are now also obliged to enroll in Mexico’s Federal Taxpayer Registry as part of efforts to ensure they comply with all relevant tax obligations in the country.
To avoid falling afoul of tax laws in Mexico, such companies will have to collect a range of information including bank account details and location from all third parties selling products on their sites. In addition, foreign e-commerce companies will have to provide electronic receipts to third parties that detail tax payments that have been withheld.
The stricter tax rules come as Mexico is seeking to reduce its reliance on imports from China and other Asian countries. Chinese e-commerce sites (and brick-and-mortar stores in Mexico) sell a wide range of Chinese goods at prices that are significantly lower than those made in Mexico, raising concerns about the ongoing viability of various Mexican industries.
Earlier this month, the federal government announced new tariffs on imported clothes and textiles in order to protect the Mexican textile/clothing industry, which the Mexican government says is losing jobs due to, in large part, unfair competition from underpriced Chinese imports. Mexican authorities have also raided stores in Mexico to seize counterfeit Chinese goods as well as products for which applicable import fees were not paid.
Obliging foreign e-commerce companies to pay IVA on products they sell in Mexico will create a more level playing field between foreign and Mexican businesses — and thus should make locally made goods more competitive.
In 2025, the government expects to collect an additional 15 billion pesos (US $719.2 million) in tax revenue as a result of e-commerce companies’ payment of the IVA.
Who will really end up paying?
According to media reports, there are concerns that e-commerce companies — whose sales in Mexico are on the rise — will pass on the new tax burden to their customers, even though it’s the companies’ obligation to pay the IVA.
“Although the 16% IVA is solely directed at digital platforms, concerns remain as to how the indirect transfer of this tax to the final consumer will be avoided,” reported the news website Debate.
“While the authorities have said that the 16% IVA will only be charged to the e-commerce platforms and not to customers, there are still doubts about how to prevent final consumers from paying it,” the newspaper El Economista said.
With reports from Debate, El Economista and Infobae
Hopefully the additional 16% will discourage folks from buying Chinese products and increase domestic purchases. We shall see!
It would be nice if Mexico made 1/2 of what is being imported for sale. Mexico just does not make all the things people what to buy. And not to mention, Quality. Mexico needs to up its game and begin producing higher quality and higher end products. China also has different grades of the same item, but they export the better one as it brings in more money.
Agree with this 100%.
Bezos needs the money so their IVA will be passed along to the buyer? I always have my VPN turned on, so when I make purchases online from Amazon, they see I am in the U.S., plus my orders are shipped to my address in the U.S., so I will watch for these taxes on my orders. As far as Temu, they can go jump in a lake, never ever will I order from them. There are just too many complaints out there to ignore. Plus my own experience. Thanks for the heads up!
Of course the cost will be passed along to the consumer! This is what happens every time there is a tariff. Hopefully the tax revenue will be used toward useful things like upgrading critical infrastructure and improving road security.
The states did this a while ago although 16% is stupidly high. Amazon used to not charge state sales tax on items bought. So what did they do, they just added the tax to the cost to the customer. That’s what will happen in Mexico. Most imported items coming from the states to Mexico already include a customs fee usually 16% already. So much for any free trade between Canada, US and Mexico. No surprise if Trump puts a tariff on Mexican products. How many more liters of tequila does Mexico want in warehouses?
Amazon does around $4 billion annual revenue in Mexico and growing fast. 16% is $640 million usd per year. That’s a huge chunk of extra tax revenue. What does Mexico plan to do with this windfall? How about getting rid of the dang toll booths on Mexican highways?
Bottom line is Mexico will not all 640m. People will stop buying when the cost exceeds the value received. Also, 16% is how Mexico makes up for a cash economy. With 16% being excessive, the results are, people moved to cash when possible where the tax is 0%, untraceable. So by raising the cost of things when the demand goes down, the governments intake from taxes goes down not up. What Mexicans do not understand is that, by lowering the rate the volume will go up. A little bit from a Lot is more that a lot from a few.
How about bigger pensions and better healthcare for the elderly. Don’t you think that is more important?
Does this apply to Amazon Mx too? When I buy from Amazon USA a import tax is charged so is this another tax on top added?
Makes sense. And of course the eCommerce sites will pass most or all of that along to consumers. They’re in business to make money. If the increased prices are too high for consumers, the sites will stop selling those items.
This will level the playing field between Amazon US vs Amazon MX/ Mercado Libre. The former is an international purchase that does not pay VAT and in some cases no duty. The latter is a domestic purchase that does pay VAT and has already paid duty on the import. Makes sense in my view.