Jan. 18, 2014:
In response to our previous article on SAT’s New 2014 Tax Laws for Mexico that Affect Expats , there are various discussions on expat webforums that raise some really GOOD questions about the “RFC”s that some banks fabricated for the foreign customers who had no prior CURP or RFC.
Here’s some examples from the “In the Roo” webforum: http://intheroo.com/forum/mexico-living/7764-bank-accounts.html#post98459
“My RFC was given to me when I opened my account at HSBC. I am surprised that my rep did not know the RFC was on my checks. I guess you did not see anything on your checks.”
…
“Do you know how they got the RFC? I read that some banks have used one for customers, but it isn’t really their number. I have a CURP, but no RFC. I am wondering if I need to apply for one. Bancomer has not asked me for one so far. See “What about new banking regulations?” New 2014 Tax Laws for Mexico that Affect Expats and Foreigners | Surviving Yucatan. John if you go to Bancomer, will you ask them if everyone will need a RFC? Thanks! I sent an email to Bancomer from their website about 2 weeks ago, but never received a response.”
Reality? Watch out for CURP and RFC numbers that were fabricated by a bank, as they are not official.
For readers who want to comply with the new SAT laws ~ and avoid future problems with your Mexican bank and SAT ~ Know that you must have a legitimate official RFC from SAT/Hacienda. Many Mexican banks just made up artificial RFCs for foreigners who did not previously have an RFC, when they started past bank accounts. These old bank-issued RFCs are not generally legitimate. The last three digits of your RFC tell the tale, because the other numbers just generically describe your name and birth date.
**RFCs are 13 characters long. The first four characters are for the person’s name, the next six characters list the date of birth (YYMMDD), and the last three characters are assigned by SAT/Hacienda.
If you think you have a bank fabricated RFC number that is not real, go to the SAT RFC page to request an RFC number and attempt to get one. If you already have a legitimate one, then the site will tell you. Check at https://www.sat.gob.mx/tramites/28753/obten-tu-rfc-con-la-clave-unica-de-registro-de-poblacion-(curp)
Alternately: People who already have a CURP, but no RFC, can apply for an RFC tax ID number online at this site – which avoids making an appointment and bringing documents to one of the SAT/Hacienda offices. If this SAT link is temporarily down, instead, go to the SAT page at https://www.sat.gob.mx/tramites/operacion/28753/obten-tu-rfc-con-la-clave-unica-de-registro-de-poblacion-(curp) for using your CURP to apply for & get an RFC.
Happy Trails,
steve
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© Steven M. Fry
Read-on MacDuff . . .
Surviving Yucatan 
Good morning Steve, I have Residente Permanente, have never worked in MX, applied and received my permanente as “pensionada”, have a legitimate CURP and Tarjeta de Ancianos… Do I need to file for taxes with Hacienda? All my money comes from the US where I live part time and I transfer the $ I need in MX from Wells Fargo to Bancomer. I file my taxes in the USA with IRS. I do pay predial (property taxes) and Fidei fees annually in MX. Yikes. Please help if you can. I don’t want to not file if I must but don’t want to file in MX if it is not necessary. PS. I never have more than $9,000 USD in my Bancomer account.
Hi CD,
Based on not having any Mexican income or gains or interest, then you do not have to file Mexican income taxes.
Having a Bancomer account does require you (now) to have a legitimate RFC number.
steve
Thanks
I have a permanent visitor visa, and have a CURP. I, like many others, have no Mexican income but would like to get a RFC nmber. My question, with no income, do I need to do any filings once I get the number? The last thing I wish to need is to be required to file periodic forms with “zeros”.
Thank you.
Hi Edward,
Yes, it can be good to get the RFC, especially if you want to have a bank account in the future. Having an RFC does not mean having to file any taxes. It simply complies with SAT/Hacienda’s desire to track money movements – to decrease informal economy, black-market and money laundering activities.
steve
“The last three* digits of your RFC tell the tale, because the other numbers just generically describe your name and birth date.”
Steve, does this mean that if after the birth date info within the RFC there is a dash (-) plus a three character letter/number combination that the RFC is legitimate? Or the fact that the birth date info is there indicates it is invalid?
Thank you!
*Editor’s Note: Corrected to list the proper value.
Hi Slaes,
If your personal “RFC” number is only 10 characters long, and ends with your YYMMDD birthdate, then it is not legit.
Note that corporation RFCs are 12 characters and individual’s RFCs are 13 characters long.
steve
Hi Steve,
When I read this post, I checked the RFC given by my bank almost 10 years ago. Only 10 digits. I tried to apply online for a new one, but the page kept shutting down. I asked my lawyer who told me it was not necessary, as I don’t work. Then this article was published by Banderas News
http://www.banderasnews.com/1402/re-tropicasa-realty-capital-gains-abcs.htm . I renewed my efforts to obtain a legal RFC ( I am in a small town in Oaxaca), and today in the local SAT office, was able to acquire a “asalariado” RFC, which is without fiscal obligation.
I double checked the information given in the article with the SAT representative, and she confirmed that the conditions for qualification for UDIs was correct. One area of confusion was the constancia of fiscal residency. She said that the RFC sufficed for that.
Thanks for all the great info!
KT
Well Done!
steve
I did not see an answer. I know there is a general RFC used for the general public to complete some forms. I know it but forgot it and need to use it for my Mercado Libre account. Pls help
Why not just get an RFC? … If you are here as a foreigner, then INM issues all foreigners a CURP.
Use the CURP to get an RFC online… and pay your taxes, to pay for the benefits of living here 😉
The article above tells you how to do it.
Also … See our web-article of USEFUL WEBSITES… on how to do it.. 😉
https://yucalandia.com/answers-to-common-questions/useful-mexican-websites/
~ Just DO it ! ~
Get Legal … Help pay for our roads, schools & other public services.
Dr. Steve
That was a myth of the past… back before SAT Hacienda cracked down on banks just making up fake RFC’s for gringos.