July 8, 2019
There’s been a recent kerfluffle on our local “Expats in Yucatan” FB group, with many grazing-gringos writing angry (confused) comments over a supposed ‘cheating’ restaurant bill that offers some fun insights into Mexico & how gringos react. … Check out the bill below ….   If you do simple math, it looks like the restaurant’s computer cannot add up the items correctly,  …. but … This is Mexico …  The line items on a Mexican receipt are different than the USA or Canada – because we tell the consumer the REAL final price, by including the tax.  (but the receipt has a final hidden additional twist) …

Where American businesses & Canadian businesses hide their tax charges from consumers, by adding special State & Local taxes only at the end, when you pay the bill,  instead Mexico’s list prices are exactly what you pay.   Unfortunately, this Mexican system confuses many foreigners,  especially when they see the Total Taxes listed~reported (broken-out) as a  separate additional line item at the bottom of the bill … making it look like some sort of double billing of taxes.

Here’s an image of the bill that drew all the outrage on a local FB group:

As required by Mexican law … The food items prices on the receipt MATCH the full price listed on the menu, including the 16% IVA.

So … If you add up the individual items,  they do NOT match the “Subtotal”, because the “Subtotal” does NOT include the 16% IVA … while the menu’s full list-price and the receipt line items include the 16% IVA.

A talented local expat (Chris) explains:
” Here is the Correct explanation, verified by an ★experienced, highly qualified Mexican accountant who works for Hyatt★ and knows all the applicable laws about restaurant bills backwards and forwards: ”

” The menu price is shown in the detail. First item is one hamburger for $320 pesos. That amount, matching the menu, *includes* IVA.

Notice both points: 
1) matching the menu and
2) including IVA.