November 22, 2017
Despite last month’s early higher ‘predictions’ (aka rumors), the Mexican minimum wage for Mexico is increasing to only $88.36 pesos diarios.

Effective Dec. 1, 2017,  the daily salario minimo for Mexico increases just 3.9%, while inflation has been officially pegged at 6% for the previous year => Mexican workers pay is losing ground.

http://noticieros.televisa.com/ultimas-noticias/nacional/2017-11-21/conasami-acuerda-aumento-salario-minimo-cinco-pesos/

Next:  Note that this Mexico rate is the official value used for calculating INM Resident visa income requirements etc.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Examples:
Financial Independence (Savings or Income or Property) Requirements for Permanent Residency / Residente Permanente Applicants

December 27, 2022 UPDATE: Rather than the previous minimum 6 legally required paid-vacation days off work for Mexican workers, it’s now 12 “continuous” total paid-vacation days off work for all employees in 2023. D.O.F. 12/26/2022 (Diario Official de la Federacion)

Vacaciones dignas 2023:

AGUINALDO’s ! Nov. 3, 2019 As all the Buen Fin plans …. and as Christmas holiday chatzkies are appearing on store shelves …. as we make our holiday plans … It’s time to remember our beloved household help and employees (including muchachas y mozos). Please plan ahead to pay them their end of the year Aguinaldos by at least December 20’th …. and Plan to also give them paid Vacation days OFF  for the year … Ignore the gringo-myths:   The Aguinaldo is NOT a optional bonus. Our Mexican workers and their families count-on and depend on these critical annual payments owed to them. Because the Annual vacation pay & Aguinaldo payments are mandatory, you can pay them whenever you want … like even ~NOW~ … so they can enjoy using those $$ for the upcoming Buen Fin sales !   (Nov 13 – 17, 2019) Aguinaldo Basically the Aguinaldo is 15 days of pay. (calculated on a 7 day work wk). Specifically, the annual aguinaldo payment is precisely 15 days of “Daily Rate” pay. It is not a Christmas bonus.   It is a mandatory wage payment that is due by the 20’th of December.   The aguinaldo is equivalent to at least “15 days wages”, and may be pro-rated if the employee has been working for you for less than a full year. Simplified Version to Determine Aguinaldo in $ Pesos $: # Days Worked per Week   x   # Weeks Worked   x    Rate per Day   x   15 Days / 365 Days = Note.  The “Daily Rate” is based on a full week.  For example, if your maid only works two days per week,  and gets paid $700 pesos per week ($350 pesos per day of work).  You take the weeks salary of $700 divided by 7 =>  $100 pesos is the Daily Rate. Aguinaldo in $ Pesos $ ** If a worker is hired to work by the week, the “Daily Rate” equals their weekly pay … divided by 7.   If he / she  is hired by the month, the “Daily Rate” is the monthly amount divided by 30.  **Daily Rate Simplest Example…  If you have an employee who works two days a week ~ for the entire year ~ for $350 pesos each day = $700 pesos a week: $700 pesos / 7 days = $100 pesos per day at their “Daily Rate” $100 pesos “Daily Rate” x 15 days of Aguinaldo pay = $1500 pesos Note that if they work only a part year: An alternate way of calculating the aguinaldo is determined by multiplying the total days they worked in current year by 15, then divide by 365 days, and then multiply by the daily rate: For a part-year worker coming in for 2 days a month for 9 months => 18 days … x  … 15 days of Aguinaldo = 270 270 / 365 = 0.7392 …    0.74 x   $Daily Rate ($100 pesos?)   = $ _____ Note.  The “Daily Rate” is based on a full week.  For example, if your maid only works two days per week,  and gets paid $700 pesos per week ($350 pesos per day of work).  You take the weeks salary of $700 divided by 7  =  $100 pesos is the Daily Rate. ================================== Vacation Pay – 2023 Update ! Vacation pay for current year worked. … Remember that this is the official Mexican Labor Law’s “Daily Rate” ** (see below) … and remember they should also receive this pay for all past years worked. 1st year – 12 days of Daily Rate pay** 2 years – 14 days 3 years – 16 days 4 years – 18 days 5 years – 20 days 6 to 10 years – 22 days 11 to 15 years – 24 days 16 to 20 years – 26 days 21 to 25 years – 28 days 26 to 30 years – 30 days 31 to 36 years – 32 days **Daily Rate pay is based on a 7 day work-week calculation.   Either divide their weekly pay by 7 to get their Daily Rate pay … or .. Calculate the full year pay, and divide by 365 days to get the Daily Rate pay. Happy Holidays ! *      *      *      * See more details at our Full Articles: https://yucalandia.com/answers-to-common-questions/labor-law-for-household-employees-in-mexico-what-must-we-pay/ … and   https://yucalandia.com/answers-to-common-questions/mexicos-new-2012-labor-law-and-the-effects-on-expats-with-household-help/ ” Under the final rule, which takes effect in 30 days, a service animal is a dog trained to help a person with a physical or psychiatric disability. Advocates for veterans and others had pushed for inclusion of psychiatric service dogs. ” *           *           *           * Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan. © Steven M. Fry Read on, MacDuff.

October 27, 2017

Public Service Announcement:
We now know why some flu vaccinations have not been working at all, against the important H3N2 Flu virus. **

Flu vaccines: Why egg-based vaccine production is causing problems

By using eggs, the H3N2 subtype mutates a key viral protein to bind to egg-bird cells.
This egg-specific mutation disrupts the critical region on the flu virus protein that is normally  targeted by our immune system.

This means egg-based flu vaccines containing the mutated protein DOES NOT TRIGGER an effective immune response. … This leaves our body without protection against the circulating strains of H3N2 flu viruses.
*sigh*

Solution:   ASK your flu virus vaccine provider if their vaccine is egg-based.

Sadly, most US-created flu vaccines are egg-based => likely not worth getting

Instead, choose the less-common non-egg based flu vaccines, like Flublok.
Flublok is a recombinant protein-based vaccine for influenza immunization in adults over age 17 …

http://www.empr.com/news/egg-free-flu-vaccine-now-available-for-2015-2016-season/article/439959/

October 27, 2017

October 17, 2017
The Diario de Yucatan just announced that our “Peninsular” office of CFE has changed Merida & its comisarios from the more expensive Tarifa Zone C, down to the cheaper Tarifa Zone D.

Sorry … This does not apply to the beach … but, since many of you have Merida homes … or are thinking about moving to Merida:

What triggered the change?
Merida experienced three consecutive years of summer months with temperatures over 31º C trigger the change from “C” to “D”.

What are the details of the change?
Zone C residential homes CURRENTLY get 900 kWh of deeply-discounted** SUMMER power. Zone D residential homes get 1500 kWh of deeply~discounted** SUMMER months power.  … Summer = April – Sept for CFE in Yucatan.

What does this mean for our power bills?
This means summer bimonthly ~additional~ NEW savings** of about $1050 pesos per bill for people using Excedente energy levels, (but not for DAC customers). On a whole-summer basis, we get $3,150 pesos of additional NEW savings** for the whole summer for Merida’s Excedente-level residential power users.

The new ~total~ summer Government Subsidy savings** for Meridadano households total to $8,600 pesos per summer. ~

**The deep discounts are government subsidies – gifts to us.

* * * * * * *
Specifically:
“La División Peninsular de la Comisión Federal de Electricidad confirmó la reclasificación de la tarifa eléctrica en Mérida y sus comisarías. Con este cambio el municipio pasará de la categoríaIC a la ID, más barata. Esto significaría ahorros de hasta mil pesos entre los usuarios que consumen al bimestre 1,150 watts en promedio. ”

“La reducción se logró gracias a que el Ejército y la Conagua entregaron las mediciones de temperatura, en las que se demuestran que durante los meses de verano de tres años consecutivos, la temperatura promedio de Mérida rebasó los 31 grados, por eso se pudo cambiar la tarifa”,

http://yucatan.com.mx/merida/economia-merida/cfe-reclasifica-las-tarifas-electricidad

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Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
Steven M. Fry

Read on, MacDuff!

Sept. 25, 2017
Coming soon to a ~ Walmart … Target … Home Depot ~ in your area …

There are whole new generations of credit card skimmers at Walmart et al that are surprisingly good…

What Can We Do?
Thieves continue to modify public ATMs to allow them to steal our Bank Card or Credit Card information, by adding ever-more sophisticated card skimmers & hidden cameras to record  when we enter our security PINs … =>  Making identity theft a $16 billion a year industry in USA-Canada-Mexico.

There’s new free app out that allows us to detect many of the ways that an ATM … or gas pump … or Target~Home Depot~Walmart scanner has been hacked ~ modified by thieves ~ to steal your personal financial information, Credit Card ~ Bank Card numbers and security PINs.

Think:   Skimmer Scanner

BAD NEWS FOR I-Phone ~ Apple Users:
This new app,  Skimmer Scanner,  only works for Android devices  (think Samsung=good,  Apple=bad) … because there’s no iPhone version … The  Skimmer Scanner  searches for any Bluetooth modules near an ATM or gas pump.   Credit card skimmers currently use Bluetooth as the most typical method of transmitting our stolen bank & identity information.

ZDNet explains that Bluetooth modules are the most typical way that thieves download all the our credit card numbers & PINs they’ve captured … usually stolen without ever being detected.  … The thieve’s skimmer transmits our personal data to some Bluetooth module that “saves” the info,  until the thief returns to collect them.

Once installed, the thief never has to physically touch with the skimmer set-up, allowing them to be sitting in a nearby car nearby or even standing beside the offending gas station pump … casually downloading our personal Credit & Bank Card information.

For people who believe they can personally spot modified ATMs & modified Target~Home Depot~Walmart card scanners … consider this:
Can you spot the fake…  from the real one?

…

************************
Here’s a link to other card skimmers seen in the past in Yucatan (see bottom of article).

https://yucalandia.com/answers-to-common-questions/banking-currency-exchanges-using-credit-cards-atms-in-mexico/

Can you spot all the fakes? …

If not,  maybe it’s time to get the app.

Happy Trails,
steve

*     *     *     *

Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read-on MacDuff . . .

Sept. 19, 2017

Let’s begin with a few general principles:   Local Mexican used cars pricing can seem to be all over the map, unless you first check out Kelley Blue book values from the USA & check Mercado Libre prices for similar models across Mexico.

Next, Mexican used cars don’t lose value like United States or Canada-sold used cars.    Then consider that even while the MXN peso dropped 50% in value from $13 MXN, falling to $18MXN : 1 USD,  like Mexican real estate, the older Mexican cars purchased at $13 MXN: $1USD car prices have not generally risen the 50% that  one might expect from the MXN peso losing value.  This can mean that Mexican used cars can now cost less than the same US car.

Still, talk is cheap … What’s possible in the real world? …  For us,  our most recent personal purchase of a very good condition 6-year-old used Nissan Altima came in at just $90,000 pesos (about $5,000 USD) with just 50,000 miles.

Do’s & Don’ts:
Sharp people seek insider tips on how to value and buy a used car in their local market – which bring us to gently used cars, being sold by 40-60 yr old Middle Class women.  General used cars are likely to be beaten up by topes (our ubiquitous speed bumps), randomly appearing batches (potholes) that weren’t there last week, as well as the damaging vagaries of a tropical climate,  hot sun and proximity-to-the-sea marine influences.

 … So, why seek out gently used cars, being sold by 40-60 yr old Middle Class women?  … Typically, well-educated 40-60 yr old Middle Class women drive conservatively,  they know where the batches & topes are, and they take good care of their vehicles … plus, one more beneficial quirk:

There’s an old 1960’s maxim quietly running in their minds:

“Sell your car before it hits 100,000 km “, because supposedly “Cars with over 100,00 km have lots of parts that break.”…

That maxim made a lot sense back in the 1960’s – 1970’s, when US cars were notorious for starters, timing chains, automatic transmissions, radiators, brake master cylinders, ball joints  & alternators ALL failing between 60,000 – 120,000 miles. … But … due to competition~pressure from Japanese & German better-made cars,  pretty much all cars (except VWs) now run very reliably, with few problems, between 60,000 – 120,000 miles.

This means that gently-driven, well-maintained  Mexican cars being sold by 40-60 yr old Middle Class Mexican women can be EXCELLENT BUYS …

*     *     *     *
Enjoying this? … Click on the link below to continue reading the rest of the article:

https://yucalandia.com/driving-in-mexico-issues-fun/buying-a-used-car-in-mexico-dos-donts/

*       *       *       *
Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read-on MacDuff . . .

 

 

Sept. 16, 2017 Update

Taxes and death are the two things most people want to avoid, but here at Yucalandia we suffer from a peculiar malady of grimacing and facing-off with distasteful-but-necessary issues.  We recently addressed Death** ,  so, now it’s time for taxes.

Disclaimers:
~ As with all legal issues, it’s BEST to talk with a talented expert about the details of how to comply with Mexican law, and the information offered on Yucalandia is solely for educational & informational purposes.  This is especially true for taxes, because the Mexican ISR is particularly dense, yet the ISR incudes some surprising exemptions & exceptions.

Still, it’s also really helpful to get a sense of the basic principles of our responsibilities, to know when to go see that good tax attorney &/or accountant. That’s the purpose of this short article.   In April, 2017, SAT put up a helpful website, in English, describing foreigner’s specific tax responsibilities,  and that website is the basis for this article:

“TAX TREATMENT OF FOREIGN RESIDENTS RECEIVING INCOME IN MEXICO”
http://www.sat.gob.mx/english/Paginas/English/tax_treatment_residents_in_mexico.aspx

~  Note that if you are a resident of either Canada or the USA, Mexico has tax treaties with each, and those tax treaties provisions take precedent over Hacienda~SAT’s ISR rules.

For USA-nians, Yucalandia offers detailed analyses of our responsibilities both in the USA & Mexico under the 1993 USA Mexico Tax Convention at:

IRS Tax Issues for Americans Living and Working Abroad in Mexico – Master Article

“WHO ARE CONSIDERED RESIDENTS IN MEXICO

Tax legislation considers residents in Mexico the following persons:

• ​To individuals, nationals and foreigners, who have their residence address in Mexico. When they also have a living place in another country they are considered to be resident in Mexico, if they are in the following cases:

 – When more than 50% of their annual income is obtained in Mexico.

– When the center of its professional activities is located in national territory.

• Individuals who are State officials or Mexican national workers, even if the headquarters of their business is abroad. 

• ​Legal entities (companies, associations and civil societies, among others) that have established in Mexico their business headquarters or main offices.

Individuals of Mexican nationality are considered residents of Mexico, unless they prove they have a residence status in another country. 

Individuals who according to the foregoing are Mexico´s resident, regardless of being a foreign nationality, are taxed as any national individual resident in Mexico. to know how you should be taxed, you may consult the main tax regimes, if you fall in this category. 

Individuals who are residents of Mexico will be taxed according to their activity or corporate purpose in any of the following regimes: “

http://www.sat.gob.mx/english/Paginas/English/residents_in_mexico.aspx

======================

Mexican Taxes on Foreigner’s Real Estate Income
KISS … Keeping it simple:   Foreigners who own real estate & rent it out owe 25% taxes (“without deduction”) on the rental income:
http://www.sat.gob.mx/english/Paginas/English/how_do_foreigners_pay_taxes.aspx

“ Income tax calculation  
Tax is paid by applying the rate of 25% on the income obtained, without deduction.

Payment mode 
People who make payments, calculate the tax and make the withholding and whole or payment corresponding to the Tax Administration Service (SAT). 

When the individual who makes payments is resident abroad, taxpayer who obtains the income must calculate and pay the tax by means of a declaration, which he presents either by Internet or bank teller, within 15 days after obtaining the income. 

Obligation to issue an electronic invoice for the income or revenue collected 

Tenants must issue electronic invoices for the income received, which must have tax requirements. 

When the rent is paid to a trust, the trustee must issue tax receipts and make the withholding and the corresponding amount. ”

Caveat:  The good attorney Spencer McMullen also noted that the furnishings of a furnished apartment can trigger the IVA  (16.5%),  but as this advice was published several years ago, talk with your tax attorney / accountant.

Interest Income for Foreign Residents of Mexico
There are multiple levels of interest rates depending on the source of the income, ranging from 4.9% to 35%.  e.g.  21% interest is owed on income “paid by banking institutions“.

“HOW FOREIGN(er) WHO RESIDES IN MEXICO SHOULD BE TAXED

Foreigners who reside and receive income in Mexico must meet the tax obligations imposed on them, like any national, the scheme for which they receive their income.”

This includes income from leasing or subleasing of real estate owned by the foreigner.

Foreigners who own property in Mexico ” are considered nonresidents if their main business location is not in this country, that is to say, if more than 50% of their annual income does not proceed from a wealth source located in Mexico, or if the center of their professional activities is not located in national territory, among other reasons. ”

http://www.sat.gob.mx/english/Paginas/English/residents_abroad.aspx

===========================
**Death & Taxes?  Here’s Yucalandia’s offereing on death:

Preparations & Key Actions for Dealing with the Death of a Loved One in Mexico

=====================================

Happy Trails
… and …

Keep doing your best to color inside the lines,

steve

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Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read-on MacDuff . . .

Sept. 10, 2017

Aduana agents at various US-Mexico border crossings are shifting their stance on whether the US state registration paper is sufficient to get a Temporary Import Permit for US-plated vehicles.  In the past, US state registration paperwork was sufficient, but now many Aduana agents are also requiring that we submit a copy of the vehicle’s title. …  Most recently, the Nuevo Laredo & Columbia Bridge Aduana agents have been refusing to issue TIPs with US starte registration documents, unless the vehicle owner also supplies a copy of the vehicle title.

Further, the fine attorney Lic. Spencer McMullen explains some additional details about additional problems that can occur if you do get your TIP with just registration paperwork:  ….  ” The HUGE issue is that while you can technically get a TIP with the vehicle registration, without the title your car will sit in impound if towed due to improper parking or accident. ”

An additional insight to handling the TIP process well:
“… Financed cars should get a US notary certified copy (of the title) with apostille to prepare for this eventuality. ”

So, as Aduana~SAT policies continue to evolve, we can save ourselves some hassles & headaches by following the latest guidance from good experts.

~ As in the past, Aduana officials recognize that Canadians do not get vdhicle titles, so their province’s registration papers are sufficient to get a TIP.

Happy Trails,
steve

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Full details on bringing vehicles into Mexico (Permanent Imports & Temporary Imports) can be found at:

Importing & Driving a Car in Mexico

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Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read-on MacDuff . . .

Sept. 9, 2017

**See the end of the article, and the comments for new updates about a class action lawsuit and other new details on protecting our rights.  e.g.  The NY Atty General today asked Equifax to remove their buried ‘forced arbitration’ clause that applies to anyone who uses Equifax’s services, because the top NY Lawyer believes that using Equifax’s security service or even using Equifax’s ‘check’ function  could waive all of your rights to participate in the current national class action lawsuit against Equifax.

Public Service Announcement:
143 Million Credit Card Users   Personal Data   Stolen

The professionals at the Equifax credit reporting agency have again allowed hackers to steal our names, addresses, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS, and credit information.  Equifax executives have known of the thefts since July, 2017, but they chose to not inform anyone that our personal information listed at this gigantic credit reporting agency was not sufficiently protected … and allowed to be stolen … again.

Even if you were never an Equifax customer,  they still lost:
~Your  Drivers License number,     ~ your Social Security Number (SSN),  ~ your birthdate,    and your address …. and the latest news update exposes that roughly 210,000 CREDIT CARD NUMBERS were also stolen “in May and July” 2017.

At least 50% of all American credit card holders personal information was lost.

Equifax is saying that it was NOT an inside job.  Equifax claims that the thieves entered through the Equifax website.

Equifax’s Chairman announced:
“This is clearly a disappointing event for our company …”

Editor’s Note:  Wow … Equifax really cares about the rest of us, whose information they lost, even when we have never used their services.

==============================

KEY PRACTICAL POINTS:
Experts are saying that there is NO NEED to change internet passwords, because those were not stolen (unless you have an Equifax account and use that same Experian password on other sites). …

It is our names, driver’s license information, birthdates. personal addresses & Social
Security numbers**   that may be sold to identity-thieves … from Equifax’s third massive security leak ‘event’.

Solutions ~ Practical Actions to take Now:
1.  Check … don’t enroll* …  to see if your information was compromised:
Equifax has created a website, www.equifaxsecurity2017.com, to help consumers determine if their personal information was lost … and at risk.  Note…  Equifax will NOT NECESSARILY  give you confirmation of whether your information was compromised … Instead,   If you enter your  last name   and the last six digits of your Social Security number …  Equifax  “enrolls” you in their “protection service” …  but Equifax says this service may not start for several days.

Equifax ‘generously’ offers this “protection service” for 1 year, if we sighn up by Nov 21 …. which means Equifax will begin BILLING US  for using their service if we don’t cancel within a year. ….

*Saying things another way: … Be cautious about “enrolling” with Equifax’s efforts at damage control … to BE SURE THAT YOU DO NOT SIGN AWAY YOUR RIGHTS …

2. Sign up for some independent service that regularly frequently checks internet sites to see if your Social Security number appear there ~ as the expert computer programs then notify you by email or by text that your SSN is appearing on suspect websites data-bases.

Unfortunately,   THIS WILL NOT BE OVER IN JUST A YEAR.
Historically,  identity thieves have continued to sell our personal information for years after past security breaches at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion ~ hence the need for ongoing years of continuous monitoring of where our personal information is appearing.  Note that AVG is currently offering this SSN monitoring service, and some credit card companies are also offering  SSN monitoring services.

Here is an example link to Discover Card’s  free   SSN monitoring services to their card holders:

https://search.discovercard.com/search?q=social+security+number&getfields=MORT.MORD.DT.DD.description&site=internet_cm_MOR&client=internet_cm_privateMOR_fe&proxystylesheet=internet_cm_private_fe&output=xml_no_dtd&proxystylesheet=internet_cm_private_fe&ICMPGN=AC_NAV_L2_SEARCH&x=0&y=0

At this point, Yucalandia has no facts or data to support choosing one SSN monitoring service over another.

3.  Monitor your credit card statements for suspicious activity.

4.  Monitor your Credit Records by requesting a copy of your personal report:
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action

5.   Contact one or all 3 of the USA’s big credit monitoring agencies, and consider freezing  your credit reports at all 3 agencies because thieves can use the information stolen from Equifax … to open accounts with creditors that use Experian or TransUnion.

Unfortunately,   THIS WILL NOT BE OVER IN JUST A YEAR.   Historically,  identity thieves have continued to sell our personal information for years after past security breaches at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

Final Notes:
The big 3 credit monitoring agencies have been regularly losing our personal data (to thieves) since at least 2012, so, it may be time to contact your local Congressman & your 2 Senators and demand that the US government make changes in the regulations …  because

… Do any of us really find it acceptable that Equifax has known of the thefts of over 143 million American’s personal information,    but said nothing for over a month?

====================================================
**As the story continues to break~unfold,  Equifax was not fully open in their initial reports of the data breaches:
~In addition to our  Drivers License numbers, our Social Security Numbers (SSN), our birthdates & addresses …. Independent sources now expose the troubling additional news that roughly 210,000 CREDIT CARD NUMBERS were also stolen “in May and July” 2017.

This article also describes a class action lawsuit filed by citizens to try to recover some of the projected $69 billion in losses and harm caused by Equifax’s insufficient website security.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/equifax-stung-with-multi-billion-dollar-class-action-lawsuit-after-massive-data-breach

FURTHER NEWS about Equifax’s efforts at Damage Control:
Accoding to RawStory:   Equifax is trying to get us customers to sign waivers,  as Equifax tries to weasel out of potential $billions they may owe us from the class action lawsuit mentioned above.

*Saying things another way: … Be cautious about “enrolling” with Equifax’s efforts at damage control … to BE SURE THAT YOU DO NOT SIGN AWAY YOUR RIGHTS …

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/09/busted-equifax-forces-hacked-customers-to-waive-right-to-sue-in-exchange-for-using-its-credit-service/

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Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read-on MacDuff . . .

Sept. 7, 2017 Update

For people who do not track multiple expat forums from around Mexico, there are some real-world updates  that are worth noting regarding both ~ taxes on Mexican sourced income~ and on “tourist” visas.

Example:  An acquaintance who has spent the few past winters in Yucatan as a snow bird, reports that he was unable to get a 180-day visa in Mexico City this time.
…  “For the first time flew into Mexico City during my recent trip to the States, and immigration stopped me from coming through as they said I could not stay for 180 days on a tourist visa. In Cancun, they have approved every time. Mexico City held me for 2-3 hours causing me to miss my connection [to Merida] and
… ~ having to sleep overnight in the airport ~ . ”

Since their 2012 rule changes, INM has been gradually cracking down on foreigners’ abuses of “tourist” 180 day Visitante visas.   INM’s general policy is that if we are frequently living in Mexico, even part-time, and that if we are working in Mexico (especially if we are renting out our Mexican property for income),  then we really must

1.  Get a Residency Visa  … either a Residente Temporal or Residente Permanente Visa
See ~ Current Rules and Procedures for Immigration, Visiting, and Staying in Mexico

2.  If we have Mexican sourced income, we must register with SAT/Hacienda by getting an RFC number
and
3.  We must report that income from Mexico & pay taxes on it.

A recent first-hand report from a popular expat forum described some dramatic new shifts in enforcement of INM immigration & SAT tax regulations:

“A couple, which has been “coming and going on 180 day tourist permits (FMMs)”: technically not a “tourist permit”, but permission to be in Mexico, but not to work in Mexico, for a short period of up to 180 days] for several years” got off the plane recently, “they were then asked to step into the interrogation room and to hand over their phone and laptop, along with the password for their email. “

“They hold an on-line job from outside of Mexico. They were questioned about where they live, how long and what was their source of income. The agent then discovered an email on the computer that was an exchange regarding a VBRO email. It was a rental confirmation for a house that they manage for a Canadian friend. The money went into a Canadian account but as far as he was concerned they had income in Mexico. ”

“The lecture they got included three main points. They had been residing in Mexico on FMMs intended for Tourists. They would need a Resident Visa to stay in Mexico. They were not permitted to work in Mexico. ´Managing´ Mexican property is a lucrative activity. Lastly they would be responsible for paying tax on the rental income. [Although given a 30-day tourist permit, if they wished to return, the immigration officer said they would need “to visit a Mexican Consulate and apply for residency.”

This report describes the increase in several trends of the Mexican Government no longer tolerating foreigners breaking Mexican laws.

1.  As Mexico’s INM, SAT / Hacinda / Aduana agencies gradually get all their local office computers connected to national databases, individual government agents (including clerks) can now pull up our personal records of past entrances & exits from Mexico and our past import/export & income generating activities, including violations of Mexican law.

2. The report (and many other similar recent internet reports by expats & ‘tourists’)  pretty clearly shows that some INM airport offices now are more closely scrutinizing foreigners trying to get 180 Day “tourist” Visitante visas when flying-into Mexico.

3.  INM no longer presumes  that foreigners are somehow entitled to automatically stay up to 6 months on a “tourist” Visitante visa simply because they exited & then returned to Mexico.

4.  We can no longer assume that INM & SAT/Hacienda will not track down income foreigners get from lucrative activities in Mexico.   This includes operating rentals or even managing rentals, pet sitting, house sitting,  etc.

5.  People who intend to earn Mexican sourced income need to get visas that allow working in Mexico:   Visitante con Permiso de Trabajo …  Residente Temporal with permission to participate in lucrative activities (like working or earning rental income) … and Residente Permanente visas.   These visas must be applied for outside Mexico at your local Mexican Consulate … and yes, some Consulates (like Laredo, San Antonio, Chicago, Portland & Phoenix) are far more friendly~lenient in granting these visas than the Mexican Consulates in California, Houston, Boston, et al.

See ~ Current Rules and Procedures for Immigration, Visiting, and Staying in Mexico

Note that foreigners who own real estate & rent it out …  owe 25% taxes (“without deduction”) on the rental income.   Details at:
http://www.sat.gob.mx/english/Paginas/English/how_do_foreigners_pay_taxes.aspx

6.  Foreigners who get visas that allow them to work must also register their work with SAT / Hacienda, reporting income using their RFCs.  Note that the RFC’s generated by Mexican banks are generally not valid for use for reporting & paying taxes on Mexican sourced income.

Happy Trails
… and …

Keep doing your best to color inside the lines,
steve

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Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read-on MacDuff . . .

August 27, 2017 Update**

August 21, 2017

July 27, 2017 
Shipping Medical Items into Mexico:
Shipping drugs, medications, medical equipment etc require an import permit from COFEPRIS (Federal Commission for Protection Against Health Risks). A copy of the COFEPRIS approved permit must be in the package with the device when it arrives at Aduana. This is true for any device that arrives by itself, not in the company of its owner or someone else when entering Mexico. In the past COFEPRIS has taken 6-8 weeks to process import permit applications .

Start at the COFEPRIS link  “Permiso sanitario de importación de dispositivos médicos para uso personal ”  (“Medical Import Permit for Medical Devices for Personal Use”)

Here:
https://www.gob.mx/cofepris/acciones-y-programas/registros-sanitarios-de-medicamentos-84937
and

https://www.gob.mx/tramites/ficha/permiso-sanitario-de-importacion-de-dispositivos-medicos-para-uso-personal/COFEPRIS702

Bringing Medicines, Medical Supplies & Medical Equipment into Mexico:
When flying or driving into Mexico, only some medicines are allowed, while others are prohibited.**  Consult the following websites for lists of controlled substances in Mexico:

http://www.cofepris.gob.mx/AS/Paginas/EstupefacientesPsicotropicosYSustancias-Quimicas.aspx … Specifically, check the “Lista Amarilla,” “Lista Verde,” and “Lista Roja”.

Lista Amarilla:

Click to access Lista_Amarilla.pdf

Lista Verde:

Click to access LISTADO%20CONVENIO%201971%20(SUST.PSICOTROPICAS)%20LISTA%20VERDE.pdf

Lista Roja:

Click to access Lista_roja.pdf

and http://www.aduanas-mexico.com.mx/cgi-bin/ctarnet/notas_ex/listas_cap29.html .

For COFEPRIS allowed medications, we must have a current written prescription from a Doctor when entering Mexico with prescription medicines.

**It is illegal to bring even some common over-the-counter medicines into Mexico. The prohibited medications include inhalers, some allergy and sinus medications. Products that contain stimulants are prohibited. specifically medicines that contain pseudoephedrine, (such as Actifed, Sudafed, and Vicks inhalers), or codeine are prohibited.

Happy Travel,
steve

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For more details, see our main article on Importing things into Mexico at:

• 1 What Can I Bring into Mexico: Mexican Customs Rules – The Article

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Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read on, MacDuff …

July 17, 2017

We’d like to share a quick foto-tour of Mexico, where photographer Arturo Ortiz matches the images on our currency to the actual locations … paired with Yucalandia’s thumbnail descriptions of the places & people.

¡ Mil Gracias !  to Arturo for his fun fun fotos https://www.facebook.com/arturotrip/

As you tour Mexico (below) through her leaders & important sites,  consider remembering some of the details … if you ever want to become a naturalized Mexican citizen, as SRE officials often ask us to describe those same key details of our bills during the oral exam.
😉
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10 Pesos …  La Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, Guanajuato

La Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, Guanajuato is the scene of the Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla‘s  ~chispa~ spark of the 1810 Revolution … Known for the September 16, 1810 Call to Independence …  El Grito    or  Grito de Dolores

The front of the $10 peso note depicts Emiliano Zapata Salazar, a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution.  Zapata is further remembered as the main leader of the peasant revolution in the state of Morelos, and the inspiration of the agrarian movement called Zapatismo.

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$20 Pesos … Monte Albán, about 10 km outside Oaxaca de Juárez

Monte Albán  is known as one of Mesoamerica’s most important archeological sites as the Zapotecan & Mixtec capital from  800 B.C. ~ featuring over 170 tombs, great plazas, ball courts & temples.

The much beloved President Benito Juarez is on the front.
“Among individuals, as among nations, Respect of other people’s rights … is peace. ”

“Entre los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz . ”

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…

You can continue seeing the full Article at:

Mexican Currency: A Photographic Tour

Enjoy.
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Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read on, MacDuff …

June 21, 2017

June 13, 2017 Updates
~ INM has changed their policy on Residente Temporal visas with permission to work for a company who have changed to being self employed, as INM now denies renewals when someone changes to self-employment.   INM states that the original RT visa entry conditions no longer exist when a foreigner changes to being self-employed from working for a Mexican employer.

~ Humanitarin visas:   Qualifying people who find themselves stuck in Mexico (unable to travel) due to health reasons may now get humanitarian visas.  They must get a letter from a government clinic doctor describing their condition(s), also stating that they are unable to travel.    Excuses of old age, forgetting to return, or having a broken-down unreliable car are not accepted by INM.

~ Large Variability in Stringent or Lenient Mexican Consular Visa Qualification Policies:
Each Mexican Consulate has their own special rules. Recent reports show that the Mexican Consulates in Laredo TX, Phoenix AZ and Las Vegas, NV are very lenient approving Residente Temporal visas for Americans with as little as $1,000.00 USD per month in income.   The Mexican Consulate in Houston has been reported as being very difficult to work with.   Finally, each Mex. Consulate’s visa application processing times vary from a few hours to a few days.

Happy Trails,
steve

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Note that there are tons of details on Visas & moving to Mexico at our main article on immigrating to Mexico at:
~ Current Rules and Procedures for Immigration, Visiting, and Staying in Mexico

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Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry

Read on, MacDuff.

June 12, 2017
Be sure to turn ON your sound … to hear the Maya pronunciations.
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Common Birds of Yucatan

Animals of Yucatan  (Quintana Roo)

My personal favorite is Ts’unu’um … for hummingbird …

because it really does sound like them when we say Ts’unu’um aloud

emphasizing the long  ” unu’ummmm ” sound.

Enjoy !

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Feel free to copy while giving proper attribution: YucaLandia/Surviving Yucatan.
© Steven M. Fry