What is the tourist tax refund and how do I get one?
Question: What is the tourist tax refund and how do I get one?
The Mexican government is in the process of instituting a program for reimbursing the tax on products foreign tourists purchase during their visit to Mexico. Read on to find out if you are eligible, and how to go about claiming the tax refund for tourists to Mexico.
Answer:
Eligibility for tax refund
To be eligible for the tax refund, you must have spent at least 1200 pesos on Mexican goods - there's no refund for services, so hotel and food expenses do not apply - and you must return to your country by sea or air.
Each receipt that you present must be for at least 1200 pesos (individual items may cost less, but the complete purchase at the store must be for at least that amount). If the purchase was paid for in cash, the refund will not surpass 3000 pesos. Purchases must be made in stores and establishments that are affiliated with the tax reimbursement program in order to qualify.
Procedure for obtaining a refund
To obtain the refund, on the day of your departure you must visit one of the tax refund kiosks located at certain airports throughout Mexico (see below), and hand in the reimbursement request form completely filled out, with banking information (name of bank and account number). You must present your passport, immigration form (such as a tourist card), plane ticket, purchase receipts, and bring along the goods purchased to be verified.
You will receive 50% of the reimbursement (up to 10 000 pesos) in cash, and the other 50% will be refunded through electronic transfer to your bank account within 40 days.
The companies which process the tax refunds charge a 35% fee of the total tax refund.
Availability
Tax refund kiosks are available at airports in the following destinations: Acapulco, Cancún, Cozumel, Guadalajara, Ixtapa, Los Cabos, Mexico City, Monterrey, and Puerto Vallarta.
For more information, visit the Web Site of YVESAM, or Taxback, operators of the tourist tax refund service. The
The Mexican government is in the process of instituting a program for reimbursing the tax on products foreign tourists purchase during their visit to Mexico. Read on to find out if you are eligible, and how to go about claiming the tax refund for tourists to Mexico.
Answer:
Eligibility for tax refund
To be eligible for the tax refund, you must have spent at least 1200 pesos on Mexican goods - there's no refund for services, so hotel and food expenses do not apply - and you must return to your country by sea or air.
Each receipt that you present must be for at least 1200 pesos (individual items may cost less, but the complete purchase at the store must be for at least that amount). If the purchase was paid for in cash, the refund will not surpass 3000 pesos. Purchases must be made in stores and establishments that are affiliated with the tax reimbursement program in order to qualify.
Procedure for obtaining a refund
To obtain the refund, on the day of your departure you must visit one of the tax refund kiosks located at certain airports throughout Mexico (see below), and hand in the reimbursement request form completely filled out, with banking information (name of bank and account number). You must present your passport, immigration form (such as a tourist card), plane ticket, purchase receipts, and bring along the goods purchased to be verified.
You will receive 50% of the reimbursement (up to 10 000 pesos) in cash, and the other 50% will be refunded through electronic transfer to your bank account within 40 days.
The companies which process the tax refunds charge a 35% fee of the total tax refund.
Availability
Tax refund kiosks are available at airports in the following destinations: Acapulco, Cancún, Cozumel, Guadalajara, Ixtapa, Los Cabos, Mexico City, Monterrey, and Puerto Vallarta.
For more information, visit the Web Site of YVESAM, or Taxback, operators of the tourist tax refund service. The