How can I get my tax back (VAT refund) in Mexico?
Just buy at any affiliated store or shop and bring photocopies of the following documents to our offices at the airport: your passport, Immigration Form (FMM), boarding pass, and the invoices and credit card vouchers from your purchases.
In which cities in Mexico can I get tax refunds (tax-free shopping)?
You can get tax refunds at our offices in the airports of any of our authorized destinations. You can shop in many more cities, but your flight needs to leave from one of the aforementioned airports in order to qualify for tax refunds.
How do I know if a store or shop is offering TaxBack tax refunds?
Please ask the store clerk if they offer TaxBack tax refunds, or look for the TaxBack logo which should be displayed on the premises.
I just got home and would like to get information on the status of my tax refund, where can I find this information?
Please access our website and fill out the “track my refund” form.
What can I do if the store or shop where I bought my merchandise is not affiliated to your network?
Unfortunately, we can only refund taxes from purchases in TaxBack affiliated stores, as established by law. We cannot accept invoices from non-affiliates.
How long does it take for my taxes to be refunded?
Once you submit your tax refund request at one of our offices, we verify all the documentation and process your refund. Depending on bank transfer speeds, it takes approximately 40 days after you leave the country for your funds to become available on your credit card.
Is there a minimum amount I should spend in order to request a tax refund in Mexico?
Yes, in order to get a tax refund in Mexico, the minimum amount purchased from a single merchant is $1,200 pesos. You can accumulate multiple smaller invoices from the same store or shop and process them as a single transaction, but for each merchant or store you are buying from, the $1,200 peso minimum limit applies.
The airline took my FMM – Immigration form, can I still get my tax refund from TaxBack?
We recommend that you make a photocopy of your Mexican immigration form (FMM) while still at your hotel, before going to the airport. Without a copy of this form, we are unable to process your tax refund.
What if I did not have time to make my tax refund request at the airport, and I have already left the country?
With TaxBack, you can still get your tax refund from your shopping in Mexico, even after you have left the country. If you have photocopies of all the required documents, please scan them into your computer and email them to us at info@taxback.com.mx. We will verify your documentation and if everything is in order, we will promptly process your tax refund.
Can I get a tax refund if I have an FM3 (old immigration form)?
No. By law we are required to only accept the current FMM Mexican Immigration Form when processing tax refunds.
Can I get a tax refund if I am an airline employee?
No. Airline employees are not authorized to get tax refunds for shopping in Mexico.
Who qualifies for tax refunds when shopping in Mexico?
Any foreign national who is leaving the country through one of the authorized airports on a commercial airline flight (private airplane flights do not qualify for tax refunds, nor can you get a tax refund if you are leaving Mexico by land).
Can i still get a tax refund if I am missing one of the documents?
Unfortunately, we are unable to process your tax refund if you are missing any of the required documents, as specified by the law.
Is there a limit to how much money I can get from a tax refund (VAT refund)?
If you paid for your merchandise in cash, there is a maximum tax refund limit of $3,000 pesos per merchant / shop. If you paid for your merchandise with a credit card, there is no limit to the total tax refund per merchant / shop that you purchased from.
Why is the amount of the tax refund less then the total amount of tax on the invoice?
TaxBack is required by law to deduct a 35% tax refund processing fee from your total tax refund.
When will you be opening more destinations for tax refunds?
Please check our website, Facebook and Twitter profiles for updates on new destinations, shopping specials and any other news about TaxBack in Mexico.
Which is the FMM Immigration Form?
See an example of it here.
Can I get a TaxBack tax refund for my hotel bill?
No. Services such as hotel accommodations and restaurant meals, and non-taxable goods such as food, non-alcoholic beverages, books and medicines, are by law not eligible for tax refunds in Mexico.
How do you calculate my refund amount?
The VAT (Value Added Tax—IVA in Mexico—also known as GST or TAX in some countries) is a tax added to consumer goods as a percentage of their list price. It can be difficult to calculate at a glance because most consumer goods sold in Mexico are displayed with the VAT already included in the price.
For example: if the VAT rate is 16% and a dress is displayed at $1,200.00 Mexican pesos (MXP), the VAT is about $165.52 MXP. (about $1,034.48 for the dress + $165.52 for the VAT = $1,200.00 total cost) Thus, the tax refund corresponding to such a dress would be $165.52 minus a handling fee, established by the Mexican government, of 35% over the total refund amount (in this case $57.93).
After processing the refund, your credit card account would receive $165.52 - $57.93 = $107.59 (MXP).
Can I get a tax refund with TaxBack for goods originating in Mexico that are shipped, sent by courier or purchased over the internet?
No. Tax-free shopping applies only to goods that are physically purchased at a TaxBack affiliated retailer and exported out of Mexico as part of your luggage.
Where can I find more information about the tax refund process in Mexico?
All official rules and regulations are established by the Mexican government’s internal revenue service, called S.A.T. You can find all the rules pertaining to tax-free shopping at www.sat.gob.mx, however information is currently only available in Spanish.
I lost or misplaced my credit card receipt, can I still get a tax refund?
If you cannot produce credit card receipts for your purchases, we are required by law to give you a maximum tax refund of $3,000.00 Mexican Pesos per merchant or store you bought from. You can, upon arriving home, send us a copy of your credit card statement, showing the purchases, and we will be able to send you the rest of your refund.
Can I get my tax refund wired to my checking account, via check or deposited to my debit card?
No. Currently we can only offer tax refunds deposited directly to your credit card (AMEX, VISA, MasterCard). Other options may become available in the future.
How long does it take to get my refund processed at the airport?
You can process your tax refund at any of our airport service modules in 5 to 10 minutes.
Can I get a tax refund for my shopping if I'm leaving Mexico on a private plane?
No. Currently only travelers leaving the country on commercial airline flights are allowed to receive tax refunds for their purchases in Mexico.
