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Last updated : 11.05.2026

Expense rules in Mexico.

All SAT rules: 16% IVA, viáticos, mandatory CFDI and VAT recovery rules in Mexico.

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Standard IVA
16%
Border IVA
8%
Mileage rate
MXN 2.50/km
Executive viáticos
MXN 3,000+/d
Foreign VAT recovery
Very limited
Currency
MXN

Disclaimer: This country guide is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Although we update it regularly, it may not reflect ongoing regulatory changes. Illizeo SA declines all responsibility for actions taken or not taken based on this content.

1Expense rules & reclaimable VAT

16% standard IVA, 8% border zone. Mandatory electronic CFDI for ITC.
Source: SAT · SHCP
CategoryVATReclaimCap / Note
Business meals16%100% reclaimableCFDI Uso de gastos
Travel meals16%100% reclaimableViáticos cap
Accommodation16%100% reclaimableCFDI required
Fuel16%100% reclaimableCFDI gasolina
Train / flight16%100% reclaimableCFDI transporte
Taxi / Uber16%100% reclaimableCFDI required
Client gifts16%Not deductibleAtenciones a clientes
Parking / toll16%100% reclaimableCFDI

Mandatory CFDI

100%

Digital tax receipt for every expense.

Viáticos cap

Per day

LISR Art. 28 + RMF regulation.

Retention

5 years

SAT records: 5 years.

SourcesSAT

2Mileage allowance

No mandatory national rate. Common practice.
SAT · Practice
ModeAllowanceCapNote
Personal carMXN 2,50/kmBy companyStandard practice
Company carISR exemptIf business records

MNC practice

MXN 2.50

Private sector standard.

Records

Logbook + CFDI

Date, km, purpose + fuel CFDI.

Limit

LISR Art. 32

Deductibility conditions.

SourcesSAT

3Per diem and travel allowances

Viáticos by company policy. No federal rate.
MNC practice
DestinationMealLodging / nightDaily rate
Mexico City / MonterreyMXN 1,500MXN 4,000MXN 5,500
GuadalajaraMXN 1,200MXN 3,000MXN 4,200
Senior executiveMXN 3,000MXN 7,000MXN 10,000
Foreign — USAMXN 4,000MXN 12,000MXN 16,000
Foreign — MadridMXN 3,500MXN 10,000MXN 13,500

MNC practice

MXN 3,000+

Standard executive per diem.

CFDI required

Always

Mandatory CFDI for every expense.

LISR Art. 28

Deduction limit

Legal deduction cap.

SourcesSAT

4Foreign VAT recovery

VERY limited VAT recovery for foreign companies in Mexico.
SAT
ZoneMechanismDeadlineMethod
Mexico → EUNo reciprocityNo agreement
FranceNo reciprocityNo agreement
United KingdomNo reciprocityNo agreement
SwitzerlandNo reciprocityNo agreement
USANo recoverySales tax not recoverable
MX IVA for foreignNoneNo general mechanism

No B2B refund

None

No general B2B procedure.

Maquila

Available

IMMEX program for exports.

Outbound

Limited

MX company can recover EU VAT if registered.

SourcesSAT

Industrialize your Mexico expenses with Illizeo.

IVA 16%/8%, mandatory CFDI, LISR viáticos, multi-currency MXN↔USD↔EUR↔CHF: all the SAT rules above are natively integrated into Illizeo.

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