Mexico’s tax collection spree gets results—and makes enemies

MXPE Weekly Essentials ft. what’s behind falling murder rates, and other highlights in Mexican politics, policy, and markets from the past week.

MXPE Weekly Essentials. Only the most important news in Mexican politics, policy, and markets from the past week.

Last week’s highlights:

• Rebate debate—President Claudia Sheinbaum’s tax policy has consisted in hunting down debtors—particularly large companies and the rich. Those who have been found owing the government money have been shown the carrot as well as the stick:
  The Mexican tax authority (SAT) offered to scrap late payers’ fines if they paid what they owe immediately. The perk only applied to those making over $300 million pesos ($17.64 million dollars) annually. SAT says that, this year, it has “recovered” $6.4 billion pesos (over $376 million dollars) of back taxes owed in 2024.
  It’s not all concessions and collaboration. This month also saw 300 trans-national corporations—including FedEx, Visa, and Walmart—send a letter to the US Congress denouncing Mexico’s “unprecedented” fiscal crackdown.

• New customs—Customs houses have also hit record collection highs on imports. One might think this was only down to the spate of tariff increases on a variety of products over the past year.