Tax-free shopping in Mexico

Yes. Visitors who don't live in Mexico can get back about 8.9–8.9% of the price on purchases of at least MX$1,200 by claiming the IVA refund before they leave.

IVA

16%

Minimum spend

MX$1,200

Net refund

8.9–8.9%

Refund at till

No

Minimum basis: Incl. IVA, per participating store, paid by card issued abroad; cash purchases count only up to MXN 3,000 in total per tourist

Cap: MX$3,000 (Cap on purchases paid in cash, in total per tourist (card purchases have no cap))

Who can claim

• You are a foreign visitor with tourist status under Mexican immigration law.
• You leave Mexico by air or sea (land departures do not qualify).

How to get the money back

1. Shop at stores in the tourist refund program (look for the MoneyBack sign) and pay with a card issued abroad.
2. Ask for an electronic invoice (CFDI) with your name, country and passport number.
3. On departure, go to the refund operator's module at the airport or cruise port before check-in.
4. Show passport, immigration form (FMM), boarding pass or cruise ID, invoices, card slips and the goods.
5. Get the refund to your card, or up to half in cash.

Where to validate: At the authorised refund module at your departure airport or cruise port (Mexico City, Cancún, Guadalajara, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Cozumel and other main tourist ports).

Deadline: Claim in person at the module before you leave Mexico, on the day of departure.

Paid out as: Refund to the card used for the purchase; Cash in MXN, up to 50% of the refund and max MXN 10,000 (rest paid electronically)

Not refundable

• Services (hotels, restaurants, tours)
• Goods shipped out rather than carried in your luggage
• Departures by land

Worth knowing

• The operator keeps a large share: you get about 8.9% of the price back, not the 13.8% IVA share.
• Pay by card; cash purchases count only up to MXN 3,000 in total.
• Keep the goods with you and unused; officers can ask to see them.

Estimate your refund for Mexico

Sources

• SAT: Devolución de impuestos a turistas extranjeros
• SAT: Concesionarios de devolución de IVA para extranjeros
• gob.mx: Reintegro por devolución del IVA a turistas extranjeros
• taxfree.com.mx: Mexico tax refund for tourists (about 9% back)
• Everything Playa del Carmen: Tax free shopping in Mexico (8.9% refund)

Rules last checked 24 September 2026. Refund operators and customs can change procedures at short notice; confirm at the store before you buy.