Mexico transfer pricing rules, documentation requirements, or precios de transferencia compliance.
Written by the OpenAccountants team. Written by the OpenAccountants team from the official sources it cites.
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Distinction between TP Report and Local File
Mexico distinguishes between: 1. TP Report (all entities with related-party transactions) -- general support file. 2. Local File (large entities over threshold) -- OECD BEPS Action 13 format, filed with SAT. Both must be prepared; the Local File is more detailed and includes some Master File content.
Arm's length principle
Transactions between related parties must be valued as if they were carried out between independent parties in comparable operations. The arm's length principle applies.Article 179 LISR
Preferred method
CUP is preferred by SAT where applicable. Discounted cash flow method accepted for transactions involving intangibles under certain conditions.
Range application
Interquartile range applied; adjustment to median if result outside range.
Maquiladora APA elimination
From 2025, maquiladoras can NO longer request APAs. The sole mechanism available is the safe harbour (Article 182 LISR).Article 182 LISR
No safe harbour for general transactions
No safe harbour for non-maquiladora related-party transactions. All must be at arm's length with supporting documentation.
Rendered from the canonical facts model. General reference only — confirm with a qualified professional before acting.
Section 1 -- Quick Reference
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Country | Mexico (United Mexican States) |
| Tax authority | Servicio de Administración Tributaria (SAT) |
| Key TP legislation | Articles 76, 76-A, 179-184, Income Tax Law (Ley del ISR -- LISR); Fiscal Code (CFF) Art. 34-A (APA) |
| OECD member? | Yes |
| BEPS signatory? | Yes |
| Currency | MXN |
| Documentation language | Spanish (Local File); Master File in Spanish or English |
| TP documentation types | Four types: TP Report, Local File, Master File, CbCR |
| Skill version | 1.0 |
2.1 TP Report (Estudio de Precios de Transferencia)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Required? | Yes, for taxpayers with related-party transactions (general obligation under Art. 76 LISR) |
| Threshold | All entities with controlled transactions must have TP study available |
| Content | Functions/assets/risks, method selection, comparables, arm's length analysis |
| Language | Spanish |
| Filing | Not filed; maintained and available on SAT request |
2.2 Local File (Archivo Local)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Required? | Yes, for entities with cumulative income > MXN ~1,940 million (2025; indexed annually) |
| Format | Per BEPS Action 13 / OECD standards with Mexico-specific content |
| Language | Spanish |
| Filing deadline | May 15 of the following fiscal year |
| Filing method | Electronic submission to SAT |
2.3 Master File (Archivo Maestro)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Required? | Yes, for entities meeting the income threshold (same as Local File) |
| Format | OECD Annex I to Chapter V |
| Language | Spanish or English |
| Filing deadline | December 31 of the following fiscal year |
| Filing method | Electronic submission |
2.4 Country-by-Country Report (CbCR)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Threshold | Consolidated group revenue > MXN 12 billion (approx. EUR 750m; updated: ~MXN 16.59 billion per indexed thresholds) |
| Filing deadline | December 31 of the following fiscal year |
| Content | Per OECD Annex III |
| Filing method | Electronic |
3.2 Accepted Methods (Article 180 LISR) (Article 180 LISR)
| Method | Accepted |
|---|---|
| Comparable Uncontrolled Price (CUP) | Yes |
| Resale Price Method (RPM) | Yes |
| Cost Plus Method (CPM) | Yes |
| Transactional Net Margin Method (TNMM) | Yes |
| Profit Split Method (PSM) | Yes |
| Residual Profit Split | Yes |
Section 4 -- Filing Obligations
| Obligation | Detail |
|---|---|
| TP Report | Maintain; available on SAT audit request |
| Local File | Annual electronic filing (May 15) |
| Master File | Annual electronic filing (December 31) |
| CbCR | Annual electronic filing (December 31) |
| Annual tax return (Declaración Anual) | Includes informative obligations on related-party transactions |
| Informative multiple return | Related-party transaction information in annual return |
Section 5 -- Deadlines
| Item | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Local File | May 15 of the following fiscal year |
| Master File | December 31 of the following fiscal year |
| CbCR | December 31 of the following fiscal year |
| TP Report preparation | By time of annual tax return filing (March 31 for legal entities) |
| Annual tax return | March 31 of the following fiscal year |
| Maquiladora informative return | June of the following fiscal year |
Section 6 -- Penalties
| Offence | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Late/incomplete TP informative return documentation | MXN 199,630 -- MXN 284,220 (indexed annually) |
| Failure to file Local File / Master File | Similar administrative fines |
| SAT TP adjustment -- tax omission | 55-75% of historical omitted taxes |
| Late payment surcharge | 1.47% monthly on unpaid tax |
| Inflation adjustment | Tax debt indexed for inflation |
| Non-compliance with maquiladora safe harbor | Deemed permanent establishment of foreign principal |
Section 7 -- Advance Pricing Agreements (APA)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Availability | Yes (general APA under Art. 34-A CFF) |
| Types | Unilateral (primarily); bilateral available |
| Governing legislation | Article 34-A, Fiscal Code (CFF) |
| Application | To SAT with proposed methodology |
| Duration | Up to 5 years (year of request + 1 prior + up to 3 forward) |
| Fees | No formal fee |
| Processing time | Variable; historically lengthy |
| Maquiladora APA | ELIMINATED from 2022 reform; no longer available from FY2025 |
8.1 Maquiladora Safe Harbour (Article 182 LISR) (Article 182 LISR)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Applicable to | Maquiladora companies operating under Art. 181 LISR |
| Calculation | Taxable profit = GREATER of: 6.5% of total costs/expenses (including foreign-sourced) OR 6.9% of total assets (including foreign-owned assets) |
| Mandatory from 2025 | Only mechanism available (APA option eliminated) |
| Consequence of non-compliance | Foreign principal deemed to have a Permanent Establishment in Mexico |
| Annual informative return | Required in June of following year |
Section 9 -- Recent Developments
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Maquiladora APA option expired (last APAs covered 2021-2024); safe harbour now mandatory |
| 2024 | Updated indexed thresholds for documentation obligations |
| 2022 | Tax reform eliminated maquiladora APA from Article 182 LISR |
| 2025 | Pillar Two under discussion; no legislation enacted yet |
| Ongoing | SAT increasing TP audit activity, especially on maquiladoras and digital services |
| Ongoing | Focus on substance requirements for intercompany transactions |
| May 2026 | First Local File filing deadline for FY2025 (May 15, 2026) |
Section 10 -- Interaction with Other Skills
| Related skill | Interaction |
|---|---|
| mexico-corporate-tax (ISR) | TP adjustments directly affect income tax (ISR) base |
| mexico-bookkeeping | TP documentation relies on Mexican accounting standards (NIF) |
| mexico-vat (IVA) | TP adjustments may affect customs valuation and IVA |
| Maquiladora regime | Safe harbour is the sole TP mechanism for maquiladoras from 2025 |
| Customs valuation | Related-party import pricing must be consistent with TP positions |
| CbCR | SAT uses CbCR for risk-based audit selection |
| Double tax treaties | Mexico's DTA network provides MAP for TP disputes |
This skill and its outputs are provided for informational and computational purposes only and do not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Open Accountants and its contributors accept no liability for any errors, omissions, or outcomes arising from the use of this skill. All outputs must be reviewed and signed off by a qualified professional before filing or acting upon.
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