How to Get an RFC in Mexico

I got the initial paperwork needed done to start my business in Puerto Vallarta without paying any expert or lawyer, and so can you! It’s easier if you speak Spanish, but you can get by without it. Be aware that this guide differs from any that predate 2022, because the process has changed since then!

You will additionally need permission to work if you’re a temporary resident(don’t worry that’s included here too). Permanent residents automatically have permission to work and can skip the INM steps regarding that.

Note: It used to be easier to get an RFC. You could simply register online. But then there were issues with fraudulent RFCs being registered and so now you must go in-person. [Sad trombone].

Motivation

Generate income in Mexico
Make bigger purchases (including cars, real-estate)
Claim deductions
Start a business
Reduce restrictions on opening a bank account

Timeline

At least two weeks depending on appointment availability.

Necessary Vocabulary & Acronyms

INM - The immigration office (Instituto Nacional de Migración)

SAT - The tax office (Servicio de Administracion Tributaria)

RFC - Registered tax id the tax office provides to you (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes)

Régimen (fiscal) - The tax arrangement associated with your RFC. In other words, the protocols and obligations for your specific tax status.

CURP - Registered personal id for all citizens and residents of Mexico (Clave Única de Registro de Población)

Prerequisites

Temporary or permanent residency
An address and a CFE bill for it
Patience

1.1) https://citas.sat.gob.mx/

1.2) “Registrar cita”

1.3) “Inscripción al padrón de contribuyentes Personas Físicas”

Enter your CURP (from your residence card), name, email etc.

1.4) You’ll get a calendar view of appointments.

Look for the “Inscripción de Personas Físicas (casos especiales)” option under servicios.

1.5) Book an appointment and print the confirmation.

Note: If you get placed in the “fila virtual”, it means that there were no appointments available on their calendar. This sucks for you because now you need to anxiously wait for an email, where they give you some random appointment time. You must respond to the email within 24 hours and confirm the appointment; otherwise, you will be penalized and need to wait 30 days to schedule another.

2) Go to your SAT appointment

Pro tip: Bring every piece of documentation you can think of just in case they ask for additional things. Better to bring extra unneeded paperwork than to need to schedule and wait for another appointment!

I took these things:

printed out appointment confirmation
residence card
passport
proof of residence (CFE bill)
printout of my CURP
selfie of me hanging out with Mexicans so they know I’ve assimilated

You will get an RFC without a régimen when you’re done (Comprobante de la inscripción en el Registro Federal de Contribuyentes). If you’re a temporary resident, you’re not allowed to conduct business yet because you still need the régimen and the permission to work from INM. If you’re a permanent resident you may be able to get your e.firma this same day and skip to step 6.

3) Visit INM to get an appointment for permission to work

Note: Still not accepting online appointments as of March 22, 2023

Ask for an appointment for permission to work (permiso de trabajo). They will review that you have all your documents before giving you appointment. You can ignore the documents regarding receipt of payment since you’ll pay directly at the office (if in Vallarta) and the offer letter from employer if you’re registering as an independent contractor (actividades independientes). You will need to bring the same things from step 2 above, and additionally:

Document showing your RFC that SAT gave you (Comprobante de la inscripción en el Registro Federal de Contribuyentes)
Electronically filled and printed form for requesting permission to work.
- Press “Tramites Migratorios”
- “Permiso de trabajo”
- “Solicitud”
If you are registering as an independent contractor(actividades independientes), you will also need:
Fillout and print the escrito bajo protesta de decir verdad
- Description of work in the bajo protesta should more than just “empresario”. It should be the name and description of what your business does.
Generate and print the letter for independent work (Escrito para trabajar de manera independiente) which starts with “Asunto: Trabajo independiente” near the top.
- This one is tough to find. Start with the same micrositio from where you printed the solicitud (press “Tramites migratorios” then “permiso de trabajo”). There’s a green link that says “Escrito para trabajar de manera independiente” under “Requisitos”

They will work with you to schedule an appointment.

4) Go to your INM appointment to get permission to work

Present your documents (same as step 3), pay directly at the office (cards accepted, $3,835mxn as of 2023), some signatures here, some email confirmations there, bada bing bada boom and you’re done with this step.

Now you need to wait for your new temporary residence card that will show your permission to work. You’ll need to carry around your passport now as legal identification as you’re a foreigner and you no longer have possession of your residency card. It takes about a week for them to send it over from Guadalajara, but ask them when you should come back to pick it up.

There isn’t any notification/email you just need to come back physically and check 😕.

5) Schedule another appointment at the SAT office (online)

This time for your e-signature (e.firma de Personas Físicas). You will need the e.firma to signup for your régimen and do any other business trasactions (e.g. create facturas when you make expensible purchases).

6) Attend your appointment at the SAT office

Bring:

Appointment confirmation printout
Your spanking new residence card (with permission to work if you’re temporary)
USB flash drive for your e.firma (some have said they only accept new, unopened in box)
CFE bill with your address (doesn’t need to be in your name, e.g. if you’re renting)

Your e.firma will need to be renewed after 4 years. They will ask you to write down a password for it. They will take fingerprints and a photo. This appointment took 2 hours on a busy day for me.

All done!