With the introduction of the new import tax affecting companies such as Temu and Shein, consumers will see an increase in product prices as they will have to bear the additional cost of the tax upon receiving their orders.
In response to the 19% tax implemented on January 1, 2025 for all imports from China, AliExpress announced a temporary subsidy on Choice category products, as well as new discount coupons for its users.
This premium service is characterized by offering popular products with faster shipping times compared to other items available on the platform, as well as including free shipping on purchases over 170 pesos, according to an official statement.
Mexican consumers who purchase products with the “Choice” label on AliExpress have additional guarantees, such as a refund if the item is not delivered within 45 days or if it is lost or damaged during shipping. In addition, the company will compensate customers with 20 pesos for delayed deliveries and will allow full tracking of the shipment.
AliExpress said in its statement that, starting January 1, 2025, it will offer a temporary subsidy for Choice category products in order to facilitate the transition in light of recent regulatory changes.
Since that date, consumers in Mexico who make purchases on platforms such as AliExpress, Shein or Temu must pay a 19% tax on their orders, which includes a 16% VAT and a 3% import duty, regardless of the value of the product. This tax applies to products from countries without trade agreements with Mexico.
In the case of countries with trade agreements, the tax drops to 17%, but only if the purchase exceeds $50, in accordance with the provisions of the Tax Administration Service (SAT).
Jesús Adolfo Ruiz Uscanga, managing partner of the Corporativo Fiscal Ruiz firm, explained on TikTok that the import tax is not new, but recent changes to the limits now directly impact consumers.
Previously, shipments under $50 were exempt from the tax. However, with the new provisions, all buyers must pay this tax, regardless of the value of the shipment. In addition, users will have to provide their Federal Taxpayer Registry (RFC) or Unique Population Registration Code (CURP) when making purchases on platforms such as Shein or Temu, in order to comply with the payment of the corresponding customs taxes.
Ruiz Uscanga also pointed out that this measure will increase costs for consumers, since the tax will be added as an additional charge when receiving their orders.
He also warned that if the Tax Administration Service (SAT) detects that a person makes frequent purchases for resale purposes, it could consider that these transactions generate income. In that case, the SAT would calculate the applicable taxes, such as Income Tax (ISR) and Value Added Tax (VAT), based on the value of the purchases and the possible profits derived from them.
The expert suggested that users not only worry about paying customs taxes, but also be careful about the destination of the purchased products, to avoid tax problems.
