A new record to frame (and to pay for)
It seems that the Tax Administration Service (SAT) has found the magic formula that we are all looking for: how to make money appear. And boy has it appeared. In a display of efficiency that leaves us all speechless (and a little lighter in our wallets), tax collection from January to November 2025 reached the astronomical figure of 4 trillion 905 thousand 415 million pesos. A real increase of 4.6% compared to the same period of the previous year. The key? Simply charge more. Brilliant strategy.
This historical milestone, which will surely deserve a commemorative plaque in some government office, contributed to the total revenue of the treasury exceeding by a scandalous (or admirable, depending on which side of the form you are on) 102.3% that authorized by the Congress of the Union. Because, of course, why follow budgets when you can double them. The goal for the entire year was to raise 5.2 billion pesos. At this rate, they could end up funding a mission to Mars… or maybe just pay more subsidies.
The tribute podium: Who contributes the most to the party?
In the exciting ranking of “Which tax bleeds us the most this year?”, the gold goes to, like an Olympic champion of financial extraction, the Income Tax (ISR). With a growth of 5.1%, it accumulated the handsome sum of 2 billion 652 thousand 597 million pesos. In Christian terms, that is 222,532 million pesos more than last year. A difference that companies and taxpayers surely noticed with a slight shudder when reviewing their account statements.
The silver medal goes to the always controversial Special Tax on Production and Services (IEPS), that sneaky tax that you pay on gasoline, cigarettes and soft drinks, almost without realizing it. This grew by 4.4%, contributing 617 thousand 787 million pesos to the public coffers. That is, 47,775 million more than in 2024. One can almost hear the sound of the government cash registers ringing non-stop.
And in third place, perhaps disappointing enthusiasts of aggressive taxation, came the Value Added Tax (VAT). With a modest (by its standards) growth of 1.4%, it “only” managed to raise 1 billion 369 thousand 885 million pesos. A shame, just 68 thousand 540 million pesos extra for that concept. We will have to try harder next year, dear IVA. With a little effort, you could push that percentage higher and make bread and milk an even more exciting adventure at the grocery checkout.
The final count of this epic fundraising feat, under the mandate of President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, was 5 billion 529 thousand 814 million pesos in total income for the Federal Government. A real increase of 5.9%. In other words, there were 500,591 million pesos more floating around in public treasuries than the previous year. Money that, without a doubt, will be used with the utmost neatness and without any type of controversy, as is tradition in public administration.
In short, while the SAT rubs its hands with a new record, the average taxpayer rubs his eyes, in disbelief, and then his pocket, confirming that it is indeed emptier. It is the cycle of fiscal life: they collect, we recalculate. A perfect symbiosis, if you think about it… although it’s better not to think too much, as this can generate intellectual surplus value and we don’t know if it is taxed.
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