How does the Mexican hospedaje (lodging) tax work for vacation rentals?

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Hospedaje tax in Quintana Roo (the state covering Playa, Tulum, Cozumel, Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Isla Mujeres, Akumal, Bacalar) is 6% on short-term rental revenue. Stays under 30 nights are subject; stays of 30+ nights are not. Airbnb auto-collects and remits for QR-listed properties. Direct bookings: you (or your manager) collect, file monthly, and remit by the 20th of the following month.

Local context: Mexican rental-tax compliance is increasingly enforced in Quintana Roo. The Mexican government, state tax authority (SEFIPLAN), and federal SAT coordinate on data — they cross-check Airbnb host listings, bank deposits, and public listings to identify non-filers. The state has revoked permits and applied significant penalties to owners caught operating off-the-books. PlayaStays handles full tax compliance for managed owners as part of the standard service — many owners outsource this because the monthly filings and CFDI invoicing have real overhead. Hospedaje rates can change with state budget cycles; the 6% figure has been stable since 2018 but isn't permanent.

What to do: Step 1: Get an RFC for the owning entity (individual or fideicomiso). Step 2: Register the property on RETUR-Q. Step 3: For Airbnb-only listings, confirm Airbnb is collecting + remitting on your behalf (settings → tax). Step 4: For direct bookings, hire a Mexican accountant for monthly hospedaje filings (~$50–150 USD/month) OR use a full-service property manager (like PlayaStays) that handles it. Step 5: Track all rental revenue + expenses for the annual ISR filing. Never operate fully off-the-books — the penalties exceed any tax savings.

Common mistake: Assuming Airbnb's auto-collection covers all your obligations. It only covers hospedaje on Airbnb-booked nights. Direct bookings, VRBO bookings (in some cases), and the federal ISR are all separate filings. Operating off-the-books on direct bookings is a common — and increasingly risky — mistake.

How does the Mexican hospedaje (lodging) tax work for vacation rentals?

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