Your savings pay more tax in 2026: the income-tax withholding on interest nearly doubled to 0.90%
Since January, the tax office withholds 0.90% of your saved principal, up from 0.50% last year. What it means if you hold Cetes, a bank note or an interest-bearing account in Cancún, and how to weigh it.
If you keep money in the bank, in a fixed-term note or in Cetes, the tax withheld from it went up in 2026. Under this year's Federal Revenue Law —proposed by the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP) and published in the Official Gazette on Nov. 7, 2025— the annual income-tax (ISR) withholding rate on interest rose from 0.50% to 0.90%. That is an 80% increase over last year.
How it is charged. The withholding is not applied to the interest you earn, but to the principal that generates it, using the average daily balance of your investment. Banks, brokerages and savings cooperatives act as withholding agents and remit the tax to the SAT. So even if your money earns little, the deduction is calculated on the entire amount saved: on low-yield products, that bite weighs proportionally more.
What it pays today. For reference, in the Aug. 11 auction Cetes paid roughly 6.17% at 28 days, 6.40% at 91 days, 6.75% at 182 days and 7.01% at one year, in line with the Bank of Mexico's target rate, which stands at 6.50%. From those gross yields you still have to subtract the withholding.
What it means for Cancún. In a city where much income depends on tips, tourist season and commission work, keeping an emergency fund is essential; but it helps to know that the advertised yield is not what you keep. A bank note offering 3% or 4% can end up returning very little in real terms once you subtract the withholding and inflation, which ran at 3.12% annually in July.
What to do. Before signing up, compare the net yield —not just the headline rate— across banks, Cetesdirecto (no fees, and you can start from 100 pesos) and other options. Always request your withholding statement: that withheld ISR is creditable on your annual tax return, and if your real interest was low you may recover part of it. If you rely on that money for emergencies, prioritize liquidity and safety over the highest rate. And keep your receipts: with the higher 2026 withholding, checking your statement each month is the best way to avoid surprises.
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