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Cancún nears double the 2025 sargassum load; Delfines, Coral, Ballenas and Marlín hit hardest Tropical Wave 26 brings heavy rain and extreme heat to Quintana Roo on August 13 Heat up to 40 °C and thunderstorms this Sunday across northern Quintana Roo Tropical Wave 25 to Bring Up to 50 mm of Rain and Wind Gusts to Cancún on Thursday Cancun faces heat index up to 43°C and thunderstorms this Friday, Civil Protection warns Peace and Voluntary Disarmament Fair arrives today in Calderitas: anonymous weapons and toy exchange Cancún nears double the 2025 sargassum load; Delfines, Coral, Ballenas and Marlín hit hardest Tropical Wave 26 brings heavy rain and extreme heat to Quintana Roo on August 13 Heat up to 40 °C and thunderstorms this Sunday across northern Quintana Roo Tropical Wave 25 to Bring Up to 50 mm of Rain and Wind Gusts to Cancún on Thursday Cancun faces heat index up to 43°C and thunderstorms this Friday, Civil Protection warns Peace and Voluntary Disarmament Fair arrives today in Calderitas: anonymous weapons and toy exchange
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SAT doubled fine collection and cut refunds: how to protect your money back

In the first half of 2026 the tax authority collected more than twice as much in penalties as a year earlier and returned less money to taxpayers, according to its own figures. What to check if you're expecting a refund in Cancún.

By Miguel Díaz Miró · Responsible editor ·
Taxpayer reviewing a tax return on the SAT portal from a laptop

Mexico's Tax Administration Service (SAT) tightened its grip in 2026. According to the authority's own figures for the first half of the year, revenue from fines rose from 12.215 billion pesos between January and June 2025 to 24.813 billion in the same period of 2026, an increase of 103.28%. At the same time, the money refunded to taxpayers fell 12.26%: from 490.2 billion to 430.092 billion pesos.

The cut was concentrated in the Value Added Tax (VAT), where refunds dropped 15.41% (from 433.563 billion to 366.741 billion), and in the excise tax (IEPS), down 17.67%. The exception was income tax (ISR), whose refunds grew 19.32% —a figure that mainly benefits salaried individuals.

Why it matters in Cancún. The city's economy rests on thousands of small lodging, restaurant, retail and tourism-service businesses that rely on VAT refunds for cash flow. When a refund takes longer or arrives incomplete, those businesses' liquidity tightens right before the winter high season. For the average wage earner, by contrast, the rise in ISR refunds is a positive sign heading into their annual return.

How to avoid losing your refund:

  • Don't change the pre-filled return unless necessary. SAT reserves its fastest automatic-refund process for those who accept the pre-loaded data; altering it usually sends the request to manual review.
  • Keep your e.firma and Tax Mailbox (Buzón Tributario) up to date. An outdated email or phone means you may miss a request and let the deadline run against you.
  • Make sure your CLABE bank account is in your name and active; a canceled or third-party account is a common cause of rejection.
  • Keep your CFDI invoices and receipts; having complete documentation speeds up the reply to any query.
  • Check the status of your refund on the SAT portal (sat.gob.mx) with your RFC and password; if it reads "under review," respond to the request within the stated window so you don't lose your credit balance.

SAT has said its higher collection relies on data cross-checks and technology tools, which makes discrepancies between what you report and what the authority already knows easier to detect. Filing complete and on time remains the best way to avoid a fine and to have your refund arrive without a hitch.

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