Mexico Crypto Tax Calculator
Calculate Your Crypto Tax Liability
Calculate your cryptocurrency tax liability in Mexico based on your transactions and tax status. This tool follows Mexican tax laws for capital gains on crypto transactions.
Calculation Results
When you buy Bitcoin in Mexico, hold it for a year, then sell it for pesos, you might think you’re just making money. But under Mexican law, that sale isn’t just a trade-it’s a taxable event. And if you use that Bitcoin to pay for groceries, that’s also a taxable sale. There’s no special crypto tax code in Mexico. Instead, your crypto transactions are treated like any other asset sale under existing income and VAT laws.
How Crypto Is Classified in Mexico
Cryptocurrency isn’t money in Mexico. It’s not legal tender. It’s not a currency. The Federal Civil Code calls it an intangible movable asset. That means it’s treated like stocks, jewelry, or a vintage car-something you own, trade, and can lose value on. This classification is critical. It determines everything: when you owe tax, how much, and how to report it.
Because crypto isn’t money, you don’t pay VAT on buying Bitcoin with pesos. But if you sell Bitcoin to get pesos, that’s a sale of property-and VAT may apply depending on your business status. For individuals, VAT usually doesn’t come into play. But for businesses, it’s a different story.
When You Owe Tax: The Realization Rule
Here’s the biggest misunderstanding: holding crypto doesn’t trigger tax. Rising prices alone? No tax. Your Ethereum going from $2,000 to $3,500? That’s paper profit. You don’t pay anything until you sell, trade, or spend it.
These are the real taxable events:
- Selling crypto for Mexican pesos
- Trading one crypto for another (BTC for ETH)
- Using crypto to buy goods or services
- Receiving crypto as payment for work or services
Every time one of these happens, you’re selling an asset. The tax is based on the difference between what you paid for it and what it was worth when you got rid of it. That’s your capital gain-or loss.
Individual Tax Rates: Progressive, Not Flat
Unlike the U.S., Mexico doesn’t have a separate capital gains tax rate. All income-wages, freelance pay, crypto profits-is lumped together and taxed on a sliding scale from 1.92% to 35%. The higher your total income, the higher your rate.
But there’s a break: individuals get a tax exemption on capital gains from movable property up to 90,000 Mexican pesos (about $4,000 USD) per year. If your total crypto gains in 2025 were $3,200, you owe nothing. If you made $12,000, you only pay tax on $8,000.
That exemption doesn’t apply to corporate entities. And it only covers gains from selling assets-not income earned from mining, staking, or airdrops. Those are treated as ordinary income and taxed at your full rate.
Corporate Tax: Flat 30% on All Gains
If you run a business that trades crypto, holds it as an investment, or accepts it as payment, you pay a flat 30% corporate income tax on all profits. There’s no distinction between short-term and long-term holdings. No lower rate for holding over a year. Just 30% on net gains.
This includes mining operations. If your company mines Bitcoin and sells it, the profit is taxed at 30%. If you mine and hold, you don’t owe tax until you sell. But you still need to track your cost basis-how much you spent on electricity, hardware, and mining fees-because that reduces your taxable gain.
Crypto-to-Crypto Trades Are Taxable
This trips up a lot of traders. Swapping Bitcoin for Solana? That’s two transactions: you sold BTC and bought SOL. The IRS in the U.S. treats it this way. Mexico does too.
Example: You bought 0.5 BTC for 150,000 pesos in January. In June, you traded it for 12 ETH when BTC was worth 400,000 pesos. You just made a 250,000 peso gain. That’s taxable income-even if you never touched pesos. You owe tax on that gain based on your income bracket.
Many traders think they’re just “moving” between assets. But under Mexican law, you’re selling one property and buying another. Each trade is a tax event.
Using Crypto to Pay for Things
Buying coffee with Dogecoin? That’s a taxable sale. The coffee shop might not care, but you do. You need to calculate the fair market value of Dogecoin in pesos at the exact moment you made the payment.
Let’s say you bought 5,000 DOGE for 1,000 pesos in March. In November, you use them to pay for a $20 meal. At that moment, 5,000 DOGE is worth 380 pesos. You’ve lost 620 pesos on the value of your crypto. That’s a capital loss-and you can use it to offset other gains.
But if 5,000 DOGE was worth 1,500 pesos when you paid? You made a 500 peso gain. That’s taxable income.
Staking, Mining, Airdrops: Income, Not Gains
These aren’t capital gains. They’re income. When you earn crypto from staking rewards, mining, or an airdrop, you owe tax the moment you receive it.
The value is based on the peso equivalent of the crypto at the time you got it. If you receive 0.1 ETH worth 18,000 pesos as a staking reward, that’s 18,000 pesos of taxable income. Later, if you sell that ETH for 25,000 pesos, you have a 7,000 peso capital gain on top of the original income.
There’s no official guidance on DeFi yield farming or liquidity pools, but tax experts agree: if you get paid in crypto, it’s income. If you later sell it, you have a capital gain.
Record Keeping: What You Must Track
Mexican tax law doesn’t give you a checklist for crypto. But it does require you to prove your numbers. If you’re audited, you need to show:
- Date and amount of every crypto purchase
- How much you paid (in pesos or crypto)
- Where you bought it (exchange, wallet, peer-to-peer)
- Date and value of every sale, trade, or spend
- Exchange rates used for peso conversions
- Cost basis for mining or staking rewards
Most people use spreadsheets or crypto tax software. The Mexican tax authority doesn’t approve any specific tool, but they do expect accurate, consistent records. FIFO (first-in, first-out) is the default method for calculating cost basis unless you can prove another method.
Reporting Thresholds: AML, Not Tax
Here’s something many don’t realize: you don’t report crypto to the tax authority unless you’re filing a tax return. But you do report it to the Ministry of Finance if you’re involved in transactions over 60,000 pesos (about $3,500 USD). That’s not a tax rule-it’s an anti-money laundering rule.
It applies to everyone: individuals, businesses, exchanges. If you send 70,000 pesos worth of crypto to a friend, that’s reportable. If you trade 50,000 pesos worth of crypto on an exchange, that’s reportable. Even if you’re not taxed on it, the government knows about it.
This is why crypto activity in Mexico is lower than in other Latin American countries. The compliance burden is high.
How Mexico Compares to Neighbors
El Salvador made Bitcoin legal tender in 2021-but in January 2025, they removed the mandatory status and now tax crypto gains like other assets. Argentina offered a one-time tax amnesty for crypto held before March 31, 2025. Brazil taxes crypto gains at 15% for individuals.
Mexico doesn’t have a preferential rate. The 35% top bracket is among the highest in the region. But the $4,000 exemption helps small holders. For people who trade infrequently or hold small amounts, the exemption often wipes out their tax bill.
What’s Next? Uncertainty Rules
There’s no new crypto tax law in the works. President Claudia Sheinbaum hasn’t signaled any major changes. The ruling Morena Party has added crypto gains to existing tax codes but hasn’t created a new framework. That means the rules stay vague.
Experts say this is dangerous. Without clear guidance, people don’t know how to report mining, DeFi, or NFTs. The tax authority hasn’t published a single example or FAQ on crypto. That leaves taxpayers guessing.
The safest path? Treat every crypto movement like a sale. Track everything. Keep records for at least five years. And if you’re unsure, talk to a tax advisor who’s handled crypto cases before. Don’t assume you’re safe because you didn’t convert to pesos. Mexico doesn’t care how you moved the asset. It cares that you moved it.
Bottom Line
Crypto isn’t tax-free in Mexico. It’s not a loophole. It’s an asset-and every time you sell, trade, or spend it, you’re triggering tax. The system is messy, outdated, and inconsistent. But it’s the law. The exemption helps small players. The flat 30% rate hits businesses hard. And the AML reporting rules mean the government is watching.
If you’re holding crypto in Mexico, don’t ignore it. Don’t assume it’s private. Don’t think “I didn’t cash out, so I’m fine.” You’re not. The moment you moved it, you created a tax obligation. The only question is whether it’s above the exemption-and whether you’re ready to prove it.
Do I pay tax if I only hold crypto and never sell?
No. Holding crypto without selling, trading, or spending it does not trigger any tax in Mexico. Taxes only apply when you dispose of the asset-meaning you sell it for pesos, trade it for another crypto, or use it to pay for goods or services. Price increases alone are not taxable.
Is there a tax exemption for small crypto gains?
Yes. Individuals in Mexico can exclude up to 90,000 Mexican pesos (approximately $4,000 USD) in capital gains from movable property each year. This includes profits from selling crypto. If your total crypto gains in a year are below this amount, you owe no tax. This exemption does not apply to corporations or to income from mining or staking.
Are crypto-to-crypto trades taxable?
Yes. Trading Bitcoin for Ethereum, or any crypto for another, is treated as selling the first asset and buying the second. You must calculate the fair market value in pesos at the time of the trade. Any gain or loss is taxable. This is one of the most common mistakes-people think swapping is free, but under Mexican law, it’s a taxable event.
How are staking rewards and mining income taxed?
Staking rewards, mining income, and airdrops are treated as ordinary income, not capital gains. You owe tax on the peso value of the crypto when you receive it. Later, if you sell that crypto, you pay capital gains tax on any increase in value from the time you received it. There’s no official guidance, but tax professionals agree this is the correct treatment under current law.
Do I need to report crypto transactions to the government?
You don’t report crypto to the tax authority unless you file a tax return. But if you’re involved in a transaction over 60,000 pesos (about $3,500 USD), your exchange or financial service provider must report it to the Ministry of Finance under anti-money laundering rules. This applies whether you’re an individual or a business. Even if you don’t owe tax, the government knows about the transaction.
What if I use crypto to pay for everyday items like food or rent?
Using crypto to pay for goods or services is treated as selling that crypto. You must calculate its fair market value in pesos at the exact moment of payment. If the value has increased since you bought it, you have a capital gain. If it has decreased, you have a capital loss. Even small purchases-like a $5 coffee-create a taxable event. You need to track every single transaction.
Can I deduct losses from crypto trades?
Yes. If you sell crypto at a loss, you can use that loss to offset capital gains from other crypto sales in the same year. You cannot use crypto losses to reduce other types of income like wages. Losses that exceed your gains can be carried forward to future years, but you must keep detailed records to prove them.
What’s the corporate tax rate on crypto profits?
All corporations in Mexico pay a flat 30% income tax on profits from crypto transactions, regardless of how long they held the asset. There’s no distinction between short-term and long-term gains. This includes mining, trading, and accepting crypto as payment. The rate applies to net profit after deducting legitimate business expenses like electricity, hardware, and exchange fees.
Do I need to file a tax return if I made crypto gains below the exemption?
If your total crypto gains are below 90,000 pesos and you have no other taxable income, you’re not required to file a tax return. However, if you have other income (wages, freelance work, etc.), you must include your crypto gains in your total income-even if they’re below the exemption. The exemption reduces your tax bill, but doesn’t remove your obligation to report.
How do I calculate the cost basis for crypto bought at different prices?
Mexican tax law doesn’t specify a method, but the default approach is FIFO (first-in, first-out). That means the first crypto you bought is considered the first one sold. For example, if you bought 1 BTC at 200,000 pesos and later bought another at 250,000 pesos, and then sold 0.5 BTC, you’d use the 200,000 peso cost basis. You can use other methods like average cost, but you must apply them consistently and keep full records to justify them.
Comments (3)
taliyah trice
November 22, 2025 AT 22:35
Crypto is just digital property here, no magic tax loophole. If you trade it, you owe tax. Simple.
diljit singh
November 23, 2025 AT 00:19
Mexico’s rules are a mess. Why treat Bitcoin like a vintage car? Just let people use it like money already. Everyone’s overcomplicating this.
Terry Watson
November 23, 2025 AT 13:58
Wait-so if I swap BTC for ETH, I’m taxed on the gain even if I never touch pesos?! That’s insane. And then if I use ETH to buy a pizza, I get taxed AGAIN? This isn’t taxation-it’s financial harassment. I’ve seen tax systems that make sense, but this? This feels like the government is trying to scare people away from crypto entirely. And the worst part? No official guidance. No FAQs. No examples. Just… silence. Meanwhile, people are getting audited because they didn’t track a 2017 ETH purchase like it was a stock certificate from 1923. What even is this?