FMM card and Visitax

[yle]

We are heading to Coz on June 1st and I see info about the FMM card no longer being needed. When I use the link in the very helpful "traveling to Cozumel" post, I see a link on the gov webpage about paying a "Visitax" online if you are arriving in Cancun or Coz. Is this true or some scam? Thanks for any insight!

"Exit taxes" or "departure taxes" are pretty common in places like Mexico, that are heavily dependent on tourism. (Costa Rica has an exit tax too.) But (as others have commented above) if you're flying out, the tax is collected by the airline, included in the price of your plane ticket.

So it's very likely the "Visitax" is legit, but paying online is for people arriving and departing other than by air.

 

[DandyDon]

That's odd. The total taxes there are $178. I'm flying to Coz next week, booked my ticket just a few months ago. The total taxes were $119. Hard to imagine what the difference could be.

A line-by-line comparison might be interesting.

"Exit taxes" or "departure taxes" are pretty common in places like Mexico, that are heavily dependent on tourism. (Costa Rica has an exit tax too.) But (as others have commented above) if you're flying out, the tax is collected by the airline, included in the price of your plane ticket.

It's been over 20 years but I remember having to pay those in the Caribbean, collected b government agents, and broke kids with paid tickets begging for funds to pay the tax.

 

[diversmith]

A line-by-line comparison might be interesting.

It's been over 20 years but I remember having to pay those in the Caribbean, collected b government agents, and broke kids with paid tickets begging for funds to pay the tax.

Well, we arrived and there was no FMM card required and no “visitax” to be paid.

Can someone confirm what we have to pay for an exit tax and whether it can be paid in USD or pesos? Thanks

 

[DandyDon]

Can someone confirm what we have to pay for an exit tax and whether it can be paid in USD or pesos?

It's a legal requirement, but paying is optional so far. No one is enforcing it. Your call on whether you do.
See: No power to enforce Visitax - Cancun Forum - Tripadvisor
And: VISITAX are they enforcing it yet. - Cancun Forum - Tripadvisor

 

[gopbroek]

A line-by-line comparison might be interesting.

It's been over 20 years but I remember having to pay those in the Caribbean, collected b government agents, and broke kids with paid tickets begging for funds to pay the tax.

The airlines collect the taxes for the government, which disappear into Mexico city but I believe they baulked at collecting an individual state tax (and remitting it to the state).
The airlines will refund tourist taxes to Mexican citizens or holders of residency Visa's but the largest tax was the airport departure tax. This tax has been clarified to be an airport usage fee (TUA) paid by everyone, not just tourists and is no longer refundable. In Cozumel, currently, the domestic flight TUA fee is (US $) $18.69 and international is $46.05.
Here is good explanation from Volaris

What is TUA and how much does it cost? | Volaris

The Airport Use Fee (TUA) is a payment that airports require for using their facilities - it is not specific to Volaris. Learn more here.

cms.volaris.com

Here are my 'taxes' from last months flight from CZM to DFW

Travel charges	USD	72.67
IMMIGRATION USER FEE - US	USD	7.00
APHIS PASSENGER FEE PASSENGERS - US	USD	3.83
CUSTOMS USER FEE - US	USD	6.11
IMMIGRATION FEE DSM - MX	USD	9.68
AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX-TUA-INTERNATIONAL - MX	USD	46.05

 

[ggunn]

Can someone confirm what we have to pay for an exit tax and whether it can be paid in USD or pesos? Thanks

You have already paid it when you bought your plane ticket. (Many) years ago we had to pay a departure tax at the airline check-in counter when we were leaving, but no mas.

 

[DandyDon]

You have already paid it when you bought your plane ticket. (Many) years ago we had to pay a departure tax at the airline check-in counter when we were leaving, but no mas.

I don't think so. Yes, the national Departure tax is already paid in your plane ticket, but this seems to be a state tax.

The airlines collect the taxes for the government, which disappear into Mexico city but I believe they baulked at collecting an individual state tax (and remitting it to the state).

 

[ggunn]

I don't think so. Yes, the national Departure tax is already paid in your plane ticket, but this seems to be a state tax.

Be that as it may, I have not had to pay any additional taxes upon departure from Cozumel in many years. I was there in April and nothing had changed.

 

[DandyDon]

Be that as it may, I have not had to pay any additional taxes upon departure from Cozumel in many years. I was there in April and nothing had changed.

Correct. It's not being enforced.

 

[gopbroek]

I don't think so. Yes, the national Departure tax is already paid in your plane ticket, but this seems to be a state tax.

Which was another 'grift the gringo' scheme by the state government for which they lack the means to collect and has been ignored by the vast majority of travelers. The airport is under federal jurisdiction so I think they also lack access to even try to enforce it. The airport is a federal cash cow.