Job Discussion Forums

onward · Joined: 14 Aug 2011 Posts: 11

just rented my first apartment in mexico... i paid cash deposit and rent, and wondered if there was a better way to do it (i.e. bank check, cashiers' check, etc)?

just wanted to cover my behind with some type of paper trail...

notamiss · Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2011 3:25 am Post subject:

I don�t know about rent specifically, but a really common way to pay for things here is for the other party to give you their bank account number and you deposit into their account, whether by cash, cheque or electronic transfer. Then you give or send them a copy of the deposit slip as proof of payment. You either keep the original deposit slip, or keep a copy if they require the original.

As I mentioned above, this is really common, and I�ve paid for all kinds of things this way: the kids� school tuition, building materials, computer hardware, registration fees for events, fees for service by a notario, and a great variety of things from bought from private individuals or micro-businesses (especially if they live in another city and they sent the things to me, but also for things exchanged in person, if they required payment before delivery). This is also the usual way that I have people pay me.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2011 10:14 am Post subject:

Yes, bank deposits are usually the way to go in Mexico to pay for most things that you can't (or prefer not to) pay for in cash. In general, the use of personal checks is not very common. When I opened an account at a Mexican bank, I opted out of getting checks and have never needed even one.

BadBeagleBad · Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:47 pm Post subject:

leslie · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 235

I paid cash for my "quarto" but the landlady gave me an unofficial receipt (the kind you buy in an office store) , so there was a record. I don't think she claimed that income, but at least I had something to say I paid the rent.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2011 10:24 pm Post subject:

I think you'll find that many landlords, at least the small-time ones, won't give you an official rent receipt because they don't want to report this income to SAT.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I've never been able t get a landlord to provide a factura for rent. The ones that were willing to wanted to charge IVA on top of the rent to do it, so I settled for not having one. As far as I know, you can't claim rental costs on a tax return anyway.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2011 11:31 pm Post subject:

mejms · Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 390

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

onward · Joined: 14 Aug 2011 Posts: 11

thanks for the info... i'll buy a receipt book and also ask about the deposits directly into the landlord's account (same way i paid for things in korea)...