Ensuring compliance with tax regulations is crucial to maintaining the continuity, reputation, and legal integrity of business operations.
In accordance with Article 123 of the Mexican Federal Tax Code, any documents submitted to the SAT in a language other than Spanish must be accompanied by an authorized translation prepared by a court-authorized translator.
If your company conducts operations in multiple countries and is registered for tax purposes in Mexico, it is essential to recognize that documents originating from regions or countries where Spanish is not the primary language must be translated by a Perito Traductor (court-authorized translator) to be accepted by the SAT.
This requirement applies to a wide range of critical documents, including but not limited to the following:
- Accounting records
- Powers of attorney
- Articles of incorporation
- Commercial invoices
- Contracts and agreements
- Investment certificates
- Tax receipts
- ID Docs
Proactive Compliance: Avoid Penalties and Tight Deadlines
In many cases, companies and their financial advisors only address this requirement after receiving a formal request from the tax authority, often resulting in tight deadlines and the risk of penalties for non-compliance.
For businesses with international operations and tax domiciled in Mexico, planning ahead is vital. Ensuring that all required documentation is translated and certified in advance not only streamlines auditing processes and can save you from paying quite a significant amount of money in additional expedited translation fees, but also bolsters the confidence of internal and external stakeholders in the company’s financial governance.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional legal or tax advice. Contact us today to request an official Spanish translation of the documents you need to submit to the SAT.
