[co-author: Maria Teresa Quintero Godinez ]
Notwithstanding the health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mexican Tax Administration Service (SAT) continues exercising its authority to conduct audit procedures on international trade operations.
The SAT has an objective of increasing tax collection, an activity that is considered essential, so audit procedures must continue to be carried out in accordance with the decree published on March 31, 2020.
The SAT is executing the above through its powers of verification, using mostly the cabinet reviews (i.e., document requests), the verification of goods in transport and customs clearance. The SAT commences cabinet reviews by issuing notifications through the tax mailbox, so it is essential to monitor the tax mailbox to avoid the expiration of deadlines.
Likewise, special attention should be paid by those involved in activities with companies under IMMEX programs, customs regimes, origin and undervaluation schemes, which since last year have become central audit objectives for the current administration of the SAT.1
Considering the above scenario, it is highly recommended that companies implement preventive international trade audits that allow them to verify compliance with their tax and customs obligations.
These preventive audits will allow companies to identify irregularities that, if corrected before the SAT begins its review procedures, will be translated into significant economic savings for the company in question.
