Vendors in Mexico won't give me a factura — how do I demand one?
You have the right to one, and SAT agrees with you. Issuing a CFDI is the vendor's legal obligation (CFF Art. 29, requirements in Art. 29-A) — not a favor. SAT explicitly lists the usual excuses as prácticas fiscales indebidas (improper tax practices): refusing to issue at the establishment, refusing because you didn't ask at the exact moment of purchase (it can be issued later within the same fiscal year), refusing for cash payments, conditioning issuance on showing your Constancia de Situación Fiscal, or simply never issuing.
What to say and do, in order
- Ask clearly at purchase: "¿Me puede facturar, por favor?" — have your RFC and constancia data ready (many vendors just need the four fields typed correctly).
- If refused, cite the obligation — calmly. Most refusals are habit or laziness, not policy, and a knowledgeable request ends it.
- Use SAT's "conciliación de factura" service — the online route at sat.gob.mx where you report a vendor who didn't issue your factura. SAT follows up with them.
- File a formal complaint: email [email protected], call Quejas y Denuncias SAT at 55 8852 2222 (24/7), or use the "Teléfonos Rojos" in SAT offices.
Non-issuance is an infraction (CFF Art. 83 fr VII) carrying fines of $22,300–$127,530 MXN in 2026 (Art. 84 fr IV inc a) — vendors who learn this number usually find their invoicing system remarkably quickly.
Why it matters to you
Without the factura, the expense cannot be deducted — for a freelancer or a foreigner building documented economic activity in Mexico, that missing paper is real money lost at tax time.
Frequently asked questions
The vendor says "we only invoice above $500." Legal?
No. There is no minimum amount for the obligation. Small amounts can use the factura al público en general flow, but the vendor can't invent thresholds.
They want to charge me extra for the factura. Can they?
No — passing the "cost" of invoicing to the customer is itself one of the improper practices SAT flags.
I paid months ago and never got the factura. Too late?
Not necessarily — CFDIs can generally be issued within the same fiscal year. Ask now, escalate to conciliación de factura if refused.
Sources
- https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdSU2Q0NAGV/
- SAT: improper practices when requesting a factura (gob.mx, official) — https://www.gob.mx/sat/prensa/sat-alerta-sobre-practicas-fiscales-indebidas-al-solicitar-una-factura-057-2023
- SAT complaint channels — https://www.gob.mx/sat/articulos/no-te-dejes-enganar-421724
- CFF Art. 29 / 29-A; fines Art. 84 fr IV inc a (Anexo 5 RMF 2026)