aguascalientes taxes: what a freelance photographer needs to know (and how to survive them)
so here's the thing about taxes in aguascalientes: they're not as scary as your accountant uncle makes them sound, but they're also not exactly a walk in the plaza de la patria either. i moved here last year with my camera gear, a half-broken laptop, and zero clue about mexican tax law. now i'm still here, still confused, but at least i know which forms to fake confidence with.
first off, if you're working freelance like me, you're gonna deal with the *RFC (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes) - basically your tax ID that feels more like a prison number at first. you can get it online through the SAT (Servicio de Administración Tributaria) website, which is about as user-friendly as a cactus in your camera bag. pro tip: bring your passport, proof of address, and a high tolerance for mexican bureaucracy.
rent here is surprisingly chill - i'm paying like 6,500 pesos for a decent two-bedroom in the centro histórico. compared to mexico city where my friend pays triple for half the space, aguascalientes feels like finding a vintage lens in perfect condition at a garage sale price.
sales tax (IVA) is 16% - standard across mexico, nothing shocking there. but here's where it gets interesting: if you're providing services (like photography workshops or editing gigs), you need to charge this and file monthly. miss a deadline and the fines hit harder than a bad review on yelp.
overheard at a café last week: "my cousin forgot to file for three months and now he owes more in penalties than he made total." take that as your warning shot.
aguascalientes is stupid safe compared to other mexican cities - like, leave-your-camera-gear-unattended-at-a-café safe. the job market is solid too, lots of manufacturing and tech companies, which means more potential clients for side gigs. weather? imagine eternal spring with occasional surprise rain that'll ruin your shoot if you're not checking the forecast religiously.
local tax offices* are scattered around the city, but the main one downtown is where everyone seems to end up crying at some point. bring snacks, a book, and download spotify playlists for the wait.
quick tips from someone who learned the hard way:
- keep every receipt, even for coffee with clients
- set calendar reminders for tax deadlines (they're not forgiving)
- find a local accountant who speaks english if your spanish is still "menu-level"
- the SAT app is actually useful for checking your status
neighboring cities like león and guadalajara are just a few hours away by bus if you need to escape the paperwork for a weekend. and if you're wondering about the cost of living - expect to spend around 15,000-20,000 pesos monthly for a comfortable solo life here, depending on how many camera lenses you're financing.
want more insider info? check out the aguascalientes subreddit where locals actually admit things they'd never tell you in person. or browse yelp aguascalientes for accountant recommendations that won't rob you blind.
taxes suck everywhere, but here they come with cheaper rent, safer streets, and way better street tacos. just keep your receipts organized and maybe don't mention that you once filed your taxes at 2am after too much mezcal. not that i'd know anything about that.
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