📣Que Paso

📊 Mexico’s inflation rate experienced a notable decline in August 2024, falling to 4.99% from a 14-month high of 5.57% in July.

👩‍💼 Women's labor participation in Mexico reached 46.3% in Q2 2024, the third-highest in a decade, with 436,000 new female workers joining the workforce, and unemployment for women dropping to 2.6%, the lowest since 2005.

🌊 Isla Mujeres gets a green light for a $2.7 million, 1,400-square-meter inflatable waterpark in front of the Palladium hotel in Costa Mujeres.

🩸 The Ministry of Health launches the National Blood System, a new initiative to reorganize blood services, improve donation rates, and supply efficiency nationwide.

🏛️ President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum will indeed be moving into the National Palace once AMLO moves out. And yes, just like AMLO, she’ll keep the 'mañanera' press conferences going — bright and early at 7:00 am every morning.

🐅 A 220-pound female Bengal tiger is on the loose after escaping a Reynosa zoo, and with its ability to swim up to 7 miles a day, it might just take a dip across the Rio Grande. Authorities on both sides of the border are on high alert and actively working together to locate the animal.

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🍎Your Health Pulse

How Does International Insurance Work with Hospitals in Mexico?

If your medical care includes a procedure performed in hospitals in Mexico, it’s important to understand how insurance works so that you don’t wind up paying more than you should.

Unlike in US hospitals, where you can present your insurance card and be seen, Mexican hospitals require payment upfront – or expect you to pay out-of-pocket and then be reimbursed by your insurance company.

🇲🇽 Viva Mexico!

How well do you know Mexico's independence history? Test your knowledge with these facts about the country's fight for freedom. Then, you’ll be ready to shout "¡Viva México!" with renewed pride and understanding.

🇲🇽 La Corregidora de Querétaro: Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez was a key figure in Mexico's fight for independence. Married to the mayor of Querétaro, she held secret meetings disguised as literary gatherings in her home, where revolutionaries like Hidalgo, Allende, and Aldama planned to initiate the independence movement. On September 13, 1810, when the plot was discovered and her husband was ordered to raid the homes and jail the rebels, Josefa took action. Despite being locked in her bedroom by her husband to prevent her from warning her friends, she created a note from newspaper clippings to conceal her handwriting and managed to get the message to Father Hidalgo. This brave act forced Hidalgo to launch the rebellion early on September 16, 1810, igniting the spark that would eventually lead to Mexico's freedom.

🇲🇽 The Real Date of Independence: Mexico’s independence was officially won on August 24, 1821, after an 11-year struggle with Spain, but the celebration happens on September 16. This marks the Grito de Dolores — the call to arms by priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla that ignited the fight for freedom in 1810.

🇲🇽 The Cry That Sparked a Revolution: No one knows exactly what Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla shouted on the morning of September 16, 1810, to ignite Mexico’s fight for independence. The details of his famous Grito de Dolores are lost to history, with many theories filling in the gaps.

🇲🇽 El Pipila's Torch of Independence: Juan Amaro, nicknamed "El Pipila" (the turkey) due to his unusual walk, became an unlikely hero during Mexico's independence struggle. On September 28, 1810, when Spanish forces barricaded themselves in Guanajuato's Alhondiga de Granaditas, El Pipila strapped a stone to his back, grabbed a torch, and set fire to the wooden door. His bravery allowed revolutionaries to storm the building, securing a crucial victory that inspired the masses to fight for freedom. While the legend tells of one man, historians suggest there may have been several individuals who burned down the door.

🇲🇽 Heads on the Wall at the Alhóndiga: The Alhóndiga de Granaditas, once a simple warehouse in Guanajuato City, became a grim symbol of Spain's brutality during Mexico's fight for independence. On June 26, 1811, Ignacio Allende, Juan Aldama, Mariano Jiménez, and Manuel Santamaría were executed by firing squad in the city of Chihuahua. The decapitated heads of Hidalgo, Allende, Aldama, and Jiménez were sent to Guanajuato and hung in iron cages at each corner of the Alhóndiga de Granaditas — a chilling warning to those who dared to oppose the crown. Their heads hung there for the next 10 years.

🏠 Real Estate Roundup

Selling Real Estate in Mexico: Capital Gains Taxes for Expats

Article by Jeff Kimmel, Kimmel Realty Group

Capital gains tax calculations are complicated as they not only consider the price the property was bought and sold for but also, improvement costs paid, whether you have receipts for the improvement payments, when the property was bought, what the peso to dollar exchange is and was on the date of the purchase, and other factors.

While the SRE Permit you must obtain as a foreigner in order to purchase a property in Mexico requires you to be treated like you are a Mexican citizen with respect to your ownership of the property, an expat will not be treated exactly the same as a Mexican citizen when they wish to obtain capital gains tax exemptions.

The capital gains tax exemption value changes from year to year but it can be worth upwards of approximately $200,000 USD (in pesos) for each name on the deed who qualify*. Note, the tax exemption does not apply to undeveloped land and lots regardless of your immigration status.

For Mexican nationals, qualifying for the exemption requires proof that they have been issued an RFC number by the Mexican Federal tax authorities.

This number essentially verifies that the person is registered with the Mexican tax system (SAT); the Mexican equivalent to the IRS in the United States.

For expats however, qualifying for the capital gains exemption requires that they can prove all three of the following*.

1. They hold either a temporary or permanent immigration status (including possession of temporary or permanent cards).

2. They have been issued an RFC number by the Mexican Federal tax authorities.

3. The property being sold is their primary residence.

An expat that cannot prove all three of these criteria will not be entitled to this ample tax exemption and will face a capital gains tax rate of more than 30%.

Under current Mexican law, this tax exemption can be utilized once every three years. You don’t have to wait three years to use the exemption the first time but once used, you must wait another three years to claim it again.

*As of the date of this article, this is the approximate manner that the exemption is calculated, and criteria required of expats. The tax exemption law changes regularly so you must check when you are thinking of selling to know exactly what the exemption can save you.

🐾 _{Referral Contest: Refer a Friend, Save a Paw} 🐾

For each new like-minded expat friend or family member you refer who subscribes to El Expat Insider, we will donate 50 pesos to Angelitos Sanctuario. The contest runs now through September 30th.

Use your unique referral link below to share with your community!

🎉 Vamos! Can’t Miss Events

🐎 September 14th – Cavalcade of the Conspirators, San Miguel
Step back in time with the Cabalgata de los Conspiradores, a powerful historical reenactment honoring Ignacio Pérez’s daring ride to ignite Mexico’s fight for independence. Watch as horse riders retrace this legendary route, commemorating a moment of courage and resistance that still echoes today. Don’t miss the arrival at Plaza Principal – feel history come alive before your eyes.

🎤 September 15th – Christian Nodal’s “El Grito” Concert, Dolores Hidalgo
Christian Nodal will deliver “El Grito” in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, on September 15th! As part of his "Pa'l Cora" tour, this free concert will light up the birthplace of Mexico's independence. Expect a night of powerful music, a stunning fireworks display, and performances from artists like Santa Fe Klan and Natalia Jiménez. Don’t miss it!

🎇 September 15th – Grito de Independencia, San Miguel
Experience the ultimate celebration of Mexican freedom at the Jardín Principal in San Miguel de Allende! Join thousands as the town gathers to shout “¡Viva México!” with Mayor Mauricio Trejo leading the cry. At 11 pm, the sky erupts with a stunning fireworks display, and the streets come alive with music, dance, and fiesta.

💡 Say It in Spanish

“¡No dar ni un paso atrás!”

Translation: “Don’t take a single step back!”

This phrase isn't your typical Spanish 101 expression. It's commonly used to show resilience and determination, perfect for Independence Day when Mexicans celebrate their courage and resolve in the fight for freedom. Imagine cheering with the crowds, saying, “¡No dar ni un paso atrás!” to embody the spirit of standing firm and moving forward, just like the heroes of independence did in 1810.

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