What benefits do expats receive arriving from the UK?

[jappa78]

Hello,

I am moving to Guadalajara to live and work starting in January. I am looking for advice from anyone who has been sent out to work for their company in Mexico.

Do you pay tax in Mexico even if you are paid from a UK company?
Do you pay tax in the UK if you are being paid by a UK company but working in Mexico?
How easy is it to buy a car?
Can you give me any helpful links for medical and travel insurance companies in Mexico? As well as car insurance?


I would really appreciate your help with these questions and although the questions are focused more at the experiences of a fellow Brit, I would welcome input from anyone and everyone.

Cheers

John

[RVGRINGO]

I would think that your company's personnel department would have all of these answers for you. After all, they affect your pay package and should have been computed, discussed and agreed to before your transfer, along with FM3 working visa approvals, housing costs, etc.
Buying a car is quite easy and the major dealerships will be helpful. I would avoid independent used car lots, etc. You will need a proper visa and an address for the registration. The newer the vehicle, the higher the annual 'tenencia' tax which starts at 3% of the value of a new car and declines 10% per year for ten years.
I can't help on your insurance question, other than to say that costs are reasonable in Mexico and will depend on age and health condition.

[synthia]

Usually, taxation depends on where you are working, rather than where you are being paid. However, there are tax treaties between some countries that mean that if you are a transfer to another country, you pay taxes in the country you left, rather than the country where you work.

RV is right, your company should be handling all of this, and should be able to tell you how it will work.

[jappa78]

Hi,

Thanks for you reply and your sound words.
Unfortunately the company I work for has not got any experience in sending people to work in Mexico hence why I am investingating. They have actually asked me to find out all the info and to make a proposal to them.

I will keep on investigating.

Where abouts in Mexico are you based? What have been your experiences?

[bournemouth]

Jappa - your company must have a Mexican accountant - this person and or company can give you the information you need. The company in the UK must be able to contact an international accounting company there who can help them too.
Good luck.

[RVGRINGO]

Jappa,
If your company is 'sending you to work in Mexico', I assumed that they had a branch there and that you would be working for that branch. If that is not the case, and they are sending you to 'work' in their interest in Mexico, you may find that getting a working visa will not be easy; maybe not possible. Would you care to share the details of what your company is asking you to do. Perhaps, then, we could give you more solid advice. You should also contact the Mexican Embassy in London or a consulate, if there is one closer to you. Again, I'm assuming that you are in GB, since you say you are a UK Citizen. However, that may not be the case, I know, and may add another dimension to the type of information you seek. Also, are you fluent in Spanish?

[verdeva]

RV,
To drive a Jalsico plated vehicle would not our new amigo need a Jalisco driver's license?

jappa78,
I sincerely hope that you are doing this investigative work well in advance of your intended arrival. Living and working here is very, very different than the UK, USA, CAN, etc. We have no idea what your work plans are so it would be difficult to speak on specifics. Getting a work permit can be difficult, but if you are representing your company's products and they're already established in Mexico then not so much. On the other hand, if your planning on providing material service, e.g. technical consultant, engineer, etc., that would complicate things.
Expat's can be extraordinarily helpful if provided with good background information. Don't be discouraged! A very important component of living here is patience. Lack this one element and be neither happy nor successful here.
Verde-Va

[RVGRINGO]

I have an Jalisco plated car and drove it with a Texas drivers license for a couple of years. In that time, I was stopped and asked to show a license with no comment being made about the Texas license. Since then, I have obtained an Jalisco drivers license since the Texas license is due to expire. I may try to renew it anyway but that is getting difficult from afar.

[philgib]

Ask for an international driving license from the UK before living your country. It will allow you to drive for some time.

Never buy a car in Mexico with a foreign plate. That is illegal.

Never drive a car which is not insured. You would go straight to jail if you are responsible for any injury in a car accident. You do not want to know what a Mexican jail looks like.

If you need a work permit, it really is up to how badly your company wants you in Mexico as yes, asking for an employee work permit is a big hassle. If your company is well established in Mexico and really wants you, the company will make all the efforts and you will not have much to do.

If you are in the situation where the Mexican company will let you do most of the homework, than I hope that you have lots of hair on your head as you will no doubt lose some of it in the process - I did.

[synthia]

Do they still issue international drivers licenses? They were originally put in place to allow a picture to be associated with drivers licenses, back in the days when a drivers license was basically a piece of cardboard. Most countries only required them if your license did not have a picture. Now that almost everyone has a license with a photo, is an international drivers license even available?