The committees of the Senate of the Republic approved the opinions of the reforms to the Federal Law of Rights, Law of the Special Tax on Production and Services (IEPS) and the Federal Tax Code (CFF), which endorses the tax on violent video games, light drinks, as well as increases in museum tickets and immigration procedures, among other modifications.
In the case of the Federal Tax Code, the United Commissions of Finance and Public Credit and First Legislative Studies approved it, in general and in particular, with 21 votes in favor, eight against and zero abstentions.
Meanwhile, the Federal Law of Rights was endorsed with 20 votes in favoreight against and zero abstentions, while the modifications to the IEPS Law It was ratified with 20 votes in favor, eight against and zero abstentions.
During the session, the legislators faced each other regarding IEPS issues, the treasury’s real-time access on digital platforms, and even the issue of the debt ceiling and fiscal deficit, although this issue is part of the Federal Income Law (LIF) 2026, the minutes of which had not yet been discussed.
The brunette Miguel Angel Yunes indicated that the reforms that were presented are intended to “strengthen the tax system, protect public health, promote investment” in addition to consolidating an “environment of certainty and legality”, despite complaints from the opposition that pointed out abuses by these reforms, greater indebtedness and economic impact for lower-income families.
Once approved, the opinions are sent to the plenary session of the Senate of the Republic, who has until October 31 of this year to approve them and send them to the Federal Executive. Meanwhile, the commissions began the analysis, discussion and approval of the LIF 2026.
Despair to collect
During the discussion of the opinions, the senator Luis Donaldo Colosiofrom Movimiento Ciudadano, criticized the 8% IEPS that is created for the so-called “violent taxes,” pointing out that this shows a “desperate cry” to collect more, and classified this tax as something “absurd.”
“A tax that seeks to present itself as a security and health policy, but lacks scientific support, ends up revealing its true purpose, a merely revenue-raising and disproportionate measure. Even more worrying is the possibility that this is the first step towards a discreet form of control over what citizens can or cannot consume this type of interventions or any justification. And more than a very delicate field, that of freedom of expression and the right of each person to decide with autonomy the information and content they choose. The reality is that no violence is combated with this tax,” he asserted.
On the other hand, regarding the modifications in sugary drinks, where it is proposed to increase from 1.6451 to 3.018 pesos per liter, while for drinks that are “light” or “zero” it will be 1.5 pesos per liter, the opposition senators indicated that this will have an impact on the pockets of lower-income consumers.
“They are revenue reforms, not development (…) not to improve services and much less strengthen the Mexican state (…) it is to take more from the people and return less for health. The IEPS has become Morena’s moral scam, because they disguise it as a healthy or environmental tax, but in reality it is the tax aimed at those who have the least,” said PRI member Cristina Ruíz Sandoval.
The other modifications
In addition to the modifications proposed in the IEPS Law, which have to do with updating the IEPS to sugary drinksthe increase from 30 to 50% to discourage the use of gambling, and an update on what is charged for tobacco, the senators approved reforms on tax and rights issues.
Regarding the CFF, greater powers are given to the treasury in order to toughen the fight against the so-called “invoice companies”, which are companies that issue tax receipts for non-existent operations.
A homologation is also made in the reduction of bad debts of credit institutions with the rest of the taxpayers, in addition, a unified withholding rate is established on digital platforms.
Likewise, the treasury may deny registration in the RFC to legal entities when it detects that any of its partners or representatives participate or have participated in companies linked to false billing, among other modifications.
In the case of the Federal Rights Law, the collection of fees and rates for some public services is increased, including entrances to museums, sites and archaeological zones run by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
Additionally, there are settings up to 100% to immigration fees for visitors without work permits, temporary and permanent residents; establishing a 50% discount for humanitarian cases such as migration for reasons of family reunification, job offers or invitations of a cultural nature.
