Mexico’s Anti Money Laundering Law 2026: How Much Can You Pay and Deposit in Cash?

First things first: this article is not financial advice. Its content is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, it is best to contact a qualified adviser directly. Now, imagine you have been saving money for months to buy a car. You have your down payment ready and want to arrive at the dealership with the cash in hand. Or perhaps you are self-employed, receive cash payments for your services, and one day decide to deposit MXN 20,000 into your bank account.

In both cases, you might have the same question: How much cash can I use or deposit in Mexico without getting into trouble?

The answer has two separate parts. Mexico’s Anti Money Laundering Law sets limits on the use of cash in certain high-value transactions, while the Income Tax Law (ISR) requires banks to report cash deposits to the SAT when a customer’s total cash deposits exceed MXN 15,000 in a month at the same financial institution. And no, holding cash or depositing it into your bank account is not illegal. Let’s break it down.

Paying in cash is allowed, but not for everything

Let’s start with the basics.

Mexico’s Federal Law for the Prevention and Identification of Transactions Involving Illicit Funds (LFPIORPI), better known as the Anti Money Laundering Law, establishes rules to identify and prevent transactions involving funds from illegal sources.

What does that mean for you?

Among other things, the law states that certain high-value purchases and transactions cannot be paid for or accepted entirely in cash. We are not talking about buying tacos, doing your grocery shopping, or paying your rent in cash. These rules apply to transactions such as buying real estate, a car, or certain pieces of jewelry and art above specific amounts.

Article 32 of the LFPIORPI establishes that, for certain transactions, paying or accepting cash is prohibited when the transaction value is equal to or greater than specific thresholds set in UMA. Keep in mind that the restriction also covers cash delivered through a financial institution.

The law was amended in July 2025, and the decree was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on July 16, 2025. So, to put it simply: no, the Anti Money Laundering Law does not mean you can no longer use cash. It sets limits on certain high-value transactions.

The 2026 cash limits, in Mexican pesos

Now let’s look at the numbers.

For 2026, the daily UMA value is MXN 117.31, according to INEGI. This value has been in effect since February 1, 2026.

The law expresses these limits in UMA, but you probably don’t want to multiply 3,210 by 117.31 every time you go to buy a car. So here are the amounts converted into pesos:

These are the thresholds established by Article 32 of the LFPIORPI, converted using the daily UMA value in effect for 2026.

There is one detail worth keeping in mind: the limit applies when the transaction value is equal to or greater than the specified amount. For example, if you are buying a car for MXN 400,000, you have exceeded the MXN 376,565.10 threshold. That transaction cannot be paid for in cash under the applicable legal restriction.

If the car costs MXN 350,000, you are below that threshold.

And it doesn’t matter if you say, “Well, I’m only going to pay part of it in cash.” The restriction is calculated based on the value of the transaction, so you should not make your calculations based only on the amount you hand over in banknotes.

What is UMA and why does it change every year?

The UMA, or Unit of Measurement and Update, is a reference value used by various Mexican laws to set monetary thresholds. INEGI updates it every year, and the new value takes effect on February 1. In 2026, the daily value is MXN 117.31.

And yes, it changes every year because it is updated based on changes in the National Consumer Price Index. If you want to understand how inflation affects the numbers you see every day, you can read more about it here.

The MXN 15,000 rule: the report banks send to the SAT

Now let’s look at the other figure we mentioned earlier: MXN 15,000. We need to pause here because this figure is often confused with the Anti Money Laundering Law.

The MXN 15,000 threshold is not part of the Anti Money Laundering Law. This rule comes from Article 55, Section IV of the Income Tax Law and concerns cash deposits that financial institutions must report to the SAT.

Here’s how it works: if your cash deposits exceed MXN 15,000 in total during the same month at the same financial institution, the bank reports that information to the SAT.

For example, imagine you make the following deposits during October:

• MXN 5,000
• MXN 8,000
• MXN 2,500

That adds up to MXN 15,500. Since your total cash deposits exceeded MXN 15,000 during the month, the bank reports them to the SAT.

Three things you should be absolutely clear about:

1. It is not a tax.The fact that your bank reports your deposits does not automatically mean you have to pay tax simply because you deposited cash into your account.
2. It is not a fine either.Depositing more than MXN 15,000 does not mean you have committed an offense or that you will automatically be fined.
3. We are not talking about bank transfers.The rule applies to cash deposits. An electronic transfer, a transfer between your own accounts, or a payroll deposit does not automatically become a “cash deposit” just because the amount exceeds MXN 15,000.

So, if you deposited MXN 20,000 in cash, the bank may report it. If you received MXN 20,000 through SPEI, that is not covered by the same rule.

What happens if you exceed the limit?

Here, too, we need to distinguish between two different situations. If we are talking about a purchase covered by Article 32 of the Anti Money Laundering Law, and cash is paid or accepted above the applicable limit, the transaction violates the restriction. And yes, the law provides for fines.

Article 54 of the LFPIORPI establishes fines of 10,000 to 65,000 UMA or between 10% and 100% of the transaction value for the relevant violations, depending on the applicable legal provision.

Using the 2026 UMA value, that represents amounts ranging from MXN 1,173,100 to MXN 7,625,150 for the range expressed in UMA. But keep in mind that this does not mean that going over the limit by one peso will automatically result in a multimillion-peso fine. The penalty depends on the specific violation and how the authority applies the law.

Now, if we are talking about the well-known MXN 15,000 cash deposit threshold, that is a different matter. The bank has an obligation to report the information. If your deposits do not match your income or the tax information you have filed, the SAT may ask you to explain the discrepancy. The solution is not to panic or look for tricks. If the money is yours and you can prove where it came from, keep the supporting documents.

How to pay for a large purchase without running into problems

If you are planning a major purchase, it is best to check how you can pay for it beforehand. Here are a few steps to help you avoid problems:

1. Check whether your purchase has a cash limit. If you are buying a car, a house, jewelry, a work of art, or another item covered by Article 32, check the limit before taking out your cash.
2. If you exceed the limit, use another payment method. You can pay by electronic transfer, a nominative check, card, or another permitted method. If you plan to use SPEI, you can read our guide to SPEI and crypto.
3. Ask for an invoice or receipt. Make sure the transaction is properly documented and that the receipt reflects the payment method used.
4. Keep your records. Invoices, contracts, transfer receipts, payment slips—whatever applies to your transaction.

You don’t need to turn your home into an archive. But if you need to prove where your money came from or how you paid for something a few months from now, it helps to have your documents somewhere you can find them without searching everywhere.

Knowing where your money comes from and keeping your receipts is worth more than any trick, and it can save you a lot of trouble.

Frequently asked questions

1. Is paying in cash illegal in Mexico?No. Paying in cash is completely legal. The Anti Money Laundering Law sets limits on cash payments for certain high-value transactions, such as purchases of specific real estate, vehicles, jewelry, and other goods.
2. How much can I pay in cash for a car in 2026?For new or used vehicles, whether land, sea, or air, the limit is 3,210 UMA. At the 2026 UMA value of MXN 117.31, that equals MXN 376,565.10. If the transaction value is equal to or greater than that amount, it cannot be paid in cash within the scope of the prohibition established by the Anti Money Laundering Law.
3. How much can I deposit in cash without the bank notifying the SAT?Banks must report cash deposits to the SAT when the total amount deposited during a month exceeds MXN 15,000 at the same financial institution. This does not mean you are prohibited from depositing more than MXN 15,000. It is a reporting obligation imposed on financial institutions.
4. Are SPEI transfers reported in the same way as cash deposits?Not under this rule. The MXN 15,000 reporting requirement specifically concerns cash deposits. Electronic transfers and transfers between accounts are not considered cash deposits for this purpose.
5. How often do these limits change?Limits expressed in UMA change when the UMA value changes. INEGI updates the UMA every year, and the new value takes effect on February 1. For 2026, the daily UMA value is MXN 117.31.