Businesses Prepare for a More Digitalized SAT

07:07 30/12/2024 - PesoMXN.com
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Los Negocios se Preparan para un SAT Más Digitalizado

The arrival of Claudia Sheinbaum to the presidency not only represents, according to Morena, the second phase of the Fourth Transformation but also phase two of the Master Plan of the Tax Administration Service (SAT) aimed at improving tax enforcement and combating tax evasion and avoidance. As a result, businesses are taking precautions by creating tax compliance plans to ensure that all their documents are in order when the tax authority reviews them, now in a digital format. In the inaugural week of the new government, the SAT announced it would begin to digitalize procedures for both individuals and corporations, excluding the registration for the RFC and the collection of biometric data necessary to obtain the e.firma, as well as other processes like the cancellation of RFC for companies. These actions are part of the president's initial measures regarding taxes and collection, according to explanations from María José Ríos Cano, head of the Decentralized Administration of Taxpayer Services DF 1 at the SAT.

Fiscal Compliance

The digitalization of processes not only impacts taxpayers' compliance with their tax obligations but also the review of companies' accounting. Christian Kaye, partner and head of the tax area at the law firm Pérez-Llorca, mentions that for next year, even without a tax reform in sight, a significant strengthening in the authority's verification is expected. The use of artificial intelligence will increase to electronically review companies' accounting, moving away from in-person audits. A rise in tax oversight through digital means is anticipated. Meanwhile, Rolando Silva, tax vice president of the Mexican Institute of Public Accountants (IMCP), hopes that Antonio Martínez Dagnino’s continued leadership at the SAT will favor the implementation of the Master Plan and improve the SAT's digital platforms. “This could facilitate tax processes for taxpayers and increase the authority's review capacity,” he warned. Artificial intelligence helps classify at-risk taxpayers, identify complex networks of evasion and avoidance, and detect irregularities in Digital Tax Receipts over the Internet (CFDI) linked to smuggling and shell companies. With these technological changes, companies are designing tax compliance plans to ensure that when digital reviews arrive, everything is in order. “We are already witnessing the start of electronic verifications; compliance with obligations is more agile, and there are even processes for determining tax credits electronically, thanks to the fact that the authorities already have digital information from taxpayers,” remarks the partner at Pérez-Llorca. Although the term compliance is not new, companies are starting to pay more attention to it. “It involves adhering to regulations and can apply to various areas, including tax, legal, and labor. In the tax realm, it’s a system that ensures you are compliant with money laundering regulations and tax obligations,” explained Carlos Cárdenas, a tax expert and former president of the IMCP. Attention to compliance began to intensify in 2018, when the authority started requiring that companies prove the actual existence of their operations related to outsourcing. “We have been breaking down this concept through audits and verification exercises that have occurred,” adds Kaye. This matter focuses not only on documentation of contracts but also on presenting results, relationships with suppliers, demonstrating the services provided, among other important details. To be transparent with the tax authority and do so digitally and without hiccups, it will be crucial to have files and obligations up to date, and streamline operations, all as part of implementing compliance strategies, not just for large companies, but also for entrepreneurs. “This will be a trend that intensifies in the near future,” concludes Cárdenas.

In an environment where digitalization is advancing rapidly, it is imperative that both large and small businesses adapt and adopt tax compliance strategies. Implementing digital tools can not only facilitate compliance with the SAT but also optimize resource management and identify opportunities for improvement in business management. Keeping up with these technological changes is not just an obligation but a great opportunity to enhance the financial health of any business.

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