What is a CFDI and do you need one?
CFDI (Comprobante Fiscal Digital por Internet) is Mexico's official electronic invoice system, managed by the SAT (Servicio de Administración Tributaria). Since 2014, all formal business transactions in Mexico must use CFDI for tax purposes.
When you need a CFDI:
- When your client needs to deduct the expense from their corporate taxes
- When you are a registered Mexican taxpayer (persona física or moral)
- For transactions above 2,000 MXN with business clients
- When operating as a formal Mexican business entity
When a PDF invoice is sufficient:
- Informal services between individuals
- International clients who don't need Mexican tax deductions
- Reference documents, estimates, and proformas
- Foreign freelancers providing services to Mexican companies (from abroad)
💡 FacturaPDF generates professional PDF invoices with all CFDI-compatible fields (RFC, IVA 16%, consecutive numbering, payment method). For official CFDI generation with SAT digital seal, you need a PAC (Proveedor Autorizado de Certificación).
RFC Numbers — Complete Guide
The RFC (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes) is Mexico's tax ID. It has two formats:
- Individuals (Persona Física): 13 characters — 4 letters + 6-digit date of birth + 3 alphanumeric verification digits. Example: GAMA850101ABC
- Companies (Persona Moral): 12 characters — 3 letters + 6-digit registration date + 3 alphanumeric digits. Example: SAT970701NN3
Both issuer and recipient RFC numbers are required on CFDI 4.0 invoices. In FacturaPDF, enter them in the dedicated RFC/NIF/RUT fields for both parties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a foreign company receive a Mexican CFDI?+
Foreign companies without a Mexican RFC cannot receive a standard CFDI in the same way as local companies. However, Mexican businesses can issue a CFDI with the generic foreign RFC (XEXX010101000) for export transactions. If you are a foreign freelancer billing a Mexican company, your client may ask you to provide your tax ID from your home country.
What is IVA and how much is it in Mexico?+
IVA (Impuesto al Valor Agregado) is Mexico's value-added tax. The standard rate is 16% for most goods and services. A 0% rate applies to exports, basic food, and medicines. The IVA is collected by the seller and remitted to SAT. FacturaPDF automatically calculates 16% IVA when you select MXN currency.
What is the difference between CFDI and a regular PDF invoice?+
A CFDI is an electronically signed, SAT-registered digital document with a unique folio fiscal and QR code. A PDF invoice is a professional document suitable for informal transactions. For tax deduction purposes in Mexico, only CFDI counts. FacturaPDF generates PDF invoices with all the data fields that a CFDI contains, suitable as reference documents.
How do I create a Mexico invoice in English with FacturaPDF?+
The tool interface is in Spanish but all field labels are intuitive. Select 'MXN — Peso Mexicano' from the currency dropdown. Enter your RFC in the 'RFC / NIF / CIF / RUT' field. Set IVA to 16%. Fill in your services and download the PDF. The document itself shows your content exactly as you typed it.