Energy experts have predicted the closure of several businesses, mainly restaurants, due to a new tax regulation. This regulation requires companies to maintain a volumetric control of petroleum products to later report to the Tax Administration Service (SAT), which implies a considerable investment to comply with the registration or avoid fines.
José Buganza, general director of Enegece, warned that companies consuming more than 5,000 gigajoules per year of natural gas and/or about 908,580 liters of liquid fuels such as gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, and LP gas must report monthly the volumes received, stored, and consumed. It is estimated that around 6,000 businesses will be affected by this tax regulation, which will come into effect on March 3, 2025.
Santiago Sala, director of Natural Gas at Enegence, pointed out that fines for not having volumetric controls could be significant, including prison sentences of up to 8 years, loss of the right to issue invoices to the general public, and fines of up to 5.6 million pesos. Errors or omissions in the reports could result in fines ranging from nearly 40,000 to 70,000 pesos for each report not submitted on time and accurately.
César Cadena, president of the Energy Cluster of Nuevo León (NL), highlighted that businesses like restaurants would not be able to bear the costs of the fines or the 150,000 dollars required to comply with the volumetric control registration. In his words, "Practically a medium-sized restaurant consumes it."
