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Thank you posting this...very informative.
I do have one comment though (if you don't mind)...
"An oversimplified example is: You wisely purchase a lot for $1 million, but unwisely record a value of $500,000. In the eyes of Mexican tax law, your cost basis is now $500,000. If you sell the lot for $1.2 million, you see a profit of $200,000. However, according to your recorded cost basis, Mexico sees a profit of $700,000, and your capital gains tax for Mexico will be 30 percent of $700,000 ($210,000.) You just lost $10,000 instead of making a profit."
I think a person would actually loose more than $10,000 on this "deal". Here is why:
Scenario I (purchased lot for $1 million, declared $1 million and sold for $1.2)
Made $200,000 profit and paid $60,000 capital gains. Total value of the deal $1,140,000.
Scenario II (purchased lot for $1 million, declared $700,000 and sold for $1.2)
Made $700,000 profit and paid $210,000 capital gains. Total value of the deal $990,000 (lost $10,000, however the loss is bigger since you've made the decision to lower the initial value of the home to $700,000. The total loss is $10,000 + $140,000 = $150,000)
Clearly, something to consider while making such decisions.
Opatije
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