Cancún Launches Property Tax Amnesty Campaign, Waiving Decades-Old Debts

Cancún, Quintana Roo — The Municipal Treasury has launched an information campaign to encourage property owners to regularize their unpaid property taxes, citing a federal law that allows old debts to expire after five years.

José Alan Herrera Borges, head of the treasury department, explained that under the Fiscal Code, property tax debts generally expire after five years. This means homeowners with historical arrears from before 2020 can bring their accounts up to date by paying only the last five years, eliminating financial burdens that in some cases span over three decades.

The treasurer noted that public unfamiliarity with this federal regulation creates reluctance among citizens, who fear facing unpayable bills. However, the current administration has documented successful cases where debts of up to 200,000 pesos—accumulated over 34 years—were reduced to just over 20,000 pesos after applying the expiration rule and evaluating personalized payment plans.

“Many citizens are unaware that these expirations exist and are reluctant to regularize their situation for fear of being charged the total debt,” Herrera Borges said. “We have worked on payment plans that allow them to get current without risking their finances.”

Polaris Dessire Tenorio Cardona, director of Revenue, reported that the property registry has approximately 100,000 properties in arrears, representing about one-third of the total properties in the municipality. Thanks to discount campaigns and incentives in 2025, nearly 33,000 property owners managed to clear their arrears, a trend that has allowed Cancún to reach a record collection so far in 2026.

To date, the municipality has collected 988 million pesos, representing 83 percent of the annual target, with more than 154,000 properties having already met their tax obligations.

The information campaign on debt expiration will remain active until next June. During this period, taxpayers can visit assistance desks, including the public hearings “Cancún nos Une,” to receive legal and financial advice providing legal security for their properties.