Grupo Salinas has reached a settlement with Mexico’s tax authority, the Servicio de Administración Tributaria (SAT), agreeing to pay MXN 32.1 billion in a move that concludes a protracted legal dispute over alleged tax liabilities. The agreement includes an initial payment of MXN 10.4 billion already transferred to the federal treasury, with the remaining balance to be paid over 18 monthly installments.
The SAT confirmed the arrangement on January 29, stating that it complies with judicial rulings and provisions in the Federal Fiscal Code. The resolution marks one of the largest publicly disclosed tax settlements in recent years and underscores the government’s ongoing efforts to enforce fiscal compliance among major corporate actors.
Grupo Salinas, led by businessman Ricardo Salinas Pliego, acknowledged the payment but emphasized its disagreement with the underlying rulings. In a public statement, the group described the decision as pragmatic rather than conciliatory, asserting that it chose to settle in order to end what it characterized as a ‘systematic campaign’ against it. The company stated that it has paid more than MXN 30 billion in taxes over the past two decades and framed the latest payment as exceeding what it believes was fair or justified.
Not by conviction, nor because we believe it is just, but because we seek to turn this page and refocus on our business.
“Not by conviction, nor because we believe it is just,” Grupo Salinas said of the settlement, “but because we seek to turn this page and refocus on our business.”
The dispute had drawn national attention due to Salinas Pliego’s high profile and his previous confrontations with federal authorities over tax matters. While Grupo Salinas suggested political motivations behind the enforcement actions, SAT has not commented on these claims.
The structured nature of the agreement—combining an upfront payment with a defined installment plan—reflects both institutional enforcement capacity and corporate willingness to avoid further litigation. It also illustrates how legal and administrative tools can be used to resolve high-value disputes without resorting to asset seizures or prolonged court battles.
Critics may question whether such arrangements offer preferential treatment to large taxpayers compared to smaller entities facing stricter collection measures. Nonetheless, the case signals that even politically influential groups are not immune from fiscal scrutiny under current enforcement practices.
With this settlement, Grupo Salinas declared that it now owes nothing further to the government under any concept related to this dispute. The company expressed hope that it could now redirect its energy toward its commercial operations and commitments to employees and customers.
