Mexico vs Peru
Weighted for the selected setup lens
35/100
8-12 weeks
$4,500
Weighted for the selected setup lens
64/100
6-12 weeks
$3,500
Operational Ease updated: Mexico 35; Peru 64.
What are you setting up?
NavviPal's formation fee in Mexico is $4,500. In Peru, it's $3,500. Formation takes 8-12 weeks in Mexico and 6-12 weeks in Peru.
How to decide
Operational Ease scores and category leaders are mechanical outputs from the source facts, not a universal country recommendation. Use the selected lens, then assess the complete legal, tax, banking, payroll, and operating requirements for your structure.
Review Mexico
Review Mexico if this market remains in scope after you assess its entity types, local-management requirements, published cost basis, tax rules, banking timeline, and payroll obligations.
View Mexico guideReview Peru
Review Peru if this market remains in scope after you assess its entity types, local-management requirements, published cost basis, tax rules, banking timeline, and payroll obligations.
View Peru guideSource-backed formation and operating facts
The selected lens changes which source facts appear first and how the five dimension scores are weighted. Category leaders use the displayed calculated scores only.
| Category | Mexico | Peru |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate tax | Corporate income tax (ISR, Impuesto Sobre la Renta) is levied at a flat rate of 30% on net taxable income. Monthly provisional advance payments are required, with the final annual return due by March 31. Country guide | Peru's corporate income tax (Impuesto a la Renta de Tercera Categoría) is levied at 29.5% on net taxable income. Monthly advance payments (pagos a cuenta) of approximately 1.5% of net monthly revenue are required throughout the year, with a final settlement in April. Country guide |
| Local management or representation | Mexico does not require a resident director: foreign shareholders and directors can manage the entity remotely. It does require a Mexico-based legal representative, needed to complete RFC tax registration and to sign in person for the e.firma and the corporate bank account. A local registered address is also mandatory. Country guide | Peru requires companies to have a legal representative (Gerente General) who is a Peruvian national or legal resident. NavviPal provides a qualified local legal representative who acts solely on your company's instructions with full indemnity protections. Country guide |
| Payroll and employment | Employers in Mexico are governed by the Ley Federal del Trabajo (LFT). Mexico has one of the more comprehensive mandatory benefits frameworks in Latin America, including statutory bonuses, profit sharing, and social security contributions. Any specialized-services provider the entity uses must also be REPSE-registered, since general labor outsourcing for core business activities has been banned since the 2021 reform. Country guide | Peru's labor framework is governed by the Decreto Legislativo 728 (LPCL). Employers must budget for mandatory CTS (severance), profit sharing (under certain conditions), and social security contributions. Country guide |
| Formation timeline | 8-12 weeks Country guide | |
| Foreign ownership | Mexico permits 100% foreign ownership in most business sectors. Certain industries, including energy, aviation, broadcasting, and financial services, have restricted foreign investment thresholds defined under the Ley de Inversión Extranjera. No Mexican shareholder or resident director is required for standard corporate structures, though a Mexico-based legal representative is required for RFC tax registration. Foreign capital must also be registered with the RNIE (Registro Nacional de Inversiones Extranjeras) within 40 business days of starting operations, since missing that window triggers a daily penalty. Country guide | Peru permits 100% foreign ownership in most sectors. All economic ownership can be held by foreign nationals, but a Peruvian national or foreign resident with a valid work visa must serve as Gerente General. Restrictions apply in broadcasting, commercial aviation, and land within 50km of national borders. Foreign investment registration with PROINVERSIÓN is optional but recommended for stabilization agreements and investment recovery guarantees. Country guide |
| Corporate bank-account timeline | 4-8 weeks Country guide | |
| NavviPal formation fee | $4,500 Country guide | |
| VAT or indirect tax | Mexico's Value Added Tax (IVA) is levied at a standard rate of 16% on most goods and services. A 0% rate applies to food staples, medicines, and exports. Monthly IVA declarations are filed electronically through the SAT portal. Country guide | Peru's VAT (IGV, Impuesto General a las Ventas) is levied at 18% (16% IGV + 2% municipal promotion tax, IPM). Monthly IGV declarations are filed electronically through the SUNAT portal. Electronic invoicing (comprobantes electrónicos) is mandatory. Country guide |
| Authorities | SAT (Servicio de Administración Tributaria): Federal tax authority overseeing RFC registration, tax compliance, and electronic invoicing (CFDI) Country guide | SUNAT (Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas y de Administración Tributaria): Peru's tax and customs authority responsible for RUC issuance, tax compliance, and customs administration Country guide |
| Entity types | Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada (S. de R.L.), Sociedad Anónima (S.A. de C.V.), Branch Office Country guide | SAC (Sociedad Anónima Cerrada), SRL (Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada), SA (Sociedad Anónima) Country guide |
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Services you'll need in both markets
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