Hello,

I plan to move to Mexico. Does Mexico have taxes on winnings on Las Vegas? I plan to play on Vegas few months in year, maybe grind something on online Poker and travel Also the World. I live currently in Finland.

lol pretty sure mexico doesn't tax untraceable gambling winnings from las vegas

Well, I meant that is Mexico in same kind of situation that UK is? Players living in UK does not have to pay taxes on winnings in Vegas. Not even 30%.

If you are a U.S. citizen, your worldwide income is still taxable in the U.S. So to answer your question, if you move to Mexico (or anywhere for that matter) and are a U.S. citizen, they will not withhold money if you win a tournament in Las Vegas. However, that money will be subject to U.S. taxation.

Any money you win outside of the U.S. must be reported on your return, but you could be entitled to the foreign earned income exclusion.

If you are not a U.S. citizen, they will withhold 30% whether you are a resident of Mexico or Finland.

Yes, I will try my best to be taxed on Mexico (if it gives also me tax advantage on certain things*)...

I have understood that if I would be UK citizen, I will get withholded 30% back fully if I send documents etc. showing that I am UK citizen.

Question is: is Mexico in same kind of situation?

* besides tax advantage, I would love to live in Mexico, warm and nice place.

Yes, I will try my best to be taxed on Mexico (if it gives also me tax advantage on certain things*)...

I have understood that if I would be UK citizen, I will get withholded 30% back fully if I send documents etc. showing that I am UK citizen.

Question is: is Mexico in same kind of situation?

* besides tax advantage, I would love to live in Mexico, warm and nice place.

Edit: I have no connections to USA.

I think the best way to put this is that mexico doesnt remotely have the resources to give a **** even if it wanted to, which it doesnt. You are pretty much completely safe in that regard.

Your biggest concern with mexico is if they pass some anti-gambling / regulation bill that has been hanging around in mexican congress for years on end. This could literally happen any day, month, year or never.

I'm working on becoming a permanent resident at the moment, they are perfectly fine with poker players doing that. They really don't want people coming in and taking their jobs but as a poker player you aren't doing that so they dont care. Just so long as you are solvent and have proof of income/bank statements if you go the legal route.

If you move to Mexico and claim residency (get a passport, etc.) you will have 30% withheld when you go to Las Vegas and win a tournament. If you show them your UK passport, you will not have 30% withheld as the UK has a tax treaty with the U.S.

Boy wouldn't it be an interesting world if you could get a country's passport simply by "claiming residency".

I think his question is not so much what Mexico does or doesn't do, but rather if/when he wins money in the USA (i.e. - Vegas), what will USA Gov't do to his winnings if he is claiming Mexican Residency.

My 2c, I don't think Vegas give a crap where you "claim residency" as far as foreign withholding requirements. The payout cage will ask you for your Passport, period, so unless you are able to get a new passport, you will always be subject to the withholding rules for wherever your Passport is from, Finland, UK, or wherever, regardless of whether you "claim to live in Mexico".

Doesnt the US have tax treaties with certain countries.

ie Joe Hachem got all his tax with holdings back from the USA due to the treaty. I know Canada does not.

May be true, but it has nothing to do with where you "claim to live", it is dependent on where your passport is from. The payout cage wont be interested in hearing a story about your lovely condo on a Mexican beach, they will ask for your Passport, period.

if he's going for a foreign passport, mexico is not the place to go for that. do some research online, they either take time, cost tons of $$$ or maybe you'll get lucky with certain countries based on various criteria.