Cozumel News January 20, 2026

Cozumel News January 20, 2026: Register your Cellular telephones, Motor Vehicle Registration / New Plates: REC, How Long Should You Keep Predial Receipts, 2026 Discounts, Book Exchange Update, 2026 Carnival Schedule, and more!

Motor Vehicle Registration / New Plates: REC

This year car registration and new plates requires us to include an REC form.

What is REC?

REC is the official electronic registry of the State of Quintana Roo. It is for individuals and legal entities with state tax obligations. It has 100% digital procedures with 24 / 7 Availability.

Enter https://satq.qroo.gob.mx/registroestatal/ and set the translation to English. There are easy to follow the instructions. In your computer have a digital copy of you Legal Identification, RFC, Constancia de Situación Fiscal, and CURP.

Need Assistance?

The Cozumel Sun services include downloading your CURP, RFC, Constancia, and other documents. In addition to printing services, we can help you with most online transactions.

Register your Cellular telephones

Register Cellular Phones

Mexico’s new mandatory phone registration requires all mobile users, residents and tourists, to link their numbers to an official ID. This is the CURP for citizens and passport for foreigners. The registration is via their carrier. The deadline is June 30, 2026. Failure to register will result in service suspension, emergency calls excepted. You can register your phone online or at the store.

Who Needs to Register?

Mexican Citizens: Must use their CURP and a valid photo ID (INE or Passport). Foreign Residents: Register with their valid passport number. Tourists/Short-Term Visitors: Registration links your number to your passport during activation; you do not need a CURP.

How to Register

Contact Your Carrier: Use your provider’s (Telcel, AT&T, Telmex) online portal, app, or visit a customer service center. Provide an ID: Have your CURP (for residents) or passport (for foreigners) ready. New Lines (After Jan 9, 2026): must register within 30 days of activation. Existing Lines: Register by the June 30, 2026, deadline.

How Long Should You Keep Predial Receipts?

Patsy Chilson, Realtor®/Broker/Owner
Cozumel North Shore Properties
Cozumel Real Estate 949-702-8438
patsychilson@gmail.com

Generally, you should keep predial receipts for as long as you own the property.

Why this matters:

There is no clear limitation period that guarantees older predial issues won’t resurface. The municipalities often focus on recent tax years. However, Predial obligations are tied to the property itself, not the current owner. Issues can surface during audits, administrative reviews, or property transactions years later.

Required for transactions.

Proof of paid predial is routinely requested when selling a property, transferring title, updating a scriptura, formalizing an inheritance, or reviewing a fideicomiso.

Missing receipts can cause delays.

Municipal records are not always complete. Even when payments were made correctly, system gaps or errors are common. Your receipt is the strongest proof that the tax was paid.

Fideicomiso, Trusts, Banks and Notarios can request historical predial receipts as part of compliance or review processes. Having documentation readily available avoids delays and added verification requests.

Before Paying Each Year

Some of the most common predial issues start at the payment stage. Before paying, property owners should:

Verify that the Cuneta Cadastral number on the predial invoice matches the number listed on the deed documentation.

Review the annual invoice for accuracy before paying, including owner name, property location, and assessed value.

Record keeping Best Practices

Once paid, predial receipts should be treated as permanent property records:

Keep digital copies (and physical if you get one) of every predial receipt.

Store receipts with your scriptura, fideicomiso documents, and other property records.

Keep predial records for as long as you hold the property.

Aurita’s Cozumel Corner

It is Carnival Time!

Friends with Books!

Cozumel friends Amy Sadd and Barbara Suarez both published books in 2025. Both books can be found in Amazon; check them out! Congratulations Ladies, Well done!

Congratulations

The Cozumel Sun has a Sign Back Up!

The Cozumel Sun
35 Avenida % 17 & 15 Bis

We have a sign up at the Cozumel Sun! Thanks to the generosity of Cindy Trautwein, from Flip Concierge and Tours Cozumel !

The Book Exchange

We are still waiting to get our books and shelves from the Cozumel Public Library. I am getting different messages from them. First it was wait until December, now it is wait for approval from a manager.

The delay is disturbing in many ways. I am concerned that they will back out of their original promise to return our books and furnishing., Secondly, a friend of mine living in Sweden volunteered to help us organize the exchange. In anticipation that we would have the books in December, he has spent money on travel and housing. I will keep you updated. In the means time, donate books please!

Medicine Collection

We have a nice amount of medicine to donate at month end to the free clinic and pharmacy. Thank you to those of you that dropped off medication. PLEASE keep us in mind when you clean out your medicine cabinets. If the store is closed, RING the bell! There is a door bell at the store entrance and the home entrance on the right. It is rare that we are not around.

The Puzzles Are Back

Puzzle Exchange

Along with three crates of books, we have puzzles to exchange again! Like the books, we are offering them once again! Donate your puzzles please!

Garage Sale

Please Help!

We need your help! Funds are needed for licensing and fees, supplies, and the movers. Garage Sale items and donations of any amount will be greatly appreciated!

Medical Equipment Loan & Rental – Medicine Dropoff for the Free pharmacy and Clinic – Book Exchange – Printing – Copies – Laminating – Book Binding – School & Office Supplies. Available: Avon & Natura Products

About Aura Holguin-Resch 451 Articles
Welcome to the Cozumel Sun! Since 2006, TCS website, Facebook Group, and Facebook page has provided the latest news and information from Cozumel, Mexico. There are no paid staff. TCS is non-profit and non-government funded. Donations help pay for website expenses, taxes, and fees. Donations support our community assistance program. TCS Community Assistance TCS provides assistance to local individuals and families with emergency food, medical expenses and medication. We help with school related expenses for children in the immediate neighborhood (Colonia Independencia). We have a ""drop in" meal policy, we feed the hungry no questions asked. In addition we publish articles that feature community programs in need of donations and volunteers. We encourage both residents and visitors to give back to this island paradise by volunteering and donating to these existing community programs. TCS has successful matched those that want to help and those in need for many years. During the Pandemic, our resources go to the Community Kitchens that are feeding hundreds in Cozumel.