Many tax procedures in Mexico can be performed remotely, without visiting the tax office. To do this, the SAT ID service is used, which allows you to confirm your identity via the Internet and gain access to a number of SAT tax administration services.
But the video verification stage often raises questions and causes refusals, especially for those who have poor English and who do not know what is required of them. Let's figure out what a SAT ID is, why it is needed and how to properly record a video to successfully pass the test.
SAT ID— is an online platform of the Mexican tax service SAT, designed to remotely identify taxpayers and carry out a number of procedures. A number of popular procedures can be completed through SAT ID, including:
- recovering or purchasing a password for your personal account on the SAT portal (contraseña),
- e.firma electronic signature update,
- obtaining confirmation of tax status (constancia de situación fiscal),
- identity confirmation for certain tax services,
- updating taxpayer registration data,
- Submission of individual requests and applications to SAT.
Video taxpayer identification on the SAT ID portal is used in cases where SAT needs to verify that the request is actually being submitted by the owner of the RFC tax number.
During the audit, SAT compares the video recording, official identification data and data available in the tax service database.
The procedure for verifying your identity via video is quite simple — You need to record a short video directly on the portal using the camera of your computer or smartphone.
During recording you need:
- look straight into the camera,
- show official identification (card — on both sides),
- say the phrase that the system will issue,
- Verify your identity by voice and image.
Recording usually takes only a few seconds, but the quality of the video plays a decisive role.
🎥 Si vas a realizar algún trámite en SAT ID, sigue estas recomendaciones para grabar correctamente el video que debes enviar para validar tu identidad.
Recuerda que en SAT ID puedes:
🔑 Generar o actualizar tu Contraseña
🔐 Renovar tu e.firma si perdió su vigencia hace menos…pic.twitter.com/tTEiMp0oJS— SATMX (@SATMX)April 10, 2026
Before you begin, it is recommended that you fulfill a few simple conditions.
Provide good lighting. It is better to use natural light near a window or a bright light source in front of you. It is not recommended to stand against the light, stand near a window with your back to it, or record video in a dark room.
The face must be clearly visible. The system should clearly see your facial features. Remove anything that covers your face. While recording, you should not use sunglasses, caps, hats, masks, or other accessories that cover your face.
Have your ID ready. SAT accepts:
- INE (voter ID),
- mexican passport,
- Mexico resident card.
SAT guidelines require that you show both sides of your ID at the beginning of the recording (first 5 seconds). The document should be brought close enough to the camera so that the photograph, name, and basic details of the document are visible. The document should then be brought to the face or placed over the face. It is important to avoid glare from lamps and sunlight (especially important for a resident card, which has a lot of glare). If the data cannot be read, the request may be rejected.
During recording, the system will show a special passphrase. It's simple. It must be pronounced in full. You should speak clearly and legibly, in a confident voice, without rushing. If part of the phrase is illegible or the sound is bad, ask the service to re-record it.
It is possible to re-shoot the video. Before final submission, SAT ID gives you permission to review the entry and make a new one if necessary. If you notice poor lighting, unclear image of the document, problems with sound, or errors when pronouncing a phrase, it is better to retake the photo immediately.
After submitting the video, SAT conducts an identity verification. The exact timing depends on the load on the system and the specific stage, but in practice the decision is usually made within one or several working days. The result is sent to the email specified when applying for the procedure.
Some practical tips:
- use a modern smartphone or good quality webcam,
- record video in a quiet room,
- don't move the camera
- prepare your ID in advance,
- speak slowly and clearly
- Please check your entry before submitting.
A few minutes of preparation — and identification will be passed the first time. This will avoid the need to visit the SAT office in person.